Fort de Chartres State Historic Site

This former French military stronghold has been partially rebuilt and turned into a museum. Regular living history events shed light on colonial life in Illinois, and include 18th-century crafts, food, music, hundreds of historically dressed participants, flintlock rifle and musket contests, cannon and mortar competitions, traders and much more. There are also guided tours of the 1800 Creole House, which was designed in the French-American Transitional Architecture style.

CITY: Prairie du Rocher

National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows

The Shrine has 200 beautifully landscaped acres of gardens and devotional areas, including the Outdoor Amphitheatre, Shrine Church, Lourdes Grotto, Stations of the Cross, Millennium Spire, the Visitors Center with a restaurant and gift shop, and the Shrine Hotel.

CITY: Belleville

Main Street Jazz & Blues

Join the group at this small intimate club featuring performers from St. Louis and the local area.

CITY: Belleville

Thomas Kinkade Gallery

The Thomas Kinkade Gallery of Belleville is full of beautiful works by Thomas Kinkade.

CITY: Belleville

Broadway Center of Arts

Groups regularly perform at the "Black Box" Main Stage theatre.

CITY: Belleville

Arts & More Gallery

Arts & More Gallery offers custom framing, in-home consultations, art classes, hundreds of mats and frames, and thousands of prints. Also, original art by local, national, and international artists.

CITY: Red Bud

Rex's Museum

A Lionel train set shares space with a Li'l Abner Dogpatch Band windup toy and British toy soldiers. Antique collectibles, clothing, glassware, a mule deer antler chandelier, and many more unusual items fill the 2,000 sq. ft. "extra room" added onto the house.

CITY: Waterloo

The Creole House

The house, built in 1800, is an example of French and American architecture.

CITY: Prairie du Rocher

Creole House

This Lower Mississippi-style house was built in the early 1800s, and has been completely restored to reflect life during this period.

CITY: Prairie du Rocher

Jarrot Mansion

The subject of intensive historical interest, the Mansion is probably the oldest brick house in the state of Illinois. It was built in 1810 by Nicholas Jarrot, who was a native Frenchman and landowner in Cahokia.

CITY: Cahokia

Emma Kunz House

Visitors are invited to walk through this home, considered to be the oldest Greek Revival-style home in Illinois.

CITY: Belleville

Labor & Industry Museum

The Labor & Industry Museum is the only public institution devoted to the history of the labor and industry of Belleville and southwestern Illinois. The centerpiece is Jumbo, a 19th-century steam engine along with coal mining, carpentry, and stove-making exhibits.

CITY: Belleville

St. Clair County Historical Society Museum

This Victorian adaptation of a Greek Revival home was built in the early 1800s. In addition to period furniture and vintage clothing, artifacts, and quilts, the museum contains an extensive research library and gift shop.

CITY: Belleville

Limelight Players

This talented troupe can be found at a variety of venues from dinner theater at Fischer's Restaurant to stage shows at Southwestern Illinois College.

CITY: Belleville

Rock Mill and Museum

The entire village of Maeystown is on the historic register with much of the history preserved in the museum.

CITY: Maeystown

The History Museum of Monroe County

Anchored by items gifted by Col. Edd & Violet Kueker, this collection represents the settlement of the West, numerous U.S. wars and early transportation. There is even a display of items from the Stone Age retrieved during a local archaeological dig. Changing displays and Special Exhibits from the Museum collection and "on loan" items provide awesome journeys through the pages of history.

CITY: Waterloo

Rieso Farm Museum & Antiques

There is a large collection of machinery and primitives dating back to the 1800s.

CITY: New Athens

Skyview Drive-In

Open from April to October, this theatre shows first-run movies, and is one of only 200 drive-inns left in the United States.

CITY: Belleville

Greater Saint Louis Air and Space Museum

Learn about the history of aviation in the St. Louis area. The Museum is located at the St. Louis Downtown Parks Airport and has Gus Grissom's flight suit, a collection of TWA artifacts, and a 1941 Meyers O.T.W. Bi-plane on exhibit.

CITY: Cahokia

Belleville Philharmonic Society

The nation's second oldest continuously performing symphony orchestra (1867-2005) gives concerts throughout the year.

CITY: Belleville

Martin/Boismenue House

Built in the 1790s, the house is designed in the French vertical-log style rather than the more familiar horizontal-log style. This is the oldest known residence in Illinois.

CITY: East Carondelet

Open House Theater

Shows are performed at the Turkey Hill Grange, Progressive Grange, and The New Athens Senior Center.

CITY: New Athens

Peterstown House

Built in 1830, this is the only stagecoach stop still intact along the 60-mile Kaskaskia-Cahokia trail.

CITY: Waterloo

Capitol Theater

The Monroe Actors Stage Company (MASC) offers plays from September through June.

CITY: Waterloo

The Schmidt Art Center and Gallery

Over 350 permanent works, including a beautifully landscaped and sculptured garden, are on display.

CITY: Belleville

Lincoln Theatre

The historic theatre features first-run movies, organ concerts, puppet shows, and other special events. Tours are available by appointment.

CITY: Belleville

The Lemming Armada Theatre Co.

Performances throughout the year include music, drama, and comedy.

CITY: Belleville

Pierre Menard Home

(TEMPORARILY CLOSED beginning 10/08 except for special events.) Pierre Menard, an important political figure in 1818, built this home. It is furnished with many of the Menard family's personal possessions and other period pieces. The surrounding grounds and outbuildings include an herb garden, smokehouse, springhouse, and adjoining kitchen.

CITY: Ellis Grove