National Register of Historic Places

Alton Military Prison Site

Alton, Madison County, Illinois

Listed

December 31, 1974

Type

Site

Period

Listed

Ref No.

74000766

About this property

The Alton Military Prison was a prison located in Alton, Illinois, built in 1833 as the first state penitentiary in Illinois and closed in 1857. During the American Civil War, the prison was reopened in 1862 to accommodate the growing population of Confederate prisoners of war and ceased to be prison at the end of the war in 1865. The prison building was demolished not long after the Civil War. All that remains of the former prison site is a section of ruin wall that is maintained by the State of Illinois as an historic site. The prison site is included in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Location

Alton, Madison County, Illinois

Everything a full report reveals about Alton Military Prison Site

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Overview

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The Land

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Geology

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LiDAR Terrain

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Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

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Rivers & Rail

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Notable People

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Historical Maps

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Finds & Access

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Literature

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Spotlight

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Points of Interest

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Timeline

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Questions about this property

When was Alton Military Prison Site listed on the National Register?

Alton Military Prison Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 31, 1974.

What type of historic resource is Alton Military Prison Site?

Alton Military Prison Site is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Alton Military Prison Site?

The period of significance for Alton Military Prison Site is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Alton Military Prison Site?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Alton Military Prison Site will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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