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The Fayette County Museum, housed in the First Presbyterian Church building, is located north of the statehouse. Originally, the building was located on Lots 16 and 17 North Square of the original town of Vandalia. Historically this was the site of the House of Divine Worship, built in 1823. Five lots were conveyed to the trustees of the town of Vandalia on February 12, 1823 by an act of the General Assembly of Illinois for use in constructing a nondenominational house of worship. The Trustees were instructed to sell four of the lots, and the funds raised from the sale were to be used for the purpose of creating a house of divine worship, free for all denominations to preach in..."
The House of Divine Worship was used by many denominations and also served as a meeting house and school house and, for many years, was the social center of the wilderness capital. As time passed, the congregations meeting in the House of Divine Worship grew and they built their own churches. The last congregation to use the building was the Presbyterian congregation.
In 1867 they had the building moved from the original lot and built the First Presbyterian Church. The old church is on the National Register of Historic Places, and now houses the Fayette County Museum. The significance of the building is both historical and architectural in nature. The site of the building having been granted to the city of Vandalia by an act of the General Assembly of the State of Illinois in 1823, for the establishment of a church is unusual. The Early Gothic Revival styling is a rare, surviving example in the area of ecclesiastical architectural design from the 1860's time period. The buildings exterior and interior design features represent a high degree of artistic achievement.
The building has been the home of the Fayette County Museum since June, 1979. The museum's fine collection includes items brought to Vandalia from Germany by the Ferdinand Ernst Colony in 1820 one year after the establishment of Vandalia as our first state capital.
The site is open to the more than 30,000 tourists who visit Vandalia's historic district each year. Hours are 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday – Saturday. There is no admission charge. Donations are greatly appreciated.
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