Stephenson House

Colonel Benjamin Stephenson was one of the founding fathers of both the city of Edwardsville and the state of Illinois. He played an important role in Illinois becoming the nation's 21st state in 1818.  Edwardsville was named after Stephenson's friend Ninian Edwards, third governor of Illinois.  It is the third-oldest city in Illinois, and was a hub of economic and political activity in the 1800's.