O'Fallon IL History

Founded in 1988, the O'Fallon, IL. Historical Society is dedicated to the preservation of the history of O'Fallon, IL., Illinois and surrounding area. O'Fallon, IL. is located in St. Clair County on I-64 just east of St. Louis, Missouri.

Since 1996, the Society has operated a museum at 101 W. State St. in downtown O'Fallon, IL.. Located in the historic First National Bank building (erected in 1903 and remodeled to its current exterior appearance in 1922), the museum is staffed exclusively by dedicated volunteers and boasts two floors of exhibit and storage space.

The museum features permanent exhibits on local schools, railroads, mining, industry, sports, and military service. Two famous sons - artist Bernie Fuchs and Academy Award winning actor William Holden - are celebrated in permanent exhibits as well. Special rotating exhibits are displayed on a seasonal basis.

Highlights of the museum's collections include a coal stove manufactured in O'Fallon, IL. at the Eureka Stove Foundry, a 1940s voting booth used in O'Fallon, IL. Township, the recreation of an early O'Fallon, IL. school classroom, a large early 20th Century shaving mug and implement collection, an early coal mine telephone system, and much more.

O’Fallon was named after Colonel John J. O’Fallon, a prominent businessman and philanthropist who came to St. Louis after the War of 1812. Colonel O’Fallon served as assistant to his uncle, William Clark, of the Lewis and Clark Expedition fame. Subsequently, he became president of the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad (now a part of the Chessie System), and the first station out of St. Louis was named the O’Fallon Station – setting the stage for O’Fallon’s easy access. Future years would bring Interstate 64 with three exits, which means an easy 10 minute drive to Mid America Airport and 40 minutes to Lambert International Airport in St. Louis as well as easy access to rail lines and barges on the Mississippi River.