You Won't Believe This Town Is In Illinois
If you're looking for a quiet, perhaps more obscure, destination to delve into the longstanding history of the Midwest, you should consider a visit to the community of Elsah. Situated in Illinois, about 35 miles north of St. Louis, this location simply provides a quiet escape from big city life, too, with its scenic countryside surroundings along the Mississippi River. Come and learn more about this little spot that most don't even know exists, from its roots as a quarry town to its current tourism industry revolving around the area's storied past. It's Elsah — and you won't believe this town is in Illinois.
Where the River Meets the Hills
This town of just over 500 residents is situated in southwestern Illinois, wedged between the Mississippi River and the limestone bluffs of the so-called Riverbend region. It occupies a narrow ravine carved by Elsah Creek, which flows directly through Elsah and into the river. This topography creates a distinct bowl-like setting, with steep wooded slopes enclosing the historic core.
The proximity to the Mississippi has long influenced the town’s layout and infrastructure, with early buildings clustered close to the creek and roadways following the natural contours of the land. The surrounding bluffs add just as much to Elsah's character as the creek and the river do, forming part of the larger Mississippi River Hills area.
This somewhat restrictive landscape allows limited space for expansion, which has helped preserve the town's original footprint and maintain numerous local green spaces in lieu of urban sprawl.
A Solid Community Built of Stone
Elsah traces its origins to 1853, when land speculator James Semple platted the village on the Mississippi River bluffs in the far western reaches of Illinois, before the state was even five decades old. Its location among the region's distinct limestone outcroppings and natural springs made it a practical settlement site, and because of this, its early economy centered on river trade, milling, and quarrying.
As river traffic expanded during the quickening westward expansion of the United States, so did Elsah’s development, though the town never quite industrialized on a large scale. This had allowed much of its original architecture to remain intact into the modern day. By the 1860s, Elsah had managed to build up a collection of stone and brick buildings clustered tightly between the river and the cliffs in its downtown core.
In 1912, the establishment of Principia College atop the nearby bluffs added a new educational and cultural dimension to the community. Moving on to 1973, the entire village was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, recognized for its meticulously preserved antebellum era structures, along with some other historic landmarks of note.
Explore Elsah's Cozy Historic District
Elsah’s historic district encompasses practically the entire village, preserving a tightly grouped assortment of the town's iconic old-timey architecture. Most of these structures were built between the 1850s and 1880s, with few alterations since, and the use of local limestone and red brick gives the district a unified appearance, while its narrow lanes and original lot lines give you a window into the village’s early settlement as well.
Residences, storefronts, inns, and a few other amenities can all be found here, all backed by forest-lined hillsides and fronted by walkways, a particularly beautiful place in the fall.
As mentioned, the entirety of this district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in the early 1970s, and today, you are free to explore on foot at key points of interest like the Elsah Village Museum, Farley Music Hall, and a Methodist church house that dates back to 1874. There is even a home built back in 1853 still standing, during the Elsah's establishment, and the remnants of an old icehouse (from a time long before electric refrigeration).
Staying The Night?
For those who need a spot to rest their head for the night, there are a couple of very comfortable accommodations in Elsah, namely the Maple Leaf Cottage Inn and the Green Tree Inn of Elsah, both located within steps of each other in the heart of the historic district.
Food options remain limited as well, with State Street on LaSalle serving as a somewhat upscale option with a well-stocked bar. There actually is not much else in terms of restaurants, unless you don't mind driving over to the town of Grafton. If you do make the journey to this slightly more robust neighbor, The Loading Dock is a remarkably popular eatery, with a large patio, great views over the riverfront, and live music regularly scheduled.
Make Elsah One of Your Stops on a Mississippi River Road Trip
Our suggestion, given that Elsah can easily be enjoyed in its entirety within a day or two, is that this quaint community should be used a part of a greater road trip along the mighty Mississippi River. Stretching from Minnesota to the Gulf Coast, this world-renowned waterway is a treasure trove of interesting destinations and diverse landscapes from top to bottom.
