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Narodni Sin

Historic building
In Edwardsville, Illinois
On Route 66
National Register of Historic Places

Narodni Sin, the Czech National Hall, stands on Vandalia Street in Edwardsville, IL. A Czech fraternal group, the Czechoslovak Protective Society, built it in 1906 after outgrowing its first meeting hall, and used it for cultural events and fitness activities. Later it passed into private hands and was leased to businesses. It is listed on the National Register and sits less than a mile off the old road, in a walkable cluster of old Edwardsville buildings.

What is Narodni Sin?

The name is Czech for National Hall. The building served as the home base of the Czechoslovak Protective Society, which used it for its cultural programs and its physical fitness activities. Today it is a commercial building, with shop space leased out, so its story is told from the outside.

History of Narodni Sin

The society paid for the hall and opened it in 1906, once its first meeting place had grown too small. In 1971 the society sold the building to the granddaughter of its builder. She fixed it up and rented it out for business use. It joined the National Register in 2002.

Visiting Narodni Sin: tips

Enjoy the facade from the sidewalk; unless a business inside is open to customers, there is nothing to tour. A quick photo stop is enough.

The Berleman House is about 0.1 miles away, the Benjamin Stephenson House, a restored 1820 home, about 0.3 miles, and the John Weir House about 0.5 miles.