Come Visit Us!

We are open every Saturday from
10am to 4pm or by appointment.

Phone: (618)222-9430

Labor & Industry Museum
123 North Church St.
Belleville, Illinois 62220

Exhibit: The Richland Creek Flood of 1957

In 1957 Belleville experienced the worst flooding in its history. Following heavy rains Richland Creek overflowed, for a time preventing travel between east and west Belleville. The creek flooded over 250 homes and 50 businesses. Five people died within Belleville's city limits as a consequence of the flood, and property damages exceeded $2.5 million. On 9 June 2008, the museum opened a new exhibit, "Belleville Cut in Two: The Richland Creek Flood of 1957", to document this catastrophe. Photographs, maps, newspaper articles, and personal recollections give witness to the flood's devastation. Current photographs of sites portrayed by the historic photographs depict the transformation of the cityscape and changes to lifestyles that have occurred since the mid-20th century.

Click To View Exhibit Photos