Columbia in Monroe County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Vogt Building
107-111 N Main St
| — | Historic Main Street | — |
Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 12, 2026
1. Vogt Building Marker
The Vogt Store building was built in 1893 by William Vogt. It was one of Columbia's first department stores where one could buy anything from a needle to a threshing machine. It consisted of a grocery, meat market, dry goods, hardware and farm implement store. The building boasted having the first elevator in Columbia which was used to move supplies from the third floor warehouse to the sales floor on the first floor. Joe Rauch's Bank Exchange Saloon was also located in this building. The second floor provided for living space for family members. This building has been completely restored with a modern elevator and offices added on the second and third floors.
Erected by Kaskaskia-Cahokia Trail; Columbia, Illinois.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1893.
Location. 38° 26.586′ N, 90° 12.011′ W. Marker is in Columbia, Illinois, in Monroe County. It is at the intersection of North Main Street and West Kunz Street, on the left when traveling north on North Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Greater St. Louis. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, 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: Masonic Lodge & State Theater (within shouting distance of this marker); Arlington Hotel & Saloon (within shouting distance of this marker); First National Bank (within shouting distance of this marker); Rose's Drug Store (within shouting distance of this marker); Tunze Saloon (within shouting distance of this marker); Schneider House (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Columbia Star Printing Co (about 400 feet away); Weilbacher General Store (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbia.
Photographed by Thomas Smith, October 25, 2021
2. Vogt Building Marker
Photographed by Thomas Smith
3. Vogt Building Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on September 12, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 25, 2021, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. This page has been viewed 925 times since then and 78 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 12, 2026, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. 2, 3. submitted on October 25, 2021, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
