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History of Alton, Illinois, USA

Name: Alton, Illinois, USA
Address: Alton, IL, USA

Journey back in time to Alton, Illinois, USA

Visit Alton, Illinois, USA. Discover its history. Learn about the people who lived there through stories, old newspaper articles, pictures, postcards and genealogy.

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Alton, Madison, IL

Robert Wadlow was born in 1918 in Alton, and is the tallest person ever recorded in human history. He measured in at 8 feet 11.1 inches and was nicknamed the Alton Giant or the Giant of Illinois.

Before the Civil War, Alton was an important town for abolitionists, and was part of the Underground Railroad. Several homes were equipped to help slaves on to a safe passage in the North. Alton resident Lyman Trumbull co-wrote the
Thirteenth Amendment after the Civil War ended.

thetelegraph.com

There is MUCH more to discover about Alton, Illinois, USA. Read on!

1854 - Alton
Alton, a city and river port of Madison county, Illinois, on the Mississippi river, 21 miles above St. Louis, 3 miles above the mouth of the...Read MORE...
1857 - Destructive Fire At Alton, Ill.
Chicago, Saturday, April 18. A destructive conflagration occurred at Alton, Ill. On Thursday, destroying the planing Mill of MORRISON & BEAL, the...Read MORE...
1858 - Alton was the site of the last Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas debate in October 1858.
1868 - Fire in Alton, Ill.
Louisville, Ky., Tuesday,. Feb. 18. FLACKENECKER'S grocery-store, and three or four adjoining buildings in Alton, Ill., were burned on Sunday night....Read MORE...
1885 - DAMAGE BY FIERCE STORM. HOUSES WRECKED, CROPS INJURED, AND LIVES LOST.
Alton, Ill., May 25. - This city was struck last night by a tornado, which burst from the southwest, sweeping across the river with terrific fury....Read MORE...
1893 - January 21 - Nine persons were killed, twelve fatally injured, and a hundred others burned by oil in a collision on the "Big Four" Road, near Alton, Ill.

The World Almanac and Book of Facts, Volume 1894 Press Publishing Company. 1894
1895 - Alton
Alton, all'ton, a handsome city and river port of Madison co., Ill., on the Mississippi River, 8 miles above the mouth of the Missouri, 25 miles...Read MORE...
Illini Island, Alton, Ill.
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Shurtleff College, Upper Alton, Ill., 1908
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Clifton Terrace Railroad Station, Alton, Ill.
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The Elk's Club
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Illini Hotel
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Western Military Academy, Upper Alton, Ill.
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Nazareth Home
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St. Joseph's Hospital
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Three Pagodas on the Bluffs, Alton, Ill., 1912
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View of Standard Oil Plant, near Alton, Ill., 1912
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State Street, 1912
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Third Street, 1912
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"Old Ladies Home," Alton, Ill., 1919
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Scene along the Bluff Line, near Alton, Illinois
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City Hall
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1923 - NINE KILLED, 25 HURT IN POWDER EXPLOSION
ALTON, Ill., July 10 (Associated Press) — Nine persons were killed and twenty-five injured in an explosion this afternoon in the metallic shell...Read MORE...
Alton Mineral Springs Hotel on Ill. State Route No. 3 IL 160-159 and U.S. No. 67 and MO. No. 99 at Bridge Entrance
Headquarters Alton Automobile Club - A.A.A.
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1926 - FOUR MEN KILLED, FIVE INJURED, IN REFINERY BLAST. EXPLOSION, CAUSE OF WHICH IS UNKNOWN, OCCURS IN LIQUID ASPHALT MIXING TANK OF PLANT.
Alton, Illinois, June 14. - (AP) - Four men were killed and five injured in an explosion and fire at the refinery of the Standard Oil Company of...Read MORE...
Lewis and Clark Bridges over Mississippi, Alton, Ill.
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Alton Memorial Hospital
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Memorial Gate, Entrance to Monticello College, Alton, Ill.
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