Downtown East St. Louis Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Downtown East St. Louis Historic District
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Collinsville Avenue in 2003
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | Portions of Collinsville, Missouri, and St. Louis Aves., East St. Louis, Illinois |
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| NRHP reference No. | 14000622 |
| Added to NRHP | September 17, 2014 |
The Downtown East St. Louis Historic District is a special old business area in East St. Louis, Illinois. It includes 35 buildings, and 25 of them are important to its history. These buildings are found along Collinsville Avenue, Missouri Avenue, and St. Louis Avenue. Almost all of them were once used for shops or offices.
People started building here in the late 1800s. But a big tornado destroyed many buildings in 1896. After that, the first buildings that are still there today were built around 1900. By 1910, this area became a busy and successful shopping district. It had many stores, offices, and places for fun. Some buildings from that time, like the Murphy Building and the Cahokia Building, are still standing.
What Makes This District Special?
Lots more buildings were built in the 1920s. This was a time when more people moved to East St. Louis. The city's economy also grew a lot. New buildings from this period include the Spivey Building, which was the city's only skyscraper (a very tall building). There's also the Union Trust Bank Company Building, which was the biggest bank in the city. Other important buildings are the Grossman Building and the Majestic Theatre, a popular movie theater. These new buildings helped East St. Louis create its own unique look. It was different from nearby St. Louis.
Why Did Downtown East St. Louis Change?
Starting in the 1960s, East St. Louis and its downtown area began to face tough times. Many big businesses moved away to other towns nearby. Some parts of the city became run-down. This led to many important business buildings being left empty or torn down.
Also, more cars and new highways meant fewer people walked downtown. This made it even harder for businesses to succeed. Today, the city has only one-third as many people as it did in 1950. Many buildings in the district are empty. They are at risk of being torn down or falling apart.
Why Is It a Historic Place?
The Downtown East St. Louis Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 17, 2014. This means it's recognized as an important part of history. The National Register helps protect places that tell the story of America.
