CARBONDALE, Ill. — For the second time in seven years, southern Illinois experienced totality during the Great American Eclipse on Monday.
More than 50,000 people, including scientists, researchers and eclipse searchers came to Carbondale to see the total solar eclipse. About 13,000 people were in Saluki Stadium.
People started lining up well before the gates opened at 6 a.m. at the stadium at Southern Illinois University. Those who purchased tickets filed into the stadium while others set up tents, picnic blankets and lawn chairs around the campus and city.
Inside the stadium, SIU kept the crowd entertained with performances by dance teams and musicians and interviews with researchers and scientists throughout the morning and afternoon.
But as totality neared, the crowd got quiet waiting for the moment that won't be seen coast-to-coast again for 21 years.
For four minutes and eight seconds, those in southern Illinois experienced totality with cool air and darkness.
"It was unbelievable, I couldn't believe how cold it got," Julie from Dixon, Illinois, said. "It just looked amazing, it's true what they say, when you've seen it in person it's completely different than pictures."
Jordan came from Wilmington, North Carolina, to witness the eclipse in southern Illinois. He flew in from Raleigh and stayed in St. Louis before driving down to Carbondale.
He saw the eclipse in 2017, but this time was different.
"Totality is just a really surreal feeling," he said. "The 98% that was witnessed down there is just not the same. Once you see the ring and everything, it's just a real feeling."
Despite warnings about traffic, the crowds cleared out of the stadium quickly after totality.
However, many of the visitors from out of town said they're sticking around until Tuesday to make plans for the next coast-to-coast total eclipse in the United States.
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