Monmouth is rich in local history. Despite its modest size, Monmouth was home to a number of influential individuals, most notably the frontier marshal Wyatt Earp, who was born here in 1848. The renowned international illusionist Will Nicol (The Great Nicola) was a native of Monmouth, as was world pocket billiards champion Ralph Greenleaf. Modern dance pioneer Loie Fuller, Panama Canal chief engineer John Findlay Wallace and President Ronald Reagan all attended grade school in Monmouth. J.B. Herbert, a prolific 19th-century composer of popular and religious music, made his home in Monmouth. The Maple City—Monmouth’s longtime nickname—also holds the distinction of having the first library building erected in Illinois “as a people’s library” and the state’s longest continuously operating airport. Monmouth retains much of its historic character through its well preserved downtown district and the fine Victorian homes that grace many of its neighborhoods. The city’s colorful history and many of its historical artifacts are carefully preserved in the Warren County History Museum on South Sunny Lane.
Contact the Chamber at (309) 734-3181 or email us to request a tourism packet at no charge.
For information about Pottery on the Square, visit the Pottery on the Square page.
