Collinsville, Illinois, USA

The first permanent settler moved here in 1810, but Collinsville is named for the three brothers who first resided here in 1817. This historic town sits on the bluff of the Mississippi River with a view of St. Louis, Missouri. Two of the nation's famous historic highways go through Collinsville, Route 66 and the National Road (U.S. 40)

Today Collinsville is the center of the large urban area known as Metro East. Despite this location, the revitalized downtown historic district has a small town atmosphere, several historic features, and many independent one-of-a-kind shops.

Collinsville calls itself "the Horseradish Capital of the World." It is not big on art, except for it's giant catsup bottle water tower. St. Louis is very close by, and has a full range of cultural attractions.
(Click photo to enlarge)

Location

Eastern suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri
12 miles from the Gateway Arch in St. Louis
I-64

MapQuest map

Population

About 26,000

Features in Collinsville

Campground
Collinsville Historic Museum
Downtown Historic District
Gateway Center (convention and visitors complex)
Fairmount Park (thoroughbred race track)
Hotels and vacation rentals

Advantage Rate

Family Vacation Rentals

Miner’s Theatre (historic)
National Road (historic National Scenic Byway)

www.NationalRoad.org 800-289-2388

Route 66 (historic highway)
Splash City Family Waterpark
View of the Mississippi River and St. Louis
Walking tour

(self-guided tour of 30 historic downtown buildings)

World’s Largest Catsup Bottle

170-foot water tower just south of town
Constructed in 1949, restored in 1995
More larger-than-life objects

Features nearby

Amtrak passenger rail station (St. Louis)

www.TexasEagle.com/stations/STL.htm

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site

A United Nations World Heritage Site
2,200-acre site preserving a prehistoric Indian city
www.cr.NPS.gov/WorldHeritage/Cahokia.htm

Campgrounds and RV parks

Check Woodall's guide

Contemporary Art Museum

www.contemporarystl.org

Gateway International Raceway

(auto racing, 6 miles west of Collinsville, near Madison)

Golf courses (10 within 10 miles of Collinsville)
Hotels and vacation rentals

Advantage Rate

HotelDiscount

Family Vacation Rentals

Jefferson National Expansion Monument

On the St. Louis waterfront, 12 miles west of Collinsville
Gateway Arch (The nation's tallest national monument)
Museum of Westward Expansion
Old Courthouse
877-982-1410 314-655-1700 www.NPS.gov/Jeff

Lambert-St. Louis International Airport

www.Lambert-StLouis.com

Missouri Botanical Garden (St. Louis)

314-577-5100

Pere Marquette State Park (5 miles west of Grafton)

8,050 acres
biking, boating, camping, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, interpretative programs, visitor center

Saint Louis Science Center

Includes McDonnell Planetarium, 800-456-SLSC

Hours

Festivals

June: Horseradish Festival
September: Italian Festival (2 days)
December:

Christmas in Collinsville
Holiday House Tour

Recommended stay

History buffs: Half to full day

(longer to include St. Louis)

Tourist information

Preservation organization www.DowntownCollinsville.com

Chamber of Commerce www.DiscoverCollinsville.com

City government ci.collinsville.il.us

Illinois Bureau of Tourism www.EnjoyIllinois.com

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Join Veterans Advantage and get discounts on Amtrak, Greyhound, hotels, car rentals, etc. Save up to 70%. Magazine. Many benefits.



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This page was last updated on 10/22/2007 .

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