Downtown East St. Louis Historic District, Historic commercial district in East St. Louis, Illinois.
The Downtown East St. Louis Historic District is a commercial and entertainment center spanning two blocks along Collinsville Avenue with buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s. The 35 structures display multiple architectural styles of the period, including the Majestic Theatre, the Murphy Building, and several other notable buildings.
After a devastating tornado in 1896, the area became a thriving commercial center with the construction of key buildings like the Murphy Building and Cahokia Building completed by 1910. Development continued during the 1920s with new structures like the Spivey Building and the Union Trust Bank Company Building.
The district reflects how local residents enjoyed entertainment and commerce in the early 1900s, particularly through the Majestic Theatre which opened in 1928. Walking through reveals how these buildings shaped daily life and social gathering in the community.
The district intersects with the former Route 66 at Missouri Avenue and the National Road at Collinsville Avenue, making it easy to locate and navigate. Walking through the area allows you to view all the main buildings without difficulty.
The district developed its own distinctive architectural identity separate from neighboring St. Louis across the Mississippi River, particularly through buildings from the 1920s construction boom. This separation makes the area stand out as an independent urban center with its own character and style.
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