The Former Hiram Walker Distillery stands as a monument to Peoria’s golden age of whiskey production, when this Illinois city was known as the “Whiskey Capital of the World.” The massive complex on Edmund Street operated from 1933 to 1981 as one of America’s largest distilling operations, producing millions of gallons annually under the Hiram Walker & Sons banner. The facility’s towering grain silos and sprawling brick buildings once employed hundreds of locals and helped establish Peoria as a major spirits hub. Hiram Walker & Sons chose Peoria for its strategic location along the Illinois River and abundant corn supply from surrounding farmland. The company invested heavily in the site, building what became one of the most modern distilling facilities of its era. For nearly five decades, the distillery churned out Canadian Club and other Walker brands, with massive column stills and extensive aging warehouses that defined Peoria’s industrial skyline. Today, the complex sits largely abandoned, though the imposing structures remain as a testament to American distilling history. While you can’t tour active production anymore, the exterior buildings offer a glimpse into industrial-scale whiskey making from the mid-20th century. The site represents both the peak and decline of Peoria’s distilling industry, which once made this Illinois river town synonymous with American whiskey production.