The McPike Mansion, also known as Mount Lookout, is a substantial Italianate-style Victorian house built in 1869 by Henry Guest McPike, a prominent local businessman and horticulturist. It stands on a bluff above Alton with commanding views of the surrounding area and is one of the most impressive pieces of 19th-century domestic architecture in the region.
The mansion has been unoccupied and in a state of romantic decay for decades, which has given it a reputation as one of the most haunted houses in Illinois — a claim that brings ghost hunters and paranormal investigators regularly to its gates. Tours are occasionally offered; check current status before visiting. Even from the outside, the building's ornate detailing and elevated setting make it worth a short detour from the town centre.