Discover how life has changed in the past 1,300 years at the largest prehistoric Indian city north of Mexico, then move through the decades past Abraham Lincoln’s early years to present day events at historic sites.
American Farm Heritage Museum
The American Farm Heritage Museum is home to a selection of farm implements, tools, tractors and other equipment dating back over 100 years. A 16,000 ...
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ASC Memorial Sculpture
Visit the ASC Memorial Sculpture in front of the convent of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ. The statue honors the five sisters martyred in Liberia...
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Bellefontaine House
Originally the home of Captain James Moore, the Bellefontaine House was the first American settlement in the State of Illinois. Located along the Kask...
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Berger-Kiel Log House
Get a glimpse into local life in the 1800's viewing the log house, the Anstedt barn and period garden. By appointment....
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Bond County Courthouse
The 19th-century courthouse has a great view of the town's hundreds of crab apple, red bud, and cherry trees in season. It is the centerpiece of t...
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Bond County Museum
The Bond County Historical Society’s Bond County Museum provides visitors with a glimpse of the county’s proud 200 year heritage. Located ...
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Bosshard Monument
The Bosshard Monument stands as a tribute to Swiss poet Heinrich Bosshard, who wrote Semparcherlied here in the 1850s. ...
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Burl Ives Grave
Mound Cemetery in Newton houses the final resting place of legendary entertainer Burl Ives. Ives' granite monument serves as a remembrance for tho...
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Carnegie Museum
The collection of books and artifacts of World Famous Ornithologist Robert Ridway and artifacts from the oil, military, education, farming and medical...
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Cathedral of St. Peter
Built in 1866, the English Gothic architectural masterpiece is the largest Cathedral in Illinois with regularly scheduled services....
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Centralia Carillon
The Centralia Carillon ranks among the top 10 largest in the world, standing at 160 feet with 65 bells cast in Annecy, France in 1982 and 1983. The be...
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Charter Oak Schoolhouse
This building is a study in physics as well as history as it was designed to withstand strong winds and capture light throughout the day....
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Cholera Cross
The original wooden cross was erected in 1850 by a farmer in thanksgiving for his family being spared during a cholera epidemic. Subsequent owners of ...
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Civil War Fort
Visit an exact replica of a Civil War Fort complete with a jail, one room home, livery and log cabins. Be sure to see the display of area churches and...
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Clark County Historical Museum
The Manly-McCann House, built in 1838, is on the National Register of Historic Places and houses most of the museum collection. Open Sundays from 2 to...
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Clinton County Historical Museum
Built in the late 1800s as a private home, the museum holds many artifacts from the area, including genealogical material, books and periodicals on th...
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Coal Miners Monument
Joseph Koch, who along with eight other local miners died in a mine explosion in 1947, is depicted here....
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Cohen House
This beautifully restored mid-1800's home has cobalt blue windows that were described in a book by author Mark Twain. Tours by appointment and ope...
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The Creole House
The house built in 1800 is an example of a combination of French and American architecture. Tours by appointment....
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Cumberland Covered Bridge
The Historic National Road follows Old Hwy. 40 across the state. As it goes through Greenup, the road crosses the Embarras River. In 2000, the one-lan...
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Dahlgren Depot
The original St. Louis and South-Eastern Railroad Depot remains in excellent condition. Builders began work on the railroad depot in 1870. When constr...
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The DeMoulin Museum
See lodge initiation devices and related paraphernalia from the early 1900s like the low-down buck goat, lung tester and invisible paddle machine. Tod...
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Eagle Cliff Miles Cemetery
The Eagle Cliff Miles Cemetery had its first known burial in 1806. The cemetery overlooks the American Bottoms - a flood plain of the Mississippi Rive...
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Emma Kunz House
Considered to be the oldest Greek Revival-style home in Illinois, the house contains antiques and memorabilia from the 1800s. By appointment only....
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Excel Bottling & Brewing Co.
Book a tour of Excel Bottling & Brewing Co. on your upcoming Downstate Illinois adventure in Breese, IL! Excel produces Southern Illinois' bel...
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Fayette County Museum
The museum contains Lincoln-era memorabilia and artifacts of the people living in the county. Of special interest is an original paper press from the ...
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At the Fife
In 1898, David Fife began the construction of the second story opera house in downtown Palestine. On the street level, Fife operated a hardware s...
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Flora Depot Museum
The Depot is located right by the tracks and houses not only the Museum, but a conference room and offices. Search the photos and exhibits for the lov...
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Fort de Chartres
The 1750's French Colonial fort is built atop the original stone foundation. Inside the fort is the restored powder magazine believed to be the ol...
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Garrison Hill Cemetery
This cemetery was created when graves were moved from Kaskaskia Island to Fort Kaskaskia State Historic Site in the 1890s after a flood. According to ...
