101 Series Presents John Crenshaw, 1800s Salt Baron, and Slave Trader

John Crenshaw, 1800s Salt Baron, and Slave Trader

Led by Southeastern Illinois historian & Author, Todd Carr

The first Illinois Constitution allowed slavery at the Great Salt Springs in southern Illinois. In 1830s southern Illinois, the salt industry was dominated by John Crenshaw who monopolized the industry and built his manor house that later became the tourist attraction, The Old Slave House. We'll explore the history of John Crenshaw and how he became a salt baron of southeastern Illinois, the folklore surrounding the Old Slave House, and the reverse Underground Railroad that caused free people of Illinois to be swept back into slavery.

Todd Carr is a local historian in southeastern Illinois who has written two books showcasing its history. Trigg's Tours at Shawnee National Forest tells the story of how a newspaper publisher in the 1930s spearheaded a marketing campaign that brought the Shawnee National Forest to Illinois. Cave-in-Rock Pirates and Outlaws tells the story of the river pirates, horse thieves, and counterfeiters who used the notorious Cave at Cave-in-Rock as a base of operations from the 1790s through the 1870s.