Hamilton Primary School, School building in Otterville, United States

Hamilton Primary School is a school building in Otterville constructed in 1873 with an Italianate design featuring limestone walls and tall narrow windows. The structure stands on East Main Street and reflects the architectural style of that era.

The institution was founded in 1835 as the first free and integrated school in the United States, made possible by Dr. Silas Hamilton's bequest. The building constructed in 1873 served students until 1971.

The school is named after Dr. Silas Hamilton, whose educational vision shaped the community for generations. Visitors can sense the building's importance as a pioneering place for equal access to learning.

The building is located near Otterville's town center and is easily accessible from East Main Street. Today it operates as a historic site rather than an active school.

The marble monument standing in front of the school was paid for by George Washington, one of the 28 people Silas Hamilton freed in Cincinnati in 1827; Washington left $1,500 at his death in 1864 for it. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources maintains the monument today.