The Pantheon Theatre is 103 years old today.

The facility in downtown Vincennes is now a non profit, Co-working and Entrepreneurial Center.

It was first constructed as a performing theatre and the perfect stop between Chicago and St. Louis to see a show.

It was the only place in the area that could handle a Broadway style performance.

Many nationally known entertainers including Vincennes’ own Red Skelton gave live performances there.

It closed in the 1960’s and was rented out for a time, but then deteriorated and sat vacant.

In the early 2000’s an effort was made to restore the building which later failed and then a non profit local organization turned it into what it is today.

It’s credited with bringing business people and entrepreneurs together to create new economic opportunities in the region including AgroRenew, the company that will build a bioplastics plant in the Knox County Industrial Park. Groundbreaking is next month.

To celebrate the Pantheon’s anniversary today, there is a community tour at 4-pm followed by a Happy Hour and networking opportunity at 5pm.