See the East Alton History Museum and the Bethalto History museum

NEW Event.
Will go again: 2029
Cost: Free, please consider bringing a $5 donation
211 N Shamrock, East Alton, IL

Two events!
The East Alton museum is on the entire 2nd floor of the Fred Bright Vital Services Building in East Alton.
The Bethalto History museum is approximately 15 minutes from E. Alton. These sites are in our extreme NorthEast boundary (and I figure if we are in E. Alton, might as well make it to Bethalto - plus Bethalto will likely have better lunch spots).

Address for Bethalto History Museum: 124 W Main Street, Bethalto, IL

East Alton 10am:
"Our village was established on September 4, 1893 and our museum reflects our village before that date and forward to the present with many interesting and entertaining artifacts and photos." from the museum's flyer.

"Like many River Bend communities, the town dates back to when European settlers came to the area in the early 19th century. And it wasn't always East Alton — the community was known as Emerald, Milton Settlement and Alton Junction. Alton Junction was also known as Wann Junction, famous locally for being the site of a horrific rail disaster." from Wikipedia

Bethalto (will open at 11am just for us):
"The Bethalto Historical Museum is housed in the original Village Hall, located at the corner of Main and Oak Streets in our downtown district. Built-in 1873 and enlarged in 1885, the two-story brick Victorian/Italianate town hall is the oldest governmental building still in use in Madison County. Recognizing its historical significance, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
The Museum’s walls are lined with a pictorial history of people, places, and events that helped shape the modern-day village. Even the village’s tiny one-room jail can still be seen today. The Museum contains various exhibits depicting Bethalto’s past including the role of its citizens in World Wars I and II, the founding of the town, the annual Homecoming Celebration, early police, fire, governmental departments and churches, and on the second floor, a recreated classroom from the past." from https://bethalto.com/museum/

Bethalto will also open the Starkey Log Cabin (next door to the History Museum) for us:
"In 1998, an electrical fire at Robert Sparks’ home on Fourth Street in Bethalto destroyed some of the interior walls. Behind the damage laid the past. Mr. Sparks discovered an intact log cabin dating back to the mid-1800s. The cabin was formidable with foot square logs fitted together with hand-hewn notches held in place with clay chinking. The lot where Sparks’ house stood was originally part of David Starkey’s land grant and was sold in 1858. Starkey was one of the village’s founders. As the property changed hands over the years, improvements were made to the structure built around the log cabin. Sparks’ house was not new by any means, and it traced a sort of architectural history. The two-by-four skeleton was completed with square nails. Handmade bricks lined the inside of the walls, which Sparks had been told were to prevent arrow attacks from penetrating the house. Sparks knew the logs existed prior to the fire, but not to what extent. He was quoted soon after the breakthrough as saying, “This is part of the history of Bethalto and of Illinois, and we don’t want to lose it.” Sparks worked with the village of Bethalto and the local Rotary Club over the next few years on a campaign to move and restore the log cabin." from https://www.advantagenews.com/news/bethalto-blaze-uncovers-history/article_74780c13-eb96-5244-941a-7bda8b3d747d.html