D.D. Collins House

D.D. Collins House

703 W. Main St.
Collinsville, Illinois 62234

  • Phone: (618) 346-7529
  • Hours:
    Saturdays: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
    Except for Holiday Weekends

D.D. Collins House is one of the oldest structures in Collinsville. Built in 1845 by Daniel Dove Collins, this post & beam house is one of the few remaining five bay Greek revival homes left in southern Illinois. Greek Revival, known for its temple-like architecture, is also known as ‘national style’ with many banks, federal buildings, and churches built in the same fashion sporting Doric columns and white facades.

Daniel Dove Collins, cousin to the founders of Collinsville, built the house for his wife, Elizabeth Anderson Collins. Daniel Collins served as the first President of the Board of Trustees when Collinsville was still a village and many board meetings were hosted from the historic home. Supposedly, the main beam supporting the house came from a marooned river steamboat that was found at the foot of the bluffs outside Collinsville after the floodwaters of 1844 receded.

In the 1890s D.D. Collins House was moved from its original location on Main Street (currently where Bert’s Chuck Wagon & Verona Coffee now stand) to 621 W Main Street. As Collinsville’s business district expanded, the house was moved once more to its current location at 703 W Main Street.
In 1998 the house was donated to the City of Collinsville. It was in a sad state of repair and required considerable renovations. The City’s Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) along with the City of Collinsville worked together to secure funds to restore the home’s interior and exterior, helped along with generous private donations. Out buildings including a drying shed, well, and privy were added to the property and the interior was finished with period accurate furnishings.

Today, D.D. Collins House serves as an anchor point for the community of Collinsville on Main Street with community events being hosted from the home. You can visit the historic property Saturdays from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

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