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Gateway Geyser
Downstate Illinois is home to the second tallest fountain in the world! The Gateway Geyser sits across from St. Louis' Gateway Arch on the Mississ...
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Genealogical Library in Marshall
Founded in 1975, the building houses historical records including family history, county births, deaths, marriages, war records, census records and ce...
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Greenup Train Depot & Museum
Who doesn't love trains? Static displays, trains running through model layouts and even a train circling the room inches from the ceiling will gra...
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Hamilton County Museum
The museum houses photos and other artifacts detailing the history of the area. Located on the Second Floor of the McCoy Memorial Library....
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Hanna House Museum
The Hanna House Museum is open Saturdays, April through October,10 a.m.--2 p.m. except on holidays. It is located at 101 E. Center Street, Fairfield, ...
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Harlan Hall
Built in 1872, the two-story Victorian brick building featured a livery stable on the first floor and an Opera house. Harlan Hall now serves as a comm...
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Heath Museum and Confectionary
This museum is located on the West Side of the Square in Robinson. Enjoy ice cream and sodas from an old-fashioned soda fountain while listening to yo...
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Heritage House Museum
The complex includes three properties: Dr. Poos Home & Medical Museum (202 N. Front St); the Frank Schlosser Complex (114 W. Walnut), a turn- of-t...
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Edwards County Jail
In 2004, the Historical Society began the restoration of the former County Jail to house the society's library and genealogical collection. Nearby...
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History Museum of Monroe County
Anchored by Col. Edd Kueker's extensive collection of Western memorabilia including a stagecoach, wagons, bridles, saddles and so much more. The colle...
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Illinois Oil Field Museum
This museum is located at the west edge of Oblong and is one of only 7 such facilities in the nation. Featured are displays, tools, books, and a full ...
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Illinois Rural Heritage Museum
Visitors enjoy exhibits depicting life in rural areas complete with authentic items from the period. The highlight of the the museum will be the machi...
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Immaculate Conception Chapel
The Kaskaskia Bell State Memorial is home to the Kaskaskia Bell. France's King Louis XV gifted the 140-pound bell to the Catholic Church of New Fr...
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Kaskaskia Dragon
The side of the highway seems like the least likely place to spot a fire-breathing dragon... but not in Vandalia! You can even make this 35-foot-tall ...
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Kaskaskia-Cahokia Trail Coalition
King Louis XV of France, that is! French colonists gave this name to the Kaskaskia-Cahokia Trail (KCT) in the early 1700s. More than 300 years later, ...
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Kid's Kingdom
A re-creation of Historic McLeansboro where children can climb, swing, slide and play. The park also offers a pavilion, bathroom facilities, and a woo...
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Kinmundy Log Cabin Village
Visit the Kinmundy Log Cabin Village to see 19th century pioneer-era log structures and artifacts of a time long past. The Kinmundy Log Cabin Villiage...
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L. Haas Store Museum
The museum features a rather unique display. Bill Hanna, "The Humane Hangman," is showcased with the tools of his trade from an era when cri...
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Labor & Industry Museum
The Labor & Industry Museum is the only public institution devoted to the history of the labor and industry of Belleville and southwestern Illinoi...
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Lakey Creek Bridge
Legend has it this is the site of the 'headless horseman", a haunting from the late 1820s when Joel Lakey was decapitated by an evil son-in-l...
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Lincoln Historic Plaque
Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas both spoke here during their historic U.S. Senate race in 1858. The site, once a grove of trees, is marked with a ...
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Lincoln Marker
On a large natural stone in the Park, you can see the trail reported to have been used by Abraham Lincoln and others as they traveled between Vandalia...
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Lincoln Park
Located across the street from Illinois' Oldest State Capitol, the park features a life-size bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln designed by world-re...
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Lincoln School Museum
Representative of the brick construction of one-room schools in the 1880s, this restored building is typical of the era and the education available at...
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Lion Statues
Can you find all 40 of Marshall, IL's lion statues! Painted statues scattered throughout the community tell a story of life in Marshall. Complete ...
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Little Brick House
The house is filled with china, furniture, engravings and books belonging to settlers during the time Abraham Lincoln attended the legislature (1834-1...
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Looking for Lincoln Storyboards
Ten storyboards depicting Abraham Lincoln's early years as a legislator are installed around Vandalia. Find out about his early romance with Mary Owen...
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Louis Latzer Homestead
The founder of the Pet Milk Company built this house that was one of the first with electricity and running water inside. Home to annual festivals cel...
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Madonna of the Trail
This is one of 12 statues in the U.S. honoring the pioneer women who traveled along the National Road....
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Marshall Walldog Murals
During the week of June 22-26, 2016 over 150 artists from across the United States as well as Canada, New Zealand, Scotland, England and Australi...
