Special Events 2018

January 20, 1820 Painting Party, 1-3 p.m. Join us at the Stephenson House for an 1820s Painting Party! We will complete a notecard and 9 x 12  floral with a break to enjoy treats and drinks. Supplies will be provided. Space is limited to 10 adults (age 18 and up). Admission: Free. RSVP by calling 618-692-1818.

January 23, Annual Meeting, 7 p.m. This meeting is open to all members of the Friends of the 1820 Col. Benjamin Stephenson House and current board members.

February 3, 1820 American Girl (Girl Scouts Program), 9a.m.-12p.m. $16 per girl. Limited to a minimum of 12 and maximum of 15. Participating Girl Scout troops earn the ‘Playing the Past’ badge as they experience the life in the 1820s. Troops tour the historic house and experience life for a girl in the 1820s with hands-on activities. Cost includes badge, butter making supplies, use of  a  dress, simple journal, and all activities associated with the badge. Troops must register through Girl Scouts of Southern  Illinois. Call 800-345-6858 or 618-692-0692.

February 17, Winter Dinner & Auction, 5:00 p.m. $40 per person or $400 for a table of 10. (fundraiser) Join the Friends of Stephenson House at our annual winter celebration. The event is held at the beautiful Lewis & Clark College, Edwardsville Campus, Leclaire room. Enjoy a delicious dinner from Bella Milano while participating in the silent and oral auctions. To purchase tickets call 618-692-1818. Reservations required by February 4.

February 24, The Secrets of Tatting, 10 am- 12pm. $20 per person. This workshop teaches participants the art of tatting. A form of handmade lace, tatting is a traditional skill with origins dating back centuries and spanning continents. Learn the history, lore and techniques for basic tatting and make a snowflake medallion useful for a tree ornament of heirloom sewing appliqué. Class size is limited to 10 adults.

March 3, 1820 American Girl (Girl Scouts Program), 9a.m.-12p.m. $16 per girl. Limited to a minimum of 12 and maximum of 15. Participating Girl Scout troops earn the ‘Playing the Past’ badge as they experience the life in the 1820s. Troops tour the historic house and experience life for a girl in the 1820s with hands-on activities. Cost includes badge, butter making supplies, use of  a  dress, simple journal, and all activities associated with the badge. Troops must register through Girl Scouts of Southern  Illinois. Call 800-345-6858 or 618-692-0692.

March 10, The Whitesides: Benjamin & Lucy's Neighbors (Lecture), 1 pm, $5 per person. Come hear a lecture about Benjamin Stephenson's neighbors who lived close to the present day campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

March 25, Easter Egg Hunt, The House will conduct two Easter egg hunts. In the first round, children 8 and up will try their luck to find eggs with prizes inside. Once the children finish, they are welcome to rehide the eggs for the second round of hunting. Children 6 and under will have their chance to hunt for eggs to enjoy the prizes inside. The first Easter egg hunt will begin at 2:00 p.m. and the second egg hunt will promptly follow at 3:00 p.m. In addition to two egg hunts, families can enjoy an egg dying demonstration from herbs and vegetables found in the 1820s. The demonstrator will use natural dyes to show guests how dying worked when Benjamin and Lucy Stephenson lived in Edwardsville. During the event, House tours will be discounted as: $5 for adults, $2 for children 6 to 12, and children 5 and under are free. The Easter Egg Hunt is free and only House tours will cost additonal.

April 14, Military Muster for the 200th, 10am-4pm. Free. Army regulars (soldiers) gather at Stephenson House to commemorate Illinois' Bicentennial. Discover what preparations were necessary in defense of the new State. Visitors can tour a military encampment, learn about a soldiers’ daily routine, obverse cooking demonstration, talk with an Army surgeon and watch as the soldiers practice military drill during this one day event. 

April 14, Colonial Medicines & Their Uses, 2 p.m., $5 per adult. Learn how our forefathers used 19th century medicines to offset sickness and death. Space is limited and registration is required. Lecture will be held at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church 406 Hillsboro Ave. Edwardsville, IL 62025. Maps are available at the Stephenson House.

April 21, Trivia Through the Decades, 7p.m. (doors open at 6:30p.m.), held at the Moose Lodge (7371 Marine Road, Edwardsville, IL). $150/8 person table or $20 per person. Call 618-692-1818 to reserve a table. To download the event flyer, click here.     #trivia, #TriviaThroughtheDecades, #T3D15, #stephensontrivia

June 13-15, Pioneer Summer Camp, 9a.m.-2p.m., $85 (due at registration). The camp transports area children back-in-time to the Illinois Territory and the birth of our state. The camp focuses on hands-on history activities common place in the daily lives of early residents of Illinois. Open to student in grades (current) 3rd through 6th. Registration required and includes all supplies. Participants should bring a sack lunch; midmorning snack and drinks provided. Space is limit to 12 participants. Payment is due at time of registration to insure placement in the class.  Call 618-692-1818 to register your child today.

