Historic Elsah Foundation

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Elsah, IL
Historic Elsah Foundation

Elsah ... gives us a strong hint of the setting of nineteenth century life along the river. - Elsah: A Historic Guidebook It has served Elsah in many ways.

HEF owns and maintains 37 Mill Street, Farley’s Music Hall. It was a music hall, Knights of Pythias building, Methodist Hall and antique shop. Now it is an important meeting place. Members of the community have family reunions, celebrations of a life gatherings, dinners, wedding receptions, community dances and educational programs. Since its incorporation in 1971, the Historic Elsah Foundation ha

s been sustained mainly by small contributions. Besides providing Farley’s Music Hall as a community resource, HEF has restored two other Elsah buildings, the Village Hall and the Mott Building. In addition, HEF sponsors educational talks and programs, publishes printed material including our newsletter, Elsah History, and supports the publication of books and pamphlets about Elsah and our neighbor, Chautauqua.

12/05/2025

Come Home to Elsah for the Holidays This Weekend

Take a step back in time this holiday season while strolling the historic streets of Elsah, Illinois, often called the town that time forgot, during Elsah’s annual Home for the Holidays House Tour from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, December 6. For more than 50 years, Historic Elsah Foundation has offered visitors an opportunity to explore inside historic homes and buildings in the village.

Sixteen historic buildings will be open for the event, including private homes, the two room school house, Farley Music Hall, the Elsah Museum, the bed and breakfast inns, churches (Methodist Church pictured above) and villages shops. Tickets for the annual Holiday House Tour are $20 in advance or $25 on the day of the tour. Ticket prices include a tour booklet with a photo and description of each building and a self-guided walk thru the historic village.

https://www.historicelsah.org/tour

11/12/2025

The 1858 Lincoln Douglas Debates in Alton - talk in Elsah

Dr. Erik Alexander, History Professor at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, presents “The 1858 Lincoln Douglas Debates in Alton” on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at 7 p.m., at Farley Music Hall, 37 Mill Street, Elsah, Illinois. Dr. Alexander specializes in United States history during the 19th century, particularly party politics leading to the Civil War and Reconstruction.

You may register for watching the presentation online at https://historicelsah.org

11/07/2025

The 1858 Lincoln Douglas Debates in Alton
Thursday, November 13, 2025, at 7 p.m., at Farley Music Hall, 37 Mill Street, Elsah, Illinois

Presentation by Dr. Erik Alexander, History Professor at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. Dr. Alexander specializes in United States history during the 19th century, particularly party politics leading to the Civil War and Reconstruction.

Dr. Alexander is completing his book entitled, Revolution Forestalled: Northern Democrats and the Politics of Reconstruction, 1865–1877.

The program is free and open to the public. Reservations are not required. Parking is available. Refreshments will be served following the lecture.

This presentation is one of this year’s Hosmer-Williams Lectures sponsored by Historic Elsah Foundation and underwritten by Liberty Bank: A United Community Bank.

09/08/2025

Towboat Stories on the Mississippi, talk by Jeff Ruyle

Jeff Ruyle, Elsah resident, will present, “Towboat Stories on the Mississippi,” on Thursday, September 25, at 7 p.m. at Farley Music Hall, 37 Mill Street, in Elsah. Jeff will share stories from his own experience as a deckhand for 20 years on the Mississippi River.

The program is free and open to the public. Reservations are not required. Parking is available. Refreshments will be served following the lecture. The presentation will be streamed live, with registration available on historicelsah.org.

This presentation is one of this year’s Hosmer-Williams Lectures sponsored by Historic Elsah Foundation and underwritten by Liberty Bank: A United Community Bank.

04/02/2025

The Village of Elsah Museum 2025 Photography Contest awards and reception will be held this coming Saturday, April 5 at 3pm. The event is taking place at the Museum, 26 LaSalle Street in Elsah.

The opening day of the Museum season is also on April 5th and doors will be open from 1-4 pm Saturdays and Sundays through October.

You are invited!

03/03/2025

Lewis and Clark in Illinois, talk by Brad Winn, Historian

Brad Winn, Historian, will present a talk, “Lewis and Clark in Illinois,” on Thursday, March 6, at 7 p.m. at Farley Music Hall, 37 Mill Street, in Elsah, Illinois. Illinois was the point of departure for the two-and-half-year journey. The team spent more time in Illinois than any other state except North Dakota.

Winn taught at Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey, Illinois, winning Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Member in History and Humanities in 2022. He also served as Superintendent of the Lewis and Clark State Historical Site in Hartford, Illinois.

This talk will be in-person and available virtually.

Register at https://historicelsah.org

This presentation is one of this year’s Hosmer-Williams Lectures sponsored by Historic Elsah Foundation and underwritten by Liberty Bank: A United Community Bank.

