Over the past 40 years the city of Springfield, Illinois has bought more than 7,000 acres of land for a second water reservoir.

This land contains hundreds of archeological sites dating back 10,000 years. It has been occupied by humans since the time of the glaciers. For 98% percent of that time, it was home to Native Americans, as they followed migrating herds of buffalo along their ancient north-south highway, now called Edwards Trace.

Some of the first settlers in Sangamon County built their cabins on this land. The quarry stone from Horse Creek was used to construct the Old State Capitol building in Springfield as well as the George Brunk home in Cotton Hill.