Editing Mendota, Illinois (section)

==Arts and culture==

The Mendota Sweet Corn Festival<ref>"[http://www.sweetcornfestival.com/ The Mendota Sweet Corn Festival]." Retrieved on February 19, 2011.</ref> attracts thousands of visitors each August; it features a parade, carnival, beer garden with live bands, free sweet corn cooked in a vintage steam engine, and other special events.  The city closes down several streets in the downtown area to host the annual event which is sponsored by [[Del Monte Foods]]. The Mendota Tri-County Fair<ref>"[http://www.tricountyfair.net/ The Mendota Tri-County Fair]." Retrieved on February 19, 2011.</ref> is held every Labor Day weekend at the Mendota Fairgrounds. The fair hosts a carnival, beer garden, and several other events.

===Museums===

The [[Hume-Carnegie Museum]]<ref>"[http://www.mendotamuseums.org/HCMUS.htm Hume-Carnegie Museum]." Retrieved on February 19, 2011.</ref> showcases artifacts of local history, including items manufactured in Mendota and a small collection pertaining to [[Wild Bill Hickok]], who was born in nearby [[Troy Grove, Illinois|Troy Grove]]. It is located in a former [[Carnegie library]] building in Veteran's Park.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mendotamuseums.org/HCMUS.htm|title=HUME-CARNEGIE MUSEUM|website=www.mendotamuseums.org}}</ref>

The [[Union Depot Railroad Museum]]<ref>"[http://www.mendotamuseums.org/UDRR.htm The Union Depot Railroad Museum]." Retrieved on February 19, 2011.</ref> houses the [[Mendota station|current Amtrak station]], several rooms of vintage railroad artifacts, passenger train cars from the 1930s and 1940s. It is also home to [[Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad|CB&Q No. 4978]], a [[2-8-2]] class Locomotive built in September 1923 by [[Baldwin Locomotive Works]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM14ET_CBQ_No_4978_2_8_2_Steam_Locomotive_Mendota_IL|title=CB&Q No. 4978, 2-8-2, Steam Locomotive, Mendota, IL - Locomotives on Waymarking.com|website=www.waymarking.com}}</ref>

The [[Breaking the Prairie Museum]]<ref>"[http://www.farmmuseum.info/ Breaking the Prairie Museum]." Retrieved on February 19, 2011.</ref> is a small barn replica showcasing a rotating display with one large item (a vintage tractor or large item of farm husbandry) and several smaller items. Adjacent to the barn is "The Country Chapel", a small church which is owned by the museum. Completed in 2004, it houses a restored [[pump organ]] from the 1880s. It is closed to the public, however special tours can be arranged by contacting the Mendota Historical Society Office.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.farmmuseum.info/about.html|title=Breaking the Prairie Museum :: About|website=www.farmmuseum.info}}</ref>