National Register of Historic Places listings in Rock Island County, Illinois facts for kids

Rock Island County is located in Illinois.

Welcome to Rock Island County, Illinois! This page is all about the amazing historic places here that are so special, they've been added to the National Register of Historic Places. Think of it like a VIP list for buildings, areas, and sites that are super important to American history and culture. When a place is on this list, it means it's recognized for its unique story, cool architecture, or connection to important events.

In Rock Island County, there are 27 places on this special list. One of them is even a National Historic Landmark, which is an even higher honor! We'll explore some of these cool spots and learn why they're so important.

Historic Places to Explore

Black Hawk Museum and Lodge

The Black Hawk Museum and Lodge is a beautiful building.

This building in Rock Island was built in 1985. It looks like a classic old American home, a style called Colonial Revival. It started as a lodge in a state park and now holds the Hauberg Museum, where you can learn about local history.

Black's Store

Black's Store was once the biggest store around.

Located in Hampton, Black's Store opened way back in the 1840s. It was the biggest store in all of northwestern Illinois at the time! Imagine, this building even had the first elevator in the area, which was a huge deal back then.

Broadway Historic District

Many beautiful homes are in the Broadway Historic District.

This is a whole neighborhood in Rock Island that's historic! It has more than 550 old homes and buildings, many of them built in the fancy Victorian style. Walking through this district is like stepping back in time.

Chippiannock Cemetery

Chippiannock Cemetery has unique monuments.

This cemetery in Rock Island was designed to be like a beautiful park, similar to a famous cemetery in Massachusetts. It's not just a burial ground; it's also a place with impressive monuments and sculptures by famous artists.

Connor House

The Connor House is a great example of Queen Anne style.

Built in Rock Island, the Connor House is an early example of the Queen Anne style of architecture, which is known for its towers, turrets, and decorative details. It's located right in the middle of the Broadway Historic District.

John Deere House

John Deere's last home in Moline.

This house in Moline was the last home of John Deere, the famous inventor and businessman who created the steel plow. The house itself is built in the Second Empire style, which was popular in the late 1800s.

Denkmann-Hauberg House

The Denkmann-Hauberg House is a Prairie School design.

This Rock Island home was designed in the unique Prairie School style by architect Robert C. Spencer. It was once the home of John and Susanne Hauberg, who were known for their generous donations to the community.

Fort Armstrong Hotel

The Fort Armstrong Hotel was a luxury spot.

Opened in the 1920s, this luxury hotel in Rock Island was built in the Renaissance Revival style, which brought back classic Roman and Greek designs. It was a grand place to stay!

Fort Armstrong Theatre

The Fort Armstrong Theatre opened in 1920.

This movie theater in Rock Island opened in 1920 and is a great example of Art Deco design. Imagine watching movies here almost a hundred years ago!

LeClaire Hotel

The LeClaire Hotel was once the tallest building in the Quad Cities.

Standing tall in Moline, the LeClaire Hotel opened in 1915. This fifteen-story building was the tallest in the Quad Cities area when it was built. It combines Renaissance Revival and Commercial styles.

Lock and Dam No. 15 Historic District

Lock and Dam No. 15 is the largest roller dam in the world.

This amazing structure in Rock Island is the largest roller dam in the entire world! It helps control the water levels on the Mississippi River and is a really impressive piece of engineering.

Moline Downtown Commercial Historic District

A street in the Moline Downtown Commercial Historic District.

This historic area in Moline covers 33 acres and includes about 100 buildings that show the history of the city's downtown business area. It's a great place to see how Moline grew over time.

Old Main, Augustana College

Old Main is a historic building at Augustana College.

This beautiful building on the campus of Augustana College in Rock Island was built between 1884 and 1893. It's designed in the Renaissance Revival style and is a central part of the college's history.

Peoples National Bank Building-Fries Building

These two buildings are next to each other in Rock Island.

These two buildings in downtown Rock Island are connected and were both built in the late 1800s. They show off the Classical Revival style, which uses elements from ancient Greek and Roman architecture.

Potter House

The Potter House is in the Broadway Historic District.

This home in Rock Island was the residence of Minnie Potter, who owned a newspaper. It's a Colonial Revival style house and is also part of the famous Broadway Historic District.

Rock Island Arsenal

Rock Island Arsenal is a very important historical site.

Located on an island in the Mississippi River, the Rock Island Arsenal is a huge and important place. It was originally the site of Fort Armstrong. Today, it's the largest government-owned factory for making weapons in the United States. During the American Civil War, it was even used as a prison camp.

Rock Island Lines Passenger Station

This old train station is now a banquet hall.

This train station in Rock Island opened in 1901 and was designed in the Renaissance Revival style. It stopped being used as a train station in 1980 and is now a place where people hold parties and events.

Rock Island National Cemetery

The Rock Island National Cemetery was established during the Civil War.

This cemetery was created in 1863 during the American Civil War. It's a special place where soldiers are buried. It even has a separate area for Confederate prisoners of war who were held on the island during the conflict.

Sala Apartment Building

The Sala Apartment Building was built in two parts.

This apartment building in Rock Island was built in two sections, one in 1903 and another in 1913. It's a good example of the Renaissance Revival style used for apartment living.

Stauduhar House

George P. Stauduhar designed his own home.

This house in Rock Island was designed by its owner, George P. Stauduhar, who was an architect. He built it in 1895, making it a personal example of his architectural style.

Robert Wagner House

The Robert Wagner House is a Classical Revival home.

Built in 1904, this Classical Revival style home in Rock Island belonged to Robert Wagner, who was a brewer and a banker. It's also located within the historic Broadway District.

Weyerhaeuser House

The Weyerhaeuser House was renovated in the Second Empire style.

This Rock Island home belonged to Frederick Weyerhaeuser, a very successful lumber businessman. He bought the house in 1865 and made big changes to it in 1882-1883, giving it a grand Second Empire look.

Former Historic Places

Some places were once on the National Register of Historic Places but have since been removed. This can happen if a building is changed too much, or if it is unfortunately demolished.

One example was the Lincoln School in Rock Island. It was a Romanesque Revival style school building that opened in 1893. It was removed from the list because it was torn down in 2012.

Another example was the Villa de Chantal Historic District. This was a former Catholic girls' school. Most of its main building was destroyed in a fire in 2005, and it was removed from the list in 2012.

Images for kids

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  Black Hawk Museum and Lodge

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  Black's Store

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  Broadway Historic District

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  Chippiannock Cemetery

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  Connor House

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  John Deere House

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  Denkmann-Hauberg House

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  Fort Armstrong Hotel

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  Fort Armstrong Theatre

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  LeClaire Hotel

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  Lincoln School (demolished)

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  Lock and Dam No. 15

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  Moline Downtown Commercial Historic District

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  Old Main, Augustana College

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  Peoples National Bank Building-Fries Building

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  Potter House

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  Rock Island Arsenal

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  Rock Island Lines Passenger Station

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  Rock Island National Cemetery

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  Sala Apartment Building

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  Stauduhar House

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  Robert Wagner House

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  Weyerhaeuser House

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  Villa de Chantal Historic District (destroyed by fire)