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Shedd Aquarium

Lincoln-Douglas Square

Broadway & Market St., Alton, IL 62002

Historic Sites

Stand the same ground once stood as Abraham Lincoln and Stephan A. Douglas near the Alton riverfront.

The final debate of Stephan A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln took place in front of Alton's city hall at the corner of Broadway and Market Streets. The senatorial debate drew national attention along with more that 6,000 visitors. Life-like statues of the two statesmen keep the famous series of debates in 1858 frozen forever in time.

What's happening nearby...

Rock the Hops 2026

Downtown Alton •  Aug 08 @ 2PM

Get ready to rock out in Downtown Alton for Rock the Hops 2026, where music, art, and craft beer collide for an electrifying celebration of creative…

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Alton Food Truck Festival

Alton Amphitheater •  Aug 22 @ 4PM

Enjoy global street food, live music and riverfront views at the Alton Food Truck Festival! Sample favorites from food trucks across the region, plus drinks from…

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Flotsam! River Circus in Alton

Lincoln Shields Recreation Area  •  Aug 25 @ 6:30PM

Flotsam! River Circus returns to Alton with a free, family-friendly performance featuring live music, circus acts, and giant puppets. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, enjoy…

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Confederate Prison Site

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Visit first Illinois State Penitentiary and learn about the ghastly history of the overcrowded, often disease-infested prison. Today, it is a monument dedicated to those who…

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