Featuring 157 photographs by Randy Tindall with explanatory text, this book preserves both the architectural and cultural heritage of the French, Anglo-Americans, Germans, Poles, Italians, and Slovakians in 16 counties of southern Illinois.Drawing on interviews as well as empirical research, the authors examine the various ethnic influences on vernacular architecture (everyday structures built without the aid of an architect). To that end they illustrate and discuss domestic, commercial, and ecclesiastical building styles, the cultural use of space, place-names, epigraphs and related inscriptions, settlement patterns, and some types of folk art and material culture. They show through text and photograph what the immigrants brought to southern Illinois and how their influence remains today.