Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois

Since 1995, Landmarks Illinois has asked preservationists, community leaders and concerned citizens throughout the state to nominate threatened or endangered historic properties for its annual list, the Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois.

The purpose of the list is to focus attention on sites threatened by deterioration, lack of maintenance, insufficient funds, or inappropriate development and to bolster local advocacy efforts and build support for each property’s eventual preservation. The Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois list also draws attention to important policy issues that affect these properties and historic properties throughout the state.

2019 Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois

Landmarks Illinois announced the 2019 Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois on May 1, 2019, at a press conference in Springfield. Click on the name of the site in the map below to learn more about its history, why it is endangered and how you can help. You can also download our one-page map with summaries of each 2019 ‘Most Endangered’ site here.

25 Years of Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois

2019 marks the 25th Anniversary of Landmarks Illinois’ annual Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois. Visit our special anniversary webpage to learn about the program’s impact on preservation in Illinois and read success stories.

Most Endangered 25th Anniversary

Past Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois

2018 Most Endangered

- The Forum, Chicago
- James R. Thompson Center, Chicago
- Second Church of Christ, Scientist, Chicago
- Chautauquas & Tabernacles, Des Plaines, Freeport and Shelbyville (pictured)
- State Fairgrounds, Du Quoin and Springfield
- Varsity Theater Block, Evanston
- The Nite Spot Café, Fairmont City
- Central Congregational Church, Galesburg
- Early Settlement-era Buildings, Geneva
- Kincaid Mounds, Massac and Pope Counties
- Old Nichols Library, Naperville
- Rock Island County Courthouse, Rock Island County
- Stran-Steel House, Wilmette

2017 Most Endangered

- James R. Thompson Center, Chicago
- O'Hare Rotunda Building, Chicago
- Singer Pavilion, Chicago
- Ryan's Round Barn, Henry County (pictured)
- McKee House, Lombard
- Norway Temperance Hall, Norway
- Federal Historic Tax Credit, Statewide
- Historic Bridges, Statewide
- Route 66, Statewide
- World War I Monuments, Statewide

2016 Most Endangered

- Central High School and Neighborhood, Champaign
- Citizens Savings and Loan Association Building, East Alton (pictured)
- Cornell Store and Flats, Chicago
- Harley Clarke Mansion, Evanston
- Historic Neighborhood Schools, Highland Park and Rockford
- Illinois Youth Center Auditorium and Gymnasium, St. Charles
- Lakewood Farms, Wauconda
- Massac County Courthouse, Metropolis
- Salem Armory, Salem
- St. Aldalbert Church, and Chicago's Historic Catholic Churches, Chicago
- YWCA Building, Springfield

2015 Most Endangered

- Arnold-Crowe House, Chicago (pictured)
- Black Hawk Statue, Oregon
- Bowen Building, Peoria State Hospital, Bartonville
- Central Park Theater, Chicago
- Condell House, Springfield
- William H. Coventry House & Barn, Harvard
- Historic Properties in River Edge Redevelopment Zones, Statewide
- Mid-Century Modern Homes, Statewide
- Schulze Bakery, Chicago
- St. James Academy, Lemont
- Thatchot House, Herrin

2014 Most Endangered

- U.S. Marine Hospital, Galena
- Camp Algonquin, Unincorporated McHenry County
- McAuley Schoolhouse, West Chicago (pictured)
- Robertson Building, Virginia
- Hamilton School, Otterville
- Uptown Theatre, Chicago
- Halsted and Willow Gateway, Chicago
- Central Manufacturing District, Chicago
- Hotel Belleville, Belleville
- Old Millstadt Water Tower, Millstadt
- Special 11th Designation Federal Historic Tax Credit Program, Statewide

