Pittsfield in Pike County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Mansion House Hotel

Photographed by Emily Pursley, December 29, 2018

1. Mansion House Hotel Marker

Inscription. The Mansion House Hotel was built in 1838 by William Watson, the first settler of Pittsfield. According to old records, Abraham Lincoln, Stephen Douglas would gather in the lobby between court sessions while waiting for a verdict. Future Illinois Secretaries of State; Oziah Mather Hatch & Alexander Starne roomed and boarded here. Other men destined for prominence who were frequent or occasional guests were: John Hay, John Nicolay, Charles Philbrick, Col. William Ross & Col. Dick Gilmer.

Erected by The Abe Lincoln Project and Looking for Lincoln in Pike County.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1838.

Location. 39° 36.4′ N, 90° 48.341′ W. Marker is in Pittsfield, Illinois, in Pike County. It is at the intersection of East Washington Street (U.S. 54) and South Madison Street, on the right when traveling east on East Washington Street. Marker is located by the door to the hotel lobby. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 105 E Washinton St, Pittsfield IL 62363, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Illinois River Valley.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: John G. Nicolay (within shouting distance of this marker); Lincoln's Pike County (within shouting distance of this

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marker); Pike County's Lincoln (within shouting distance of this marker); Abraham Lincoln (within shouting distance of this marker); John M. Hay (within shouting distance of this marker); Commemorating (within shouting distance of this marker); In Memory of John Thomson Hodgen, M.D. and Henry Hodgen Mudd, M.D. (within shouting distance of this marker); Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pittsfield.

Regarding Mansion House Hotel. The building is now home to the William Watson Hotel and the Free Press Coffee House. It is the same building, just with a newer front, thus it looks very different from when it was the Mansion House Hotel.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 17, 2019. It was originally submitted on January 14, 2019, by Emily Pursley of Pittsfield, Illinois. This page has been viewed 490 times since then and 16 times this year. Last updated on January 17, 2019, by Emily Pursley of Pittsfield, Illinois. Photo 1. submitted on January 14, 2019, by Emily Pursley of Pittsfield, Illinois. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.