Central Railroad ran weekend excursion trains from Chicago to Fountain Bluff. However, the area has declined in popularity over the years. Before and during the Great Depression, Jackson County saw a large decrease in population as rural citizens moved to urban areas. Today, Fountain Bluff is "virtually unknown to tourists." During the Depression, the Civilian Conservation Corps established Camp Glenn (November 1933–April 1937) next to Fountain Bluff and was occupied by 174 men engaged in road and bridge building and other construction work. Fountain Bluff's abundant sandstone was quarried for use in many CCC projects, and a major rock crushing facility was established here. The fire lookout tower that for many years stood atop Fountain Bluff was built by CCC crews in 1933. By the 1960s, the tower and others in the region were functionally obsolete, their use having largely been superseded by aircraft. Several hiking trails still exist in the area today, including the one providing access to the petroglyphs. References External links Fountain Bluff and Tower Rock and the Mississippi River Fountain Bluff Petroglyphs Fountain Bluff Rock Climbing Routes Forest Lookouts - Fountain Bluff Landforms of Jackson County, Illinois