Districts, Landmarks, Surveys and Tours

The National Park Service administers the National Register of Historic Places. The National Register is the official federal list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture. National Register properties have significance to the history of their community state, or the nation. Private individuals and organizations, local governments, and American Indian tribes often initiate this process and prepare the necessary documentation. A professional review board within the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency considers each property proposed for listing and makes a recommendation on its eligibility to the National Park Service.

The National Park Service administers the National Register of Historic Places. The National Register is the official federal list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture. National Register properties have significance to the history of their community state or the nation. Private individuals and organizations, local governments, and American Indian tribes often initiate this process and prepare the necessary documentation. A professional review board within the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency considers each property proposed for listing and makes a recommendation on its eligibility to the National Park Service.

Central Congregational Church, 60 Public Square

This massive stone church is one of the best examples of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture in Illinois. Designed by the local architect C.E. Gottschalk, the church stands on the site of the Old First Church which was built in the 1840s by the original colonists’ congregation. The cornerstone of the structure was laid in 1897, and the building was completed in December 1898 at a cost of $75,000. Of particular interest is the beautifully detailed rose window over the triple-arched entry. The church was listed on the National Register in 1976.

Old Main, Knox College Campus

The structure was built in 1857 and designed by architect Charles Ulricson. As the home of the fifth Lincoln-Douglas debate, Old Main was among the first non-federally owned or operated buildings in the country to be recognized as a National Historic Landmark, a status it received in 1935. On October 15, 1966, Old Main was also among the earliest buildings listed in the National Register.

On November 6, 1978, a neighborhood located on North Chambers Street, mostly between East Losey Street and Grove Street, was designated as a Local Historic District with the adoption of ordinance #78-639. Among the seventeen properties included are several homes on the east side of the street that were designed by Galesburg’s first professionally trained architect, William S.E. Wolf, who used many traits common to the Queen Anne style.

There are currently 25 designated local historic landmarks. When your property is granted local landmark status, it is protected from drastic changes that would affect the exterior historic or architectural character and it will ensure that same protection for future generations. 

Any improvement to a Local Landmark that is visible from a public way requires a Certificate of Appropriateness (C of A), available through the GLC. Through guidelines outlined in Galesburg’s Historic Preservation ordinance and partnering with the Galesburg Landmark Commission (GLC), property owners are provided resources that afford them options when considering changes, as well as parameters designed to help maintain the historic significance of the property.

1970 – 1975

One of the directives of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 was that each state establish an historic preservation office and prepare comprehensive surveys of historic properties. The initial focus of the Illinois’ survey program was to conduct an architectural survey to identify historically, architecturally and archeologically valuable areas in every community with a population of more than 500 persons in order to obtain data to develop and implement programs for historic preservation in Illinois. This was accomplished through three surveys conducted between 1970 and 1975; the Illinois Historic Structures Survey, an inventory of places of purely architectural interest; the Illinois Historic Landmarks Survey, an inventory of places of historic importance; and the Illinois Archaeological Survey, an inventory of historic and prehistoric archaeological sites. Information from these surveys may be found on the Historic Architecture and Archaeological Geographic Information System--HAARGIS, for short—on the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (IHPA) website.

1990

The City of Galesburg received a Certified Local Government (CLG) grant, which was 70% from the state CLG fund and 30% from the city funds and in-kind contributions. The survey area contained approximately 800 buildings located in central downtown and a portion of the National Historic District, covering about 445 acres.

2000

The City of Galesburg received another Certified Local Government (CLG) grant, which was 60% from the state CLG fund and 40% from the city funds and in-kind contributions. The survey area contained approximately 163 properties located north of East Mary Street along Broad, Cherry and Prairie Streets extending several lots north of East Fremont Street, covering about 53.7 acres.

The diversity of architectural styles of buildings in Galesburg is impressive. Many of these buildings can be seen during the walking tours. The tours take approximately 20-30 minutes to walk and feature many homes, businesses, and churches.

• Browning Tour
• George Washington Gale Tour
• Civic Center Tour
• Businessmen’s Row Tour
• Chambers Street District Tour
• Main Street Tour
• Lombard Tour
• Church Tour

The collection of tours are found on the Self- Guide Walking Tours of Historic Galesburg page.