Historical Carlinville — carlinville commUnity chamber of commerce (2024)

E.E. Meyers, the same architect who designed the county’s controversial courthouse, designed the Historic Macoupin County Jail. Built as part of the Macoupin County Courthouse project in 1867, using the “cannon ball” method, which stopped jailbreaks by making it nearly impossible to remove the blocks to make an escape, this unique medieval inspired fortress housed many law-breakers during its 119 year history. The Macoupin County Jail is said to look more like a fortress than a small town jail. Its Gothic Revival design features a scalloped parapet with multiple arched windows. It includes a jailer's residence in the upper floors of the parapet, which served as home to the sheriff and his family.

Completed in 1869, just a few years after the end of the Civil War, Meyers incorporated a unique design feature that would make escape from the new jail almost impossible; leftover cannonballs were placed in the walls between the layers of stone. The cell block’s ceiling walls, and floors are constructed of one-inch iron plates with 20 inches of solid stone above and below. This made escape by removing sections of the stone wall a virtual impossibility. The jail was originally designed to hold 17 prisoners but at times saw twice that many, and lacked any of the amenities found in modern facilities. The jail was in operation as recently as 1988, and inmates lived and slept in the original cellblock constructed 119 years earlier.

The historic structure was finally retired when the new county jail was built and dedicated in 1988. The old jail is currently being rehabilitated and is not available for tours.

Macoupin County Courthouse

A visit to Carlinville isn’t complete without a tour of one of its star attractions, the Macoupin County Courthouse. Completed in 1870 at the-then staggering price tag of $1,342,226.31, it was aptly nicknamed the “Million Dollar Courthouse” by area residents. According to legend, city fathers at the time decided to “go big” with the courthouse because they thought that Carlinville was in the running to become the state capital. Also according to legend, the cost may have been inflated by misappropriation; the Loomis House was constructed of limestone “left over” from the courthouse project, while the county clerk boarded a train out of town one night in 1870, never to be heard from again.

The Renaissance Revival masterpiece boasts an exterior constructed from gold-colored blocks of stone and a portico with 40-foot Corinthian columns. Inside you’ll find elaborate woodwork, including finely carved walnut seating; a judge bench of Italian marble; and ornately decorated rooms with arched doorways. Abraham Lincoln occasionally practiced law in Macoupin County (although it was at the current courthouse’s less glamorous predecessor). Court documents with his signature are on display in the courthouse.

Macoupin County War Memorial

The Macoupin County War Memorial is a permanent reminder of county men and women who served in World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Eight black, granite stones are etched with the names of over 600 county residents who served in all branches of the military. Martin Rogers, a Carlinville native and WWII veteran, spearheaded the memorial project. Completed in 1996, the Macoupin County War Memorial stands in the southeast corner of the Macoupin County Courthouse grounds.

Macoupin County Historical Society & Museum

The Macoupin County Historical Society was organized in March 1970, and is dedicated to the study of the area’s history and the collecting and preserving of memorabilia of its people. In 1973, through the staging of a number of fundraising endeavors, the members were able to purchase a fine house and outbuildings located on seventeen acres in northwest Carlinville.

Outer buildings include an authentic schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, and a print shop. There is also an herb garden. In addition to tours, the grounds are available for weddings and other gatherings.

Annual festivals in May and September feature tours of the museum as well as arts, crafts, collectibles, entertainment, and home cooked foods. Both festivals include displays by the Antique Agricultural Association with antique farming equipment and demonstrations of old farming methods that include threshing.

Group tours of the museum and grounds are available by reservation, as well as at both the annual festivals. Those interested may contact the Macoupin County Historical Society, 920 W Breckenridge Street, Carlinville, IL at (217) 854-2850.

Historical Marker

Historical Carlinville — carlinville commUnity chamber of commerce (2024)

FAQs

What is Carlinville, Illinois famous for? ›

The Magnificent Macoupin County Courthouse. The most outstanding feature of Carlinville is the Macoupin County courthouse, a magnificent four-story structure topped by a dome that measures 191 feet from its apex to the ground.

When was the Carlinville Courthouse built? ›

- Significance: Designed in 1867 and constructed between 1868 and 1870, the Macoupin County Courthouse in Carlinville, Illinois, dominates the skyline of this central Illinois town of 5,400...Elijah E.

What is the oldest town in Illinois? ›

Kaskaskia, the oldest town in the state and the first capitol of Illinois | Library of Congress.

What is the history of Carlinville Illinois? ›

Carlinville, city, seat (1829) of Macoupin county, west-central Illinois, U.S. It lies about 40 miles (65 km) southwest of Springfield. The first settlement on the site, in an area known as Black Hawk hunting ground (frequented by Sauk, Fox, and Kickapoo Indians), was made about 1815.

What is the oldest courthouse still in use? ›

NRHP Reference Number. The King William County Court House is the best preserved of Virginia's eleven colonial court buildings. Erected in the second quarter of the 18th century, the T-shaped structure is regarded as the nation's oldest courthouse in continuous use.

What is the oldest courthouse? ›

Virginia King William County Courthouse

What county is Carlinville, Illinois in? ›

Macoupin County Illinois

Macoupin County is located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it had a population of 47,765. The county seat is Carlinville.

What is Central Illinois famous for? ›

Most counties in Central Illinois have an agriculture-based economy. The most common crops are soybeans and corn. County fairs and the Illinois State Fair help to promote agriculture in the region and also offer entertainment. The manufacturing and service industries are also significant.

What are the demographics of Carlinville IL? ›

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Carlinville, IL are White (Non-Hispanic) (92.5%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (2.57%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (1.84%), Other (Hispanic) (1.4%), and Two+ (Hispanic) (1.38%).

What city is Illinois known for? ›

Chicago became a leading cultural, economic, and population center and is today one of the world's major commercial centers; its metropolitan area, informally referred to as Chicagoland, holds about 65% of the state's 12.8 million residents.

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