1820 Colonel Benjamin Stephenson House, Metro East Travel Guide

The 1820 Colonel Benjamin Stephenson House offers a captivating glimpse into the early history of Illinois. Built in 1820 for Colonel Benjamin Stephenson, a significant figure in Edwardsville's establishment and Illinois's statehood, this Federal-style home showcases the lifestyle of the upper class during that era. The house is recognized as one of the few remaining homes built in Illinois during the first quarter of the 19th century and is the oldest brick home in Madison County.The house served as Stephenson's home, office, and political headquarters. Skilled craftsmen constructed the two-story house using native materials. Inside, the rooms are painted in bold colors popular in the 1820s. Today, the restored house functions as a hands-on museum, offering visitors of all ages an engaging and educational experience. Trained docents in period attire lead tours of the house and gardens, and visitors may encounter demonstrations of early 19th-century activities, such as bread baking or leatherworking. The site also tells the history of enslavement and indentured servitude in the region.The Stephenson House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and stands as a reminder of Edwardsville's importance as a center of government and commerce in early Illinois.