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Shedd Aquarium

Alton's National Cemetery

600 Pearl St., Alton, IL 62002

Historic Sites

Fought on American soil, the Civil War was the deadliest war in American history.

More than three million men fought in this "war between the states" that claimed the lives of more than 62,000 soldiers. An estimated 263 Union soldiers are buried in Alton's National Cemetery. The men often died of disease at the Alton Hospital or on-board steamboats passing up the Mississippi River.

What's happening nearby...

Alton Midwest Nationals F1 Powerboat Racing

Alton Riverfront Park •  Jul 17 – Jul 19 @ 2PM

Alton, get ready! The F1 Powerboat Championship is making waves once again as the 3rd Annual Alton Midwest Nationals returns to Riverfront Park July 17-19!

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Rock the Hops 2026

Downtown Alton •  Aug 08 @ 2PM

Get ready to rock out in Downtown Alton for Rock the Hops 2026, where music, art, and craft beer collide for an electrifying celebration of creative…

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Confederate Prison Site

Alton

Visit first Illinois State Penitentiary and learn about the ghastly history of the overcrowded, often disease-infested prison. Today, it is a monument dedicated to those who…

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Underground Railroad Shuttle Tours

Alton

Discover the story of the Underground Railroad throughout Alton, IL.

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Confederate Cemetery and Memorial

Alton

Remember those who died in the infamous Alton prison in 1863 as you visit the Confederate Cemetery and Memorial in Alton, IL.

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