- Visit Alton
- Things To Do
- Arts & Culture
- Outdoor
- Museums & History
- Shopping
- Alton Amphitheater
- Argosy Casino
- Haunted Alton
- Downtown
- Events
- Live Music
- Hotels
- Restaurants
- Breweries & Distilleries
- Coffee Shops
- Sweets & Treats
- Alton Restaurant Week
- Enjoy Edwardsville
- Things To Do
- Outdoors & Recreation
- Shopping
- Downtown
- SIUE
- Wildey Theatre
- Events
- Live Music
- Hotels
- Near SIUE
- Restaurants
- Coffee Shops
- Sweets & Treats
- Edwardsville Foodie
- Enjoy Collinsville
- Things To Do
- Attractions
- Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
- Fairmount Park
- Events
- Live Music
- Hotels
- Restaurants
- Restaurant Week
- Enjoy Grafton
- Things To Do
- Grafton Ferry
- Outdoors & Recreation
- Shopping
- Zipline
- Pere Marquette State Park
- Events
- Lodging
- Vacation Rentals
- Bed & Breakfasts
- Cabins
- Restaurants
- Enjoy Calhoun County
- Ferries
- Things To Do
- Outdoors & Recreation
- Shopping
- Orchards
- Communities
- Events
- Hotels
- Restaurants
- Jersey County Fair
- Fair Info
- Rules & Forms
- Fair Board
- Gallery
- Maps
- Hours & Pricing
- Fair Booklet
- Exhibits
- Contact
- Meeting Of The Great Rivers
- Touring The Byway
- 18 Pt Trail
- Maps & Getting Here
- Communities
- Alton
- Calhoun County
- Elsah
- Godfrey
- Grafton
- Hartford
- Wood River
- International Visitors
- Liberty Bank Amphitheater
- Events
- Volunteer
- Gallery
- Book An Event
- Tickets & Box Office
- Amphitheater Info
- FAQ
- Parking
- Vendor Inquiry
- ADA
- Hotels
- Restaurants
- Attractions
- Sponsors
- Contact
Welcome to Edwardsville
As Illinois’ third oldest city and home to five state governors, Edwardsville has cemented its place in local history. Named for the first territorial governor of Illinois, Ninian Edwards, the city was also home to Col. Benjamin Stephenson who left an architectural mark on the young city.
Known for its stately federal homes and brick streets, the city served as the western edge of the Goshen Trail, a major road that stretched from eastern Illinois to its western borders enabling settlers to continue their western migration in the early 1800s. One hundred years later, Route 66 blazed its way through the city cutting into the heart of downtown linking travelers from Chicago to St. Louis.
Edwardsville was also home to progressive industrialist N.O. Nelson who, in 1890, developed a profit-sharing business that included modest and attractive homes for his employees. He named the project “Leclaire” after a French profit-sharing pioneer and the area remains to this day as a National Historic Site.
Today, Edwardsville stands out as the home to the historic Wildey Theatre featuring live entertainment, its individual foodie scene and award-winning restaurants as well as the cultural and academic diversity of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Land of Goshen Community Market Offers Fresh...
Follow the aromas of fresh picked herbs, ripening berries, sweet lavender and just-baked cookies and rolls to historic downtown Edwardsville... Read More
Stories
A Legendary Theatre: Meet the Wildey
Enjoy a video of the Wildey Theatre's legendary story! If the walls of the Wildey Theatre in Edwardsville could talk, oh the stories... Read More
Celebrate 2020 and The Year of the Woman in...
2020 marks a milestone in history – it’s been 100 years since women won the right to vote. And that marker hasn’t gone... Read More
Walking Tour: Small-Town Charm in Downtown...
Take a stroll through Edwardsville's historic Main Street district. Get your sunshine (and steps!) while you check out historic... Read More