In 1897, when Mary Kimball Morgan began educating her two young sons at home, she wanted to make sure they received an academic education along with moral and spiritual progress grounded in her commitment to Christian Science. Word spread quickly, however, among the thriving community of Christian Scientists in St. Louis. By the next year, 15 students were enrolled in “Mrs. Morgan’s school.” That was the beginning of what today is known as Principia College.

1906: The first class graduated from the four-year high school program.
1910: That four-year program expanded to six years, resulting in one of the first junior colleges in the nation.
1934: Now located in Elsah, Illinois, Principia had become a four-year liberal arts college and graduated its first class.

Sitting atop limestone bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River, today Principia College’s 2,600-acre residential campus is conveniently located near St. Louis, Alton and Grafton, with panoramic views of the Great Rivers and Routes region in Southwest Illinois. Arts enthusiasts, supporters of ecology and sustainability, architecture aficionados and lovers of the outdoors will especially appreciate all that Principia College has to offer.

The campus features the world’s largest collection of buildings by renowned architect Bernard Maybeck. There are two field houses, a state-of-the-art Science Center, a School of Government, several performing arts spaces, a library with outstanding research and art collections, and a beautiful limestone chapel. A visit to Principia bridges history with current culture in inviting, delightful ways.

Visitors to campus will enjoy a self-guided, sign-posted driving tour of campus that does not require an appointment. Simply approach the gatehouse to request a campus map with a highlighted route. Friendly staff are always available to assist, and clearly marked Driving Tour signs appear along the tour route.

Schedule a tour of the stunning Bernard Maybeck buildings on campus. Contact Director of Student Life and Events Heather Holmes to arrange a Maybeck Tour or Maybeck Architectural Tour.

Attend orchestral concerts and dance productions in McVay Center of Performing Arts, including both matinee and evening performances. Ensemble performances and the Music at Davis performance series, as well as the Concert and Lecture Series, are free of charge. Click here for more information.

Top-notch talent and elegant staging combine to produce plays and musicals that feel like Broadway in Elsah. Enjoy a variety of performances at the Robert Duvall Theatre —named for Principia College alumnus and Academy Award-winning actor the late Robert Duvall — as well as the Merrick Theatre and the Black Box. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

View exhibitions featuring internationally recognized and regional artists at the James K. Schmidt Gallery. This space is dedicated to contemporary art in all media. Traveling exhibits of regionally and nationally recognized artists and emerging artists are showcased here, as well as the work of students and faculty. There is no admission fee. Click here for more information and a schedule of exhibits.

The George A. Andrews Distinguished Speaker Series hosts some of history’s most consequential figures. Since its beginning in 1997, this educational program continues to feature speakers of high ideals and strong character whose ideas and decisions have made a significant imprint on our times. Past speakers include the Apollo 13 astronauts and the Mission Flight Control Director; Madeleine Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State; Doris Kearns Goodwin, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and Lincoln Scholar; the late Robert Duvall, a Principia College alumnus and an Academy Award-winning actor, director and screenwriter; former U.S. President Barack Obama; Coretta Scott King, widow of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King; and Jean-Luc Diard, co-founder of HOKA® shoes. Click here for more information.

Monitor Night Live is a signature campus event that brings distinguished editors and correspondents from The Christian Science Monitor to discuss global events. Bridging journalism and education, this event often features panel discussions on international affairs, politics and the role of ethical reporting. Click here for more information.

International Public Affairs Conference investigates global issues relevant to every college student’s life and career. A team of Principia College students directs, designs and promotes this conference. Click here for more information.

Principia hosts several training events, school field trips, camps and other community events each year. Visitors enjoy exploring the architecturally significant campus, taking in the scenic river valley views, and seeing Benny the Mammoth — a prehistoric skeleton discovered on the campus and now on display in the Science Center. Click here to learn more.

SEEDS (Strategies for Ecology Education, Diversity and Sustainability) BioBlitz event takes place in April each year. This is a community celebration and scientific survey of the plants and animals that live on Principia College’s campus. Click here for more information.