Carbondale College (501 South Washington Street)

(Click the photo above for an audio tour)

The evolution of Southern Illinois University began here in 1856 when Presbyterians founded Carbondale College. Suffering hardships during the Civil War, the college was sold to the First Christian Church in the mid 1860’s and renamed Southern Illinois College. The existing college, with a student body of 300, was pivotal in Carbondale being chosen as the location for Southern Illinois Normal University in 1869. Leading these efforts were town founder Daniel Brush, businessman James Campbell, and Minister Clark Braden. The university moved from this spot, to its current location, in 1874 and was renamed Southern Illinois University in 1947.