JCHS Hosts Self-guided Tours – Appellate Court House ~ September 17, 2026

JCHS hosts self-guided tours at the Appellate Court House 3:30-6:30pm Program and Viewing 6pm – 8pm Corner of Main St. & N. 14th Street, Mt. Vernon, IL

Jefferson County Historical Soeiety will host tours of the Appellate Cour House in Mt. Vernon, IL. This is part of the celebration of the 80th Anniversary of the Historical Society.
The Mt. Vernon Appellate Courthouse, a Greek Revival building built around 1854-1857, originally served as the home for the Southern Division of the Illinois Supreme Court before becoming the permanent seat for the Illinois Appellate Court’s Fifth District, a role it still holds today. A significant landmark, it hosted Abraham Lincoln as a lawyer and even served as an emergency hospital during the 1888 tornado, showcasing its deep connection to Illinois judicial history.