About Us

The Beardstown Opera House was originally constructed in 1872 in Beardstown, Cass County, Illinois. Just as the building neared completion, it was nearly destroyed by a tornado, which struck in 1882 and demolished much of the nearly finished structure.   After the disaster, the owners and volunteer townsfolk rebuilt it together, and the first troupe to perform in the restored Opera House featured General Tom Thumb, made famous by P.T. Barnum.  

Throughout its long history, the building has had many owners. From 1872 to 1893, it was controlled by a partnership between Henry Krohe and George Schneider—with Krohe known in local records, while Schneider has been lost to history.   From 1893 to 1899, ownership was held by five partners: T.K. Condit, J.P. Harris, Merton Harris, William Deppe, and August Deppe.   Between 1899 and 1904, three of those owners—Condit, Harris, and J.F. Duvall—continued in control after the others stepped down.  

In 1904, the Deppe family acquired full control and maintained ownership for the next fifty years.   The Huss family then took over in 1954 and remained owners until 1968.   In more recent decades, the building was owned by the Irene Schroll family before being sold in March 2004 to the Heritage Preservation Foundation, a non‑profit created to preserve and operate the Opera House.  

The Opera House was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 11, 2000, and today it remains one of only two National Register sites in Cass County.   Along with its preservation, the Heritage Preservation Foundation and other preservation groups have worked on restoration projects over the years, including upgrades to safety systems, climate control, and structural stabilization to keep the building in use and historically meaningful.  

Historically, the second floor housed a stage and auditorium seating up to 600 people, while the ground floor included three storefronts that faced Main Street—some of which still serve retail and community purposes today.   The Opera House has hosted a wide range of entertainment through the years, from plays and musicals to community events, and continues to be a cultural hub for theater, performances, and local gatherings