Alton in Madison County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Ruins of First State Prison in Illinois
Ruins of first state prison in Illinois. Built in 1830-31. Unsanitary conditions aroused persistent criticism from Dorothea Dix, pioneer in prison reform. All inmates were transferred to Joliet prior to 1860. During the Civil War many Confederate prisoners were incarcerated here and deaths averaged six to ten a day.
Erected 1950 by Illinois State Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Illinois State Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1860.
Location. 38° 53.479′ N, 90° 11.371′ W. Marker is in Alton, Illinois, in Madison County. Marker is on William Street north of West Broadway (Route 100), on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 217 William Street, Alton IL 62002, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Godfrey, Gilman & Co. Warehouse (here, next to this marker); The First Illinois State Penitentiary (here, next to this marker); Those Who Remain (here, next to this marker); Lovejoy Assassination Site (here, next to this marker); The Alton Military Prison (here, next to this marker); Prisoners at Alton Military Prison (here, next to this marker); Units Guarding the Alton Military Prison (a few steps from this marker); After The War (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Alton.
Also see . . .
1. Alton Military Prison. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on January 20, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)
2. The Alton Military Prison. Madison County Historical Society's Website:
this is an online exhibit which features pictures of artifacts and talks about the state's first penitentiary in Alton. (Submitted on January 20, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 20, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 24, 2014, by Michael Manning of Woodlawn, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 868 times since then and 29 times this year. Last updated on January 20, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 24, 2014, by Michael Manning of Woodlawn, Tennessee. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.