01/23/2025

A visit to the 1904 World’s Fair, presented by Jason Stratman

Jason Stratman, Library Outreach Manager at Missouri Historical Society, presents a talk, “A visit to the 1904 World’s Fair,” on Thursday, January 30, at 7 p.m. He will share his expertise on this pivotal event for St. Louis. Almost 190,000 people attended just the opening day, and welcomed more than 19 million visitors in seven months. Stratman’s research includes the fair itself, and extends to many of the surrounding events.

“A visit to the 1904 World’s Fair” will be presented at Farley Music Hall, 37 Mill Street, in Elsah, Thursday, January 30, at 7 p.m. The program is free and open to the public. Reservations are not required. Parking is available. Refreshments will be served following the lecture. The presentation will be streamed live, with registration available at https://historicelsah.org

12/06/2024

Purchase tickets now for Elsah's Home for the Holidays House Tour - tomorrow, Saturday, December 7, 2024, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The weather forecast is cool and pleasant.

For details and to purchase tickets: https://historicelsah.org/tour

Twenty historic buildings will be open for the event, including ten private homes, the two room school house, Farley Music Hall, the Elsah Museum, the bed and breakfast inns, churches and villages shops. Tickets for the annual Holiday House Tour are $20 in advance or $25 on the day of the tour. Ticket prices include a tour booklet with a photo and description of each building, musical performances, and a self-guided walk thru the historic village filled with sounds of the season from local caroling groups. A limited number of box lunches will be available for purchase at Farley Music Hall.

“Since the 1970’s, the Village of Elsah has offered house tours for visitors who can’t wait to get a look inside some of its beautiful historic homes and buildings,” said Blair Smith, one of the organizers of the event.

Proceeds from the tour benefit the Historic Elsah Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, dedicated to historic preservation and education in the Village of Elsah.

12/04/2024

Purchase tickets now for Elsah's Home for the Holidays House Tour - this Saturday, December 7, 2024, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The weather forecast is cool and pleasant.

For details and to purchase tickets: https://historicelsah.org/tour

Nineteen historic buildings will be open for the event, including nine private homes, the two room school house, Farley Music Hall, the Elsah Museum, the bed and breakfast inns, churches and villages shops. Tickets for the annual Holiday House Tour are $20 in advance or $25 on the day of the tour. Ticket prices include a tour booklet with a photo and description of each building, musical performances, and a self-guided walk thru the historic village filled with sounds of the season from local caroling groups. A limited number of box lunches will be available for purchase at Farley Music Hall.

“Since the 1970’s, the Village of Elsah has offered house tours for visitors who can’t wait to get a look inside some of its beautiful historic homes and buildings,” said Blair Smith, one of the organizers of the event.

Proceeds from the tour benefit the Historic Elsah Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, dedicated to historic preservation and education in the Village of Elsah.

11/26/2024

Purchase tickets now for Elsah's Home for the Holidays House Tour - December 7, 2024, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

For details and to purchase tickets: https://historicelsah.org/tour

Many historic buildings will be open for the event, including private homes, the two room school house, Farley Music Hall, the Elsah Museum, the bed and breakfast inns, churches and villages shops. Tickets for the annual Holiday House Tour are $20 in advance or $25 on the day of the tour. Ticket prices include a tour booklet with a photo and description of each building, musical performances, and a self-guided walk thru the historic village filled with sounds of the season from local caroling groups. A limited number of box lunches will be available for purchase at Farley Music Hall.

“Since the 1970’s, the Village of Elsah has offered house tours for visitors who can’t wait to get a look inside some of its beautiful historic homes and buildings,” said Blair Smith, one of the organizers of the event.

Proceeds from the tour benefit the Historic Elsah Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, dedicated to historic preservation and education in the Village of Elsah.

11/14/2024

Elsah's Home for the Holidays House Tour - December 7, 2024, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Take a step back in time this holiday season while strolling the historic streets of Elsah, Illinois. Visit what’s been called “the town that time forgot,” during Elsah’s annual Home for the Holidays House Tour from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, December 7.

Many historic buildings will be open for the event, including private homes, the two room school house, Farley Music Hall, the Elsah Museum, the bed and breakfast inns, churches and villages shops. Tickets for the annual Holiday House Tour are $20 in advance or $25 on the day of the tour. Ticket prices include a tour booklet with a photo and description of each building, musical performances, and a self-guided walk thru the historic village filled with sounds of the season from local caroling groups. A limited number of box lunches will be available for purchase at Farley Music Hall.

For details and to purchase tickets: https://historicelsah.org/tour

“Since the 1970’s, the Village of Elsah has offered house tours for visitors who can’t wait to get a look inside some of its beautiful historic homes and buildings,” said Blair Smith, one of the organizers of the event.

Proceeds from the tour benefit the Historic Elsah Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, dedicated to historic preservation and education in the Village of Elsah.

Address

37 Mill Street PO Box 117
Elsah, IL
62028

Telephone

+16183741059

Website

http://www.historicelsah.org/

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