Discover Edwardsville

Edwardsville offers several distinct starting points for a trip: designated historic landmarks, the history of the Leclaire Historic District, an outdoor learning center, a Route 66 visitor center, and cultural events. If you’re looking for a hotel in Edwardsville, start with the purpose of your stay: are you most interested in local history, nature and learning, Route 66, or a particular type of cultural event? The places and offerings below can help you identify your priorities.

Historical Development

Edwardsville currently has 39 buildings designated as historic landmarks. Leclaire offers a specific historical connection: NO. Nelson founded Leclaire Village in the 1890s. The village, then located outside the city limits, was annexed by Edwardsville in the 1930s; today it is the Leclaire Historic District in Edwardsville. This sequence shows a clear development: the village was founded, later incorporated, and eventually became a historic district. This lets you connect the district’s name with a specific story, while the 39 designated buildings mark the broader citywide context.

Nature and Route 66

The Watershed Nature Center is an outdoor learning center covering more than 40 acres. It complements the historical themes with a focus that combines nature and outdoor learning. The West End Service Station is the City of Edwardsville’s Route 66 visitor center. Alongside local history, these offer two other areas of interest: an outdoor learning destination and Route 66. These distinct themes give you concrete starting points when deciding which aspects of Edwardsville to include in your travel plans.

Culture and Events

The Wildey Theatre is located in downtown Edwardsville and is accessible via Highways 55, 255, 70, and 270. It offers live concerts, theater performances, comedy shows, and movies throughout the year. The program changes, so if you’d like to plan your trip around a specific date, check the current offerings and event date in advance.

The Land of Goshen Community Market in Edwardsville features local produce, crafts, and live music. Offerings are seasonal; dates and programming may change. If you’re planning to visit the market during a particular stay, check the seasonal dates and program. Unlike the year-round offerings at the Wildey Theatre, planning a visit here depends on the seasonal window.

Programs for Student Groups

The 1820 Colonel Benjamin Stephenson House offers student groups from elementary through high school a variety of field trips, tours, and programs. These offerings are designed for this audience; planning details may change. If you’re planning with a group in this category, check the date and program in advance. Different considerations therefore factor into travel planning: the event date at the Wildey Theatre, the seasonal window for the market, and the student-group focus at the Stephenson House.

Discover more destinations: Collinsville, Granite City, Wood River, Hamel, Glen Carbon, Alton

For the broader travel overview: Madison.