June 30, Turban Workshop, 2pm, $10 per adult (16+ years old). Discover the fashion and function of tying turbans during the Regency era through methods still practiced by many cultures today. Participants will learn how to tie a basic scarf turban; three variations of the basic turban; resources for wearing and learning to tie other styles of turbans. Some supplies will be available for use during the workshop but participants are asked to bring the following: 17"x 75" scarf (cotton, mostly cotton, or textured blend), square scarf 32" squared (contrasting color), coated ponytail band. Registration is required and space is limited. To register please call 618-692-1818.Cost is $10 per person and due at time of registration. Level of Difficulty: Basic Beginner

Registation Closed. FILLED TO CAPACITY...July 18-20, Mrs. Lucys Academy for Young Ladies, 9a.m.-2p.m., $85 (due at registration). Young ladies attending the Academy will discover what it was like to be a real American girl in 1820. Participants dress in reproduction clothing similar to styles worn in the early 1800s. At the end of the camp, a tea will be hosted by participants for their mother (or father) showcasing the skills learned during the three-day camp. Dress size is needed for each participant. Pre-registration is required. Ages 8-12 years. Participants should bring a sack lunch; midmorning snack and drinks provided. Space is limit to 12 participants. Call 618-692-1818 to register your child today. #mrslucysacademy

July 28, Movie Night on the Lawn, This night kicks off our 3 movie night series this summer. Beauty and the Beast (2017) will be shown at 8:30 p.m. Bring chairss or blankets to sit on and enjoy the picturesque view of the Stephenson House while watching a great movie. This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be given to movie viewers. To stay up to date on the movie nights, check out our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram page.

August 11, 1818 Trades Day, Local skilled artisans will be at the Stephenson House to demonstrate trades that were performed in the 1820s. Some of the trades that will be demonstrated are: gunsmithing, spinning, chair caning, basket weaving, leatherworking, sewing, flaxing, felting, Scherenscnitte, lacework and medicine. This event begins at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 4:00 p.m. For more information on Bicentennial celebrations, visit www.illinois200.com.

August 18, Movie Night on the Lawn, This is our second summer installment of the movie nights on the lawn. We will be showing A Dog's Purpose at 8:30 p.m. Bring chairss or blankets to sit on and enjoy the picturesque view of the Stephenson House while watching a great movie. This is event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be given to movie viewers. To stay up to date on the movie nights, check out our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram page.

August 25, Movie Night on the Lawn, This is our final summer movie night of the year. We will be showing Sing at 8:30 p.m. Bring chairss or blankets to sit on and enjoy the picturesque view of the Stephenson House while watching a great movie. This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be given to movie viewers. To stay up to date on the movie nights, check out our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram page.

September 8, Ben's Bash. Enjoy an evening of BBQ made by Holy Smokers and bluegrass music with Keith Dudding and The Mountain River Valley Boys. This year the Stephenson House will have an inflatable obstacle course, snow cone machine, and cornhole/bags. Ben's Bash will begin at 3:00 p.m. and end at 7:00 p.m. Adult tickets are $20 which includes food and a beverage. Children tickets for 12 and under are $10.00 which includes a hot dog and chips meal with unlimited passes on the inflatable course. House tours will not be available during this event. This is a rain or shine event!

October 7, 50/50 Antique Auction, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Come find an antique treasure at the annual 50/50 Antique Auction. A variety of collectibles are offered including: ceramics, crocks and jugs, Native American artifacts, old pocket knives fishing equipment, holiday decor, costume jewelry, toys and furniture. Auction takes place on the grounds of the historic home. Some items have been placed on an online auction. Please visit http://live.a-nauctions.com/ to look at items and place bids. For more information: 618-692-1818.  House tours will not be available during this event. DONATION FORM

October 4-28, Special Exhibit:  Mourning Col. Stephenson, General Admission Fee. Join us as we explore the macabre side of the Stephenson House history. Col. Stephenson died in the house on October 10, 1822 and visitors will get a glimpse of the mourning customs practiced by the family almost two hundred years ago.

October 28, A Gothic Evening with Edgar Allan Poe, 4:00-9:30 p.m. Step into the darkness of the 1820 Col. Benjamin Stephenson House's candlelit parlor on October 28 to ponder the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Anne Williams, a historic interpreter certified with the National Association of Interpreters will perform a selection of Poe’s famous poems and short stories as dramatic recitations. This event is $16.00 per person and registration prior to the readings is highly suggested. Seating is limited. There will be no tours given during the event.

November 3, 1820 American Girl (Girl Scouts Program), 9a.m.-12p.m. $16 per girl. Limited to a minimum of 12 and maximum of 15. Participating Girl Scout troops earn the ‘Playing the Past’ badge as they experience the life in the 1820s.  Troops must register through Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois. Call 800-345-6858 or 618-692-0692. 

November 23 & 24, Christmas Candlelight Tours, 6-9 pm (closed during the day), $10 Adult, $5 child (6-12 years), children five years and under admitted free. Experience an 1820s Christmas  during this candlelight event. Historically garbed  docents discuss the rich history of the house as guests take a self-guided tour through the festively adorned rooms. Enjoy a cup of hot wassail, a sweet treat, a story or two, and a warm fire as Stephenson House ushers in the holiday season.Stephenson House will not be open during the day on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.  #1820christmas, #stephensoncandlelight 

December 1, A Spirited Holiday Past, 10-4 pm. Twenty-six historic houses, museums, and privately-owned homes around the St. Louis region are joining together to present a splendid grand tour. For this one-day event, each venue will be decorated with a festive flair and may offer costumed skits, music, other seasonal activities, and refreshments. Choose a themed tour or customize your own. Visit the Historic Saint Louis website www.historicsaintlouis.org to discover your newest, spirited holiday tradition. Fees vary by location.

December 1, St. Nicholas Storytime, 10-11:30 am. This fun seasonal event will include a story about St. Nicholas that preserves the innocence of childhood belief and wonder at the magical, mysterious gif giver while also learning about culture, customs and history of the holiday season. Participants will also make a craft to take home for use with their own holiday celebrations and enjoy a holiday themed snack together. Reservations are required and seating is limited. Appropriate for ages 6 to 10. For more information call: (618) 692-1818

December 8, Mrs. Lucy's Birthday Tea, 1-3 pm. Enjoy a musical soiree and afternoon tea with performances by local musicians from EHS and Swing City Music. Refreshments will be served. Seating is limited. Tickets are $10 per person. Reservation required and may be made by calling 618-692-1818.