Howard House Hotel

One of the many hotels that existed in St. Charles from the 1830s to 1910, the Howard House Hotel is one of the few that remains relatively intact. The north section, built in the 1840s by Joel Witherell, served as the original hotel. Leonard and David Howard bought the building two years later, raised its roof, and added the south section. A pillared wrap-around porch trimmed the combination Federal and Greek Revival style building. During its heyday, the hotel hosted holiday parties and military balls. It served as housing for members of the 8th Illinois Cavalry when the soldiers were training at Camp Kane. Mrs. Lincoln stayed here for a time following the assassination of her husband in April 1865. Under the alias of "Mrs. May," she often frequented the Howard home for spiritual guidance from Mrs. Caroline Howard.