John Marshall House Museum

This historic home started as the first territorial and state bank of Illinois.

Featuring Federal-style architecture, this home was built in 1790. The John Marshall House was a wooden structure; eventually, a brick building was built to replace it. Then it was moved away from the levy to prevent flooding. The home had a room that served as the first bank of Illinois. This bank had a room with a trap door in the floor where money was sent down to be put in a barrel. With a gun in hand, the cashier often slept and continued to guard the money through the night. The bank printed its own money back then, including $1, $2, $3, $5, and $7 bills. At one time, a Chicago businessman came to the bank wanting a loan of a few thousand dollars to help his struggling business. John Marshall refused the loan, saying that "Chicago was way too far from Shawnee town to ever amount to anything."

John Marshall and his wife had 7 children. They also had 8 - 16 enslaved domestic servants that lived at the back of the house. Marshall was also the Chief Justice of the United States, appointed to the court in 1801 by President John Adams. Marshall's wife, Amira, had church gatherings in her home in 1820, and eventually, the group became the First Presbyterian church in 1826. They started with only 7 members. John Marshall lived in the home until he died in 1835. One of their daughters, Sarah Marshall, lived there for some time. She was the first female novelist that published a book in the state of Illinois. The home and property remained in the Marshall family until 1911. Tours of the home and bank are available. Guests can see period furniture and great historical pieces such as an 1861 sewing machine, a safe made for the bank, a 2 horse-drawn hearse, and much more. Hours are Wednesday from 11 am - 2 pm, Thursday from 4 pm - 7 pm, Friday from 11 am - 2 pm, Saturday from 10 am - 5 pm, and Sunday from 12 pm - 5 pm.