National Register of Historic Places listings in Will County, Illinois facts for kids
Have you ever wondered about the oldest and most special places in your community? In Will County, Illinois, there's a list of these amazing spots called the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect buildings, areas, and sites that are important to history.
There are 36 different places in Will County on this list. One of them is even a "National Historic Landmark," which means it's super important to the history of the entire United States! Another place used to be on the list but was removed. Let's explore some of these cool historic sites!
Historic Places in Will County
Alternate Route 66, Wilmington to Joliet
This part of the famous U.S. Route 66 once connected the towns of Wilmington and Joliet. It's about 16 miles long and mostly goes through farmland. This road was a key part of travel across America for many years. Today, much of it is known as Illinois Route 53.
Beecher Mausoleum
The Beecher Mausoleum is a special building in Washington Township. A mausoleum is a building where people are buried. This one was added to the historic list in 2013.
Brandon Road Lock and Dam Historic District
The Brandon Road Lock and Dam is a big structure that helps control the water levels of the Illinois Waterway. This waterway is super important because it connects the Chicago River all the way to the mighty Mississippi River! It's one of eight locks and dams that make this connection possible.
Briscoe Mounds
The Briscoe Mounds are an ancient archaeological site located near the Des Plaines River in Channahon. From 1938 to 1964, experts found pottery and even human remains here. These discoveries show that people from the Mississippian culture lived here between 1200 and 1500 AD.
Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal Historic District
This historic district includes a large part of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. This canal is a major part of the Illinois Waterway. It was built to help manage water and allow ships to travel between Chicago and other areas.
Christ Episcopal Church (Joliet)
This church in Joliet was built in 1885. It was designed by F. S. Allen and served the Episcopalian community for many years. Sadly, the church was destroyed in a fire in 2006.
Downtown Peotone Historic District
When the Illinois Central Railroad opened a station in Peotone in 1856, the area around it grew into a busy downtown. This district became a lively place for businesses. Later, as cars became popular, the district expanded even more.
Downtown Plainfield Historic District
The downtown area of Plainfield is also a historic district. It includes streets like Lockport, Division, and Main, showing how the town grew over time.
Eagle Hotel (Wilmington)
The Eagle Hotel in Wilmington first opened in the late 1830s. It was a place for farmers to stay when they came to Wilmington to use the local grist mill (a mill that grinds grain). Later, the Chicago and Alton Railroad and U.S. Route 66 were built nearby, bringing even more visitors. The inside of the hotel was badly damaged in a fire in 1990.
Fitzpatrick House (Romeoville)
The Fitzpatrick House is located on Illinois Route 53 in Romeoville. It's another important historic home in Will County.
Flanders House (Plainfield)
The Flanders House is a historic home located at 405 West Main Street in Plainfield.
Ron George Round Barn
This unique round barn was originally located northeast of Romeoville. In 1998, it was moved to Essington Road in Bolingbrook. Round barns are special because they were thought to be more efficient for farming.
John Heck House
The John Heck House is a historic building at 1225 South Hamilton Street in Lockport.
Jacob H. Henry House
The Jacob H. Henry House is a beautiful historic home located at 20 South Eastern Avenue in Joliet.
Illinois and Michigan Canal
The Illinois and Michigan Canal is a very important historic site, so important that it's a National Historic Landmark! It's located southwest of Joliet in Channahon State Park. This canal was a major transportation route in the 1800s, connecting the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River system.
Joliet YMCA
The Joliet YMCA building, located at 215 North Ottawa Street in Joliet, was added to the National Register in 2006. The YMCA is a community organization that offers programs for youth and families.
Joliet East Side Historic District
This historic district in Joliet includes an area roughly bounded by Washington and Union Streets, and 4th and Eastern Avenues. It preserves the historic feel and architecture of this part of the city.
Joliet Municipal Airport
The Joliet Municipal Airport, located at 4000 West Jefferson Street in Joliet, is also a historic site. Airports play a big role in the history of transportation and flight.
Joliet Steel Works
The Joliet Steel Works, located at 927 Collins Street in Joliet, was a major industrial site. Steel mills were very important for building cities and industries in the past.
Joliet Township High School
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Joliet Central High School, located at 201 East Jefferson Street in Joliet, is a historic school building. It has been an important place for education in the community for many years.
Louis Joliet Hotel
The Louis Joliet Hotel, at 22 East Clinton Street in Joliet, is a historic hotel. Hotels like this were once grand places for travelers and important events.
Lockport Historic District
The Lockport Historic District covers an area in Lockport between 7th and 11th Streets and Canal and Washington Streets. This district helps protect the historic buildings and layout of this important canal town.
Lockport Lock, Dam and Power House Historic District
This district in Lockport includes the lock, dam, and power house. These structures are key parts of the Illinois Waterway system, helping to manage water flow and generate power.
McGovney–Yunker Farmstead
The McGovney–Yunker Farmstead, located at 10824 LaPorte Road in Mokena, is a historic farm. Farmsteads like this show us what rural life was like in the past.
Robert Milne House
The Robert Milne House is a historic home at 535 East 7th Street in Lockport.
Peotone Mill
The Peotone Mill, located at 433 West Corning Avenue in Peotone, is a historic mill. Mills were essential for grinding grain and producing food in early communities.
Plainfield Halfway House
The Plainfield Halfway House, at 503 Main Street in Plainfield, is another historic building in the area.
Rubens Rialto Square Theater
The Rubens Rialto Square Theater, located at 102 North Chicago Street in Joliet, is a beautiful historic theater. Theaters like this were once grand places for entertainment and performances.
Hiram B. Scutt Mansion
The Hiram B. Scutt Mansion, at 206 N Broadway in Joliet, is a historic mansion. It's a great example of the grand homes built in the past.
Small–Towle House
The Small–Towle House, located at 515 County Road in Wilmington, is another historic home in Will County.
Standard Oil Gasoline Station (Plainfield)
This historic Standard Oil Gasoline Station, at 600 West Lockport Street in Plainfield, shows what early gas stations looked like. They were important as cars became more common.
Stone Manor
Stone Manor is a historic building located southeast of Lockport in Homer Glen.
U.S. Post Office (Joliet)
The U.S. Post Office building, at 150 North Scott Street in Joliet, is a historic federal building. Post offices have always been important for communication and connecting communities.
Union Station (Joliet)
Joliet Union Station, located at 50 East Jefferson Street in Joliet, is a historic train station. Train stations were once bustling hubs of travel and commerce.
Upper Bluff Historic District
The Upper Bluff Historic District in Joliet is roughly bounded by Taylor, Center, and Campbell Streets and Raynor Avenue. This area preserves many historic homes and buildings.
Will County Historical Society Headquarters
The Will County Historical Society Headquarters, at 803 South State Street in Lockport, is a historic building that now houses the society dedicated to preserving Will County's history.
Former Listing
Sometimes, a historic place might be removed from the National Register. This happened to the Ninth Street Seven Arch Stone Bridge in Lockport. It was a beautiful stone bridge with seven arches, but it was unfortunately destroyed in a storm in 2011.
