National Register of Historic Places listings in Chicago facts for kids
Chicago, Illinois, is home to over 350 special places listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places. This includes 83 historic districts, which are areas with many important old buildings, structures, objects, and sites. These listings help protect and celebrate places that are important to American history.
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What is the National Register?
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the nation's historic places worthy of preservation. It's like a special club for buildings, sites, and objects that tell important stories about our past. The National Park Service manages this list.
First Historic Sites in Chicago
On October 15, 1966, when the National Register was first created, four places in Chicago were among the very first to be listed. These included:
- Hull House, a famous settlement house that helped many people.
- The Frederick C. Robie House, designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
- The Lorado Taft Midway Studios, an important art studio.
- The site of the First Self-Sustaining Nuclear Reaction, a place where a major scientific breakthrough happened.
These first four sites were already recognized as National Historic Landmarks. A National Historic Landmark is an even higher level of historical importance. In Chicago, 34 sites and three historic districts have this special Landmark status.
Types of Historic Places in Chicago
Chicago's listings show its rich history. You can find many different kinds of places on the National Register here:
- Skyscrapers: Many early skyscraper buildings, some designed by the famous architect Louis Sullivan, are listed.
- Retail History: Several sites are important because of Chicago's role in nationwide shopping and retail.
- Religious Buildings: Numerous churches and other religious buildings are included.
- Hotels and Theaters: There are 15 historic hotels and six theaters on the list.
- The Loop: A large number, 55, of these historic places are located in Chicago's downtown Loop area. This includes the Loop Retail Historic District itself.
Chicago's Watercraft History
Chicago has always been an important port city because of its location on the Great Lakes. These lakes connect to the Atlantic Ocean through the St. Lawrence Seaway. Because of this, two watercraft are listed on the National Register:
- The German submarine U-505, a famous submarine.
- The AVR 661, a U.S. aircraft rescue vehicle.
How Places Get Listed
For a place to be added to the National Register, it usually needs to be at least 50 years old. It also must still look much like it did in the past, meaning it has kept its "historic integrity." The owner of the property also needs to agree to its listing.
Because of these rules, some historically important places in Chicago are not yet on the National Register. However, over 100 places on the National Register are also named City of Chicago-designated landmarks. The city's list includes even more structures that might not meet all the National Register rules yet.
