Alton in Madison County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Ruins of First State Prison in Illinois

Ruins of the First State Prison in Illinois Marker image. Click for full size.

By Michael Manning, March 11, 2006

1. Ruins of the First State Prison in Illinois Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

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 by Illinois State Historical Society.

Marker series. This marker is included in the Illinois State Historical Society marker series.

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.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 13 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Legend of the Piasa (approx. 0.7 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 2½ miles away); In Remembrance - Wood River Massacre - July 10, 1814

Ruins of the First State Prison in Illinois image. Click for full size.

By Michael Manning

2. Ruins of the First State Prison in Illinois

(approx. 4.6 miles away); Lewis and Clark (approx. 6.4 miles away in Missouri); Lewis and Clark Expedition (approx. 7.2 miles away); The Journey Begins Here (approx. 7.2 miles away); Wanda Methodist Church (approx. 9 miles away); Nimíipuu (Nez Perce) (approx. 13.1 miles away in Missouri). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Alton.

Categories. • War, US Civil •

By Michael Manning, March 11, 2006

3. Ruins of the First State Prison in Illinois

Credits. This page was last revised on April 2, 2017. This page originally submitted on August 24, 2014, by Michael Manning of Woodlawn, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 522 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 24, 2014, by Michael Manning of Woodlawn, Tennessee. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.