Carmi in White County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Ratcliff Inn

Photographed by Jason Voigt, July 23, 2021

1. Ratcliff Inn Marker

Inscription.
This building was erected in 1828 by James Ratcliff, nicknamed "Old Beaver" because of his energy. He was a founder of Carmi (1816), an inn-keeper, merchant, and postmaster, and White County's first Clerk, Recorder and Probate Judge. Abraham Lincoln lodged here in 1840. The inn was restored in 1960.

Erected 1965 by White County Historical Society and the Illinois State Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #16 Abraham Lincoln, and the Illinois State Historical Society series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1828.

Location. 38° 5.423′ N, 88° 9.56′ W. Marker is in Carmi, Illinois, in White County. It is on East Main Street (Illinois Route 1) north of South Walnut Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 214 E Main St, Carmi IL 62821, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southern Illinois — Little Egypt,

in the Tri-State Region,

and in the Wabash Valley.

It is

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

also in the American Midwest,

in the Ohio River Valley,

and in the Corn Belt.

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 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Carmi's Oldest House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bell of St. Johns (approx. 0.2 miles away); "Flow Gently, Sweet Afton" (approx. 0.2 miles away); Colonel Conger House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Big Prairie Church (approx. 4 miles away); Former Site of Big Prairie United Methodist Church (approx. 4 miles away); Southern Illinois College (approx. 9.7 miles away); The First Presbyterian Church In Illinois (approx. 10.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Carmi.

Also see . . . Ratcliff Inn on Wikipedia. The White County Historical Society, formed in 1957, helped restore this place in 1960 to keep it from being demolished. This Federal-style building was added to the National

Photographed by Jason Voigt, July 23, 2021

2. Ratcliff Inn Marker

Marker is in front of the building.

Register of Historic Places (#73000719) in 1973. (Submitted on July 24, 2021, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

Photographed by Jason Voigt, July 23, 2021

3. Ratcliff Inn Marker

NRHP plaque on building

Credits. This page was last revised on July 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 24, 2021, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 542 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 24, 2021, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.