Eagle Hotel (Wilmington, Illinois) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Eagle Hotel
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 100–104 Water Street, Wilmington, Will County, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Built | c. 1837 |
| Architectural style | Mid 19th Century Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 94000021 |
| Added to NRHP | February 16, 1994 |
The Eagle Hotel, also known as the Wilmington Area Historical Society Museum, is an old building in Wilmington, Illinois. It used to be a hotel and is now a museum. This building has a long and interesting history, showing how life changed in Wilmington over many years.
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The Early Days of the Eagle Hotel
The first people settled in Wilmington in 1836. They liked the area because it had many streams and lots of wood. A man named Thomas Cox planned out the town's land. He also built the first grist mill in the area. A grist mill is a place where farmers bring their corn and wheat to be ground into flour.
Farmers often traveled long distances to reach the mill. They needed a place to stay while their crops were being ground. David Lizer bought the land where the hotel stands in 1836. He probably started the hotel project himself. We don't know the exact year the hotel was built. But it was likely after 1837, when the town's first general store opened.
What Was the Hotel Used For?
At first, the building might have been used as a warehouse. A warehouse is a place to store goods. It could have held items for the mills nearby. It might also have been a trading post. A trading post is a place where people can buy, sell, or trade goods.
Henry Brown, who owned the general store in town, built the two-story hotel. It was located across the street from his store on Water Street. The hotel didn't have one specific architectural style. But it was most influenced by the Greek Revival style. This style was popular in the mid-1800s.
Changes and Additions
In the 1840s, a new part was added to the hotel. This addition connected the hotel to the warehouse. This new section also had a storefront. A storefront is a space where different small businesses could rent a spot. They could then sell their goods to customers.
Life as a Hotel and Beyond
The hotel business grew when Wilmington connected to the Chicago and Alton Railroad. This happened in the early 1850s. Trains brought more people and business to the town. However, a fancier hotel, the Exchange Hotel, was built across the street in 1844. The Eagle Hotel didn't get as much new business as the Exchange Hotel.
Adapting to Stay Open
The Eagle Hotel still made money by offering cheap rooms. It was a good place for families who had just moved to the area. Later, U.S. Route 66 was completed. This famous road brought even more customers. But even with more travelers, the hotel had to change. It became a boarding house. A boarding house is a place where people can rent a room for a longer time. It's like a hotel, but for more permanent stays.
From Hotel to Museum
In the 1940s, the building was changed again. It was turned into apartments. Small businesses continued to rent the storefront spaces until 1982. That year, the Wilmington Area Historical Society bought the building. They turned it into a museum.
Sadly, a fire badly damaged the building in 1990. But it was repaired and saved. In 1994, the Eagle Hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical building in the United States. Today, it helps people learn about Wilmington's past.
