Visiting Chester, Illinois
Southern Illinois Town is Home of Popeye the Sailor
Chester, Illinois is proud of Popeye and the man who created him, hometown son, Elzie Segar.
Chester, Illinois bills itself as “The Home of Popeye”, and with good reason. This small town is the hometown of Elzie Segar, the man who created Popeye.
Chester’s devotion to the sailor man is obvious. There’s a 6 ft. statue of Popeye on the edge of town, at the Segar Memorial Park on the Mississippi River. A statue of Olive Oyl, Swee’Pea and Eugene the Jeep is located downtown, while Wimpie stands next to the Spinach Can Collectibles Shop and Museum. A colorful mural of Segar and his cast of characters is painted on the side of the Museum, which used to be the Chester Opera House. If that weren't enough, every year on the weekend after Labor Day, Chester holds a Popeye Picnic.
The Spinach Can Collectibles Museum is a must-see. The museum and store is located in the former Chester Opera House and is crammed full of Popeye memorabilia and merchandise. The museum has artwork, lunchboxes, and rare comics. The store carries everything from t-shirts to mugs to cans of Popeye brand spinach.
Owner Debbie Brooks is friendly and personable, and her knowledge of Popeye is impressive. She also runs a Popeye Fan Club. “Popeye is still popular,” she said. “Even more so in other countries.”
Segar reportedly based his characters on people he knew. There are photos in the Spinach Can of the people who inspired Popeye, Olive Oyl and Wimpie.
Popeye first appeared in the comic Thimble Theater in 1929. He was joined by Olive Oyl, her parents Cole and Nana Oyl, her brother Castor Oyl, and Ham Gravy, her beau. Wimpy joined Popeye in 1932, and Swee’Pea came along in 1936. Poor Ham Gravy didn’t last much over a year, but new characters like Alice the Goon and Bluto were eventually added.
There’s more to the area than Popeye and friends. Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site features the remains of a fort that was built by the French during the French and Indian War. There’s also an overlook picnic area on the Mississippi River, Garrison Hill Cemetery and a campground within the site.The site is open from 8 am to 8 pm, Wednesday through Sunday, and is located in nearby Ellis Grove.
The Spinach Can Collectibles Shop and Museum is located at 1001 State Street in Chester. The shop and museum is open Monday through Friday, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, and on Saturday, 10 am to 3 pm. Their phone number is 618.826.4567.
For more information on Chester, Illinois, visit their website.
