Alton Museum of History and Art
Alton Museum of History and Art is a museum in Illinois, at a modelled elevation of 161 m. Tucker Knob stands 268 m to the west-northwest, 20 miles off. The nearest named place is John Mason Peck, a historic site 0.1 miles away. Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Route passes 1.8 miles off. 18 named summits stand within 25 miles.
The story
The Alton Museum of History and Art, sometimes known as the Robert Wadlow Museum, in Alton, Illinois was founded in 1971 as a not for profit organization. It is located in Loomis Hall, named for Rev. Hubbel Loomis, on the grounds of the former Rock Spring Alton Baptist Seminary established by missionary John Mason Peck, later renamed Shurtleff College, and presently the home of the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine. The building, which has Underground Railroad history, was constructed as the original chapel/classroom of the seminary c.1820 and the sanctuary was modified in the early 1900s to be a two-story building with a rear classroom and laboratory addition. The building is the state's second oldest remaining college building. Although most known for its collection related to Robert Wadlow (the Alton Giant), it also has exhibits on Lewis & Clark, the Alton Confederate Prison and the Lincoln–Douglas debates as well as that of the region's Native American populations. It serves to help preserve the history and heritage of its community; it continues to demonstrate the artistic interests and achievement of its residents. The museum also owns two homes in the town, the Koenig House and the Wilhelm House, which were donated to the museum by Corida Koenig Hanna in 1987. The Koenig House was repaired in 1990, but both homes present challenges for the museum despite their uses for programming. The museum temporarily closed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and remains closed as of 2024.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Wikidata Q4736902, referenced by the OpenStreetMap record.
How to reach it
- 1.8 mi off the Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Route, National
- 14.0 mi off the Great River Road, National
- 9.7 mi off the Historic Route 66, National
- 9.6 mi off the Historic Route 66 - MO
Overlooks nearby
- Blind · 2 mi
- Observation Deck · 4 mi
- Mississippi River Overlook · 5 mi
- Mississippi & Missouri River Confluence Point · 6 mi
Named places within 25 miles
- John Mason Peck: 0.1 mi
- Robert Pershing Wadlow: 0.1 mi
- Lovejoy Plaque: 0.1 mi
- Elijah P. Lovejoy Monument: 1.4 mi
- Tenis Memorial: 1.6 mi
- Tooth Carving: 0.1 mi
- Steamboat Mural: 2.0 mi
- Sail: 2.3 mi
- Miles Davis Statue: 2.4 mi
- Piasa Bird: 3.0 mi
- James Killion Park: 0.7 mi
- Rock Springs Park: 0.9 mi
- Rock Springs Park: 1.2 mi
- Wadlow Town Center: 1.3 mi
- Hellrung Park: 1.4 mi
- National Great Rivers Museum: 2.2 mi
- Wood River Museum and Visitor Center: 3.8 mi
- Bethalto Historical Museum: 5.6 mi
- Wood River Refinery History Museum: 5.8 mi
- Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center: 7.3 mi
- Nan Elliot Rose Garden: 1.9 mi
- Old Fountain Court: 4.2 mi
- River of Colors: 4.3 mi
- The Grove: 4.3 mi
- Discovery Gardens: 5.5 mi
- Alton Hauntings Ghost Tours: 2.0 mi
- McPike Mansion: 2.1 mi
- Alton Military Prison Site: 2.5 mi
- Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower: 6.8 mi
- Old Chain of Rocks Bridge: 9.9 mi
- Mississippi Sanctuary/Olin Nature Preserve: 4.3 mi
- Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge Cora Island Unit: 5.4 mi
- Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: 6.4 mi
- Pelican Island Natural Area: 8.4 mi
- Willam and E. Bohm Memorial Nature Preserve: 9.4 mi
- Fox Hill: 15.5 mi
- Monks Mound: 17.4 mi
- Big Mound (Historical): 18.2 mi
- Rattlesnake Mound: 18.4 mi
- Browns Mound: 18.9 mi
- Williams Family Solar Pavilion: 20.1 mi
- Picnic Ground 3: 20.1 mi
- Picnic Pad 4: 20.7 mi
- Picnic Pad 3: 20.7 mi
- Picnic Pad 2: 20.7 mi
- Oak Spring: 4.6 mi
- Bellefontaine Spring: 6.4 mi
- Burnham Spring: 17.2 mi
- Spring: 18.1 mi
- Spring: 18.1 mi
- La Charbonier Bluff: 14.6 mi
- Vilhauer Bluff: 14.7 mi
- Old Keller Quary: 15.8 mi
- Shelter Bluff: 16.3 mi
- Shelter Bluff: 17.9 mi
- Beaver Falls: 3.9 mi
- Creek Trek Waterfall: 4.7 mi
- Falls: 14.8 mi
- Falls: 14.8 mi
- Sierra Falls: 18.3 mi
- Columbia Bottom Conservation Area: 6.6 mi
- Machens: 10.1 mi
- Wilkie: 13.7 mi
- Homestead Rest Area - Northbound: 15.9 mi
- Homestead Rest Area - Southbound: 15.9 mi
Summits around it
The highest named summits within 25 miles of Alton Museum of History and Art. Elevation from each summit’s own record; bearing measured between the two coordinates.
| Summit | Bearing | Elevation | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tucker Knob | WNW 286° | 268 m | 20.3 mi |
| McAdams Peak | WNW 284° | 246 m | 22.0 mi |
| McCoy Hill | WNW 295° | 237 m | 21.1 mi |
| Dug Hill | WNW 296° | 221 m | 23.3 mi |
| Clarks Mound | S 170° | 196 m | 22.7 mi |
| Two Story Hill | W 267° | 188 m | 22.4 mi |
| Fox Hill | SSE 152° | 182 m | 15.5 mi |
| Shanks Hill | NW 324° | 181 m | 24.4 mi |
When to go
Light through the year
| Date | Sunrise | Golden hour | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 07:05 | 18:38 | 19:13 |
| June solstice | 05:36 | 19:50 | 20:30 |
| September equinox | 06:49 | 18:24 | 18:59 |
| December solstice | 07:16 | 16:00 | 16:42 |
Local time (America/Chicago).
Climate normals
Months averaging 50–80 °F: Apr–Oct.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °F | 30 | 35 | 44 | 56 | 66 | 75 | 78 | 77 | 70 | 58 | 45 | 35 |
| Precip in | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 4.9 | 5.5 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 2.6 |
1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA NCEI — Alton - Melvin Price L&D, 3 mi away.
Where this comes from
Location and category confirmed against OpenStreetMap.
OpenStreetMapWikipediaWikidataOpenStreetMap element way/768616746
Day trips start here
- Alton · 1 mi
- Edwardsville · 12 mi
- Ferguson · 14 mi
- Granite City · 14 mi
- Hamel · 16 mi
- Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site · 18 mi
Take the scenic way to Alton Museum of History and Art.
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