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Peoria Warehouse Historic District facts for kids

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Peoria Warehouse Historic District
Image The Mill, located in Peoria Warehouse District.jpeg
The Mill was constructed in 1891 and was the home of the Wahlfeld's manufacturing company. The building now houses artists' studios.
Peoria Warehouse Historic District is located in Illinois
Peoria Warehouse Historic District
Location in Illinois
Peoria Warehouse Historic District is located in the United States
Peoria Warehouse Historic District
Location in the United States
Location Roughly along Adams, May, Oak, Persimmon, State, Walnut & Washington Sts., Peoria, Illinois
NRHP reference No. 14000621
Added to NRHP September 17, 2014

The Peoria Warehouse Historic District is a special area in Peoria, Illinois, located southwest of the city center. It's a collection of old industrial buildings. The district has 68 buildings in total. Out of these, 59 are called contributing buildings. This means they are important to the district's history and look.

These buildings include large storage places called warehouses and other industrial structures. They were built between the 1880s and the 1920s. Their designs are mostly practical and simple. They were inspired by the Chicago school of architecture. Most buildings have strong frames made of reinforced concrete and outer walls made of brick. This historic district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 17, 2014. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.

History of the Warehouse District

In the late 1800s, Peoria became a very important place for industry and shipping goods. The warehouse district grew quickly because it was close to the Illinois River. It also had many train lines, which made it easy to move products.

The types of businesses in this district showed what was important to Peoria's economy. These included companies that made farm tools. There were also businesses involved in making and distributing beverages. Iron and steel production was another key industry here.

Modern Changes and Revitalization

In the 21st century, the warehouse district has started to change and become new again. Many of the old buildings are now being used for different purposes. Some have become homes, while others are shops or places for small businesses.

The city government and a group called the Downtown Development Corporation of Peoria have helped with this work. Money for these changes has come partly from a special funding plan called a tax increment financing district.

New Businesses in the District

Several new places to eat and drink have opened in the district. They are located in buildings that have been fixed up.

  • Rhodell Brewery: This business opened in 1998. It makes its own special beers and has a place where people can try them. In 2015, Rhodell Brewery moved to a bigger spot in the Murray Building. Besides selling its own beer, Rhodell also has a program where people can make their own beer using the brewery's equipment.
  • Bearded Owl Brewing: This is another place that makes its own special beers. It opened in 2018 on State Street.
  • Other Spots: The Thyme Kitchen + Craft Beer restaurant and the Zion Coffee Bar have also opened in renovated buildings in the warehouse district.
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