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Martin-Boismenue House
Built in the 1790's in the French vertical-log style, this is the oldest known residence in Illinois. By appointment....
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Mary's River Covered Bridge
Built in 1854 as part of a planked toll road, Mary's River Covered Bridge is a must-see for any history buff. In fact, Mary's River Bridge is ...
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The Matsel Cabin
Learn about 1850s-era log cabins when you visit here. The front room is painted with milkpaint and is furnished in the manner the Matsel family would ...
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The Mermaid House
Visit The Mermaid House Hotel for a taste of local and U.S. history during your Downstate Illinois adventure. Named for the mermaids he reported seein...
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Moravian Church and Cemetery
This congregation migrated here from North Carolina and the church building was dedicated in 1846. According to custom, the cemetery is laid out in fo...
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National Road Interpretive Center
Learn the history of travel and transportation in the early days of our country through interactive maps, exhibits and films. You'll see how the Natio...
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Old State Cemetery
Bronze markers give biographical information about prominent citizens from the earliest history of the community....
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One Room Schoolhouse Museum
This museum of interest is the One-Room School Museum. It is an actual one-room school house furnished with items that came from the more than 70 one-...
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Perry County Jail Museum
Built in 1871, the Jail Museum was the city's third jail. The Sheriff and his family lived upstairs, and women prisoners were kept in locked rooms...
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Peterstown House
Built in 1830, this is the only stagecoach stop still intact along the 60 mile Kaskaskia- Cahokia Trail. Saturday and Sunday 1-4 p.m. or by appointmen...
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Pierre Menard House
This 1800's house was the home of Illinois' first Lt. Governor when Kaskaskia was the first State Capital....
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Popeye & Friends Character Trail
Popeye stands tall in the Elzie C. Segar Memorial Park by the Visitors Center in Chester. Search through town for his friends on murals and statues: W...
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Ratcliff Inn Museum
Abraham Lincoln slept here in 1840. The collection features items from the original owner such as a bookcase, rope bed, cloak, etc. Other artifacts, p...
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Red Bud Area Museum
The beautiful Opera House, built in 1855 in downtown Red Bud, is the site of the new Red Bud Area Museum. German settlers came to this part of Illinoi...
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Richard W. Bock Sculpture Museum
The museum features hundreds of sculptural pieces by Richard Bock, best known for his work with architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Hours for the museum are...
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Richland Heritage Museum
This Victorian Home built in 1874, features complete turn-of-the-century furniture and artifacts. Sunday afternoons April to the Sunday before Christm...
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Robinson Stewart House
Miss Mary Jane Stewart, granddaughter of a U.S. Senator, donated the house and furnishings to the Historical Society. Open by appointment and for spec...
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Sainte Marie Foundation Museum
Exhibits at the Foundation House Museum feature artifacts from the 177-year-old village's history, including an examining room from the last medic...
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Salem Area Historical Museum
Salem Area Historical Museum educates, preserves and narrates the inspiring story of the greater area of Salem, Illinois, in Marion County....
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Scheve Park
The old train depot, a full-size caboose and a train car along with pavilions and ag building can be reserved for group events. Picnic areas, dog park...
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Scott Field Heritage Air Park
See the workhorse of the Air Mobility Command, the C-141 Starlifter, and the KC-135 Stratotanker at Scott Field Heritage Air Park in O'Fallon, IL. The...
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Sculptures in the City
Thirty artists' sculptures enhance the landscape in various locations around town. Call for a Sculpture brochure....
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Spinach Can Collectibles Museum
This is the home of the official Popeye Fan Club at the 1875 Opera House. See memorabilia dating back to the early 20th century. Mon.-Fri. 9:30 a.m. -...
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Standin' Proud Veterans Tribute
In the small town of Bartelso, IL, a museum is taking shape. The museum houses veteran tributes such as medals, uniforms, and a very unique F350 truck...
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Old Stone Arch Bridge
Visit an important piece of the region's history on your next Downstate Illinois adventure. In an area once known as Calvert Hallow, Army engineer...
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Vandalia State House
The Vandalia State House, built in 1836, is the fourth capitol building of the U.S. state of Illinois. It is also the oldest capitol building in Illin...
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Wabash Cannonball Bridge
This bridge is a most unusual historic bridge, both because this large, multi-span structure is composed of spans from three different dates and also ...
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Wabash County Museum
The Wabash County History Museum is a wonderful resource in Mt. Carmel that features over a dozen different exhibits for people to experience! Some no...
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William Jennings Bryan Home
On a visit to Bryan Birthplace Museum, you will see many pictures of Williams Jennings Bryan, newspaper clippings, as well as a variety of awards he r...
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World's Largest Gavel
Visit the World's Largest Gavel at its home in Marshall, IL! Carved from red oak, this massive gavel guards the Marshall Courthouse doors. Be sure...
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