Shawneetown Bank State Historic Site

Shawneetown Bank State Historic Site is a three-story brick structure with a limestone facade and a portico at 280 Washington Street. The building displays classical Greek style elements across its front and occupies a central spot in the historic town area.

The building was constructed between 1839 and 1841 and initially served as the Bank of Illinois until 1843. It then passed through different financial institutions before operations ended in the 1930s.

This building reflects the early commercial growth of the Illinois Territory, where salt mining and land transactions created strong banking needs. Visitors can see traces of how important this institution was to the region's economic activity.

The site is currently closed to visitors due to ongoing structural maintenance and insufficient preservation funding. Those interested should check ahead to see if access conditions have changed.

This is the oldest surviving bank building in Illinois and shows the ambitions of a frontier community in the 1800s. Its construction with high-quality materials was unusual for such a young settlement.

Location: Old Shawneetown

GPS coordinates: 37.69667,-88.13528

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:40