2013 Most Endangered

- Chicago Bascule Bridges, Chicago
- Community Mausoleums, Statewide
- Gage House, Winnetka
- Lincoln Colored Home, Springfield (pictured)
- Madison Theater, Peoria
- Mineola Hotel, Fox Lake
- Miner’s Institute, Collinsville
- Muddy Waters Residence, Chicago
- Newcomb Hotel, Quincy
- Joel Wiant House, West Chicago

2012 Most Endangered

- Blair House, Lake Bluff
- Bresee Tower, Danville
- Bruch-Guertler House , Alton
- Fox River Country Day School, Elgin
- Freeport City Hall, Freeport
- Historic Neighborhood Schools, Statewide
- Hotel Guyon, Chicago
- Marbold Farmstead, Greenview
- Maywood Home for Soldier’s Widows, Maywood
- Prentice Women’s Hospital, Chicago (pictured)

2011 Most Endangered

- Belleville Turner Hall, Belleville
- Bolivia Road Bridge, Bolivia
- Iannelli Home and Studio, Park Ridge
- New Regal Theater, Chicago
- Prentice Women's Hospital, Chicago
- Sheriff's Residence and Jail, Paxton
- Soper-Burr House, Bloomington
- Streator Catholic Churches, Streator
- West End Settlement House, Rock Island
- Will Rogers Theater, Charleston (pictured)

2010 Most Endangered

- Bass-Mollett House, Greenville
- Chanute Headquarters and Mess Hall, Rantoul
- Illinois Main Street Program, Statewide
- Manske-Niemann Farm, Litchfield
- Massac Theater, Metropolis
- North Pullman, Chicago (pictured)
- Prentice Women’s Hospital, Chicago
- Red Cliff, Moline
- St. Laurence Complex, Chicago
- Uptown Theatre, Chicago

2009 Most Endangered

- Arcade Building, Riverside
- Archer House, Marshall
- Aurora Masonic Temple, Aurora
- Chautauqua Auditorium, Shelbyville
- Davenport, Rock Island & Northwestern Depot, Moline
- Lewis Pharmacy Interior, Canton
- Michael Reese Hospital Campus, Chicago
- Porthole Barns of Greene County, Green Co.
- Prentice Women's Hospital, Chicago
- Shawneetown Bank, Old Shawneetown (pictured)
- Chicago Landmarks Ordinance, Chicago

2008 Most Endangered

- Adams Memorial Library, Wheaton
- Assembly Hall, Urbana-Champaign
- Burlingame House, Eden
- Chicago Daily News Building, Chicago
- Germania Club and Theatre, Chicago
- Gunners' Mates School, North Chicago
- Michigan Avenue Streetwall, Chicago
- The Mill, Lincoln
- Spoon River Bridge, Bernadotte
- Ursuline Academy, Springfield
- Wrigley Field, Chicago (pictured)

2007 Most Endangered

- Barat College's Sacred Heart Chapel, Lake Forest
- Broadwell Tavern, Pleasant Plains
- Cedar Court, Park Ridge
- Duncan Manor, Towanda
- Germania Hall, Freeport
- Lakeshore Athletic Club, Chicago
- Lathrop Homes, Chicago (pictured)
- Longfellow Elementary School, Rock Island
- Robinson Auditorium/Gymnasium, Robinson
- Viking Ship, Geneva

2006 Most Endangered

- Campana Building, Batavia
- Green County Almshouse, Carrollton
- Montgomery House, Glen Carbon
- Mumford House, Urbana (pictured)
- Pickford Theater Building, Chicago
- Religious Structures of Douglas Boulevard, Chicago
- Rock Island Arsenal Structures, Rock Island
- Spring Street Historic Corridor, Galena
- Trail of Tears Encampment, Buncombe
- Westinghouse High School, Chicago
- Pilgrim Baptist Church, Chicago

2005 Most Endangered

- John Parke Gillett Memorial Arch, Elkhart
- Jewelers Row Historic District, Chicago
- Lincoln Hall, Urbana
- Old Lincoln School, Rock Island
- River Forest Women’s Club, River Forest
- Tuscan Masonic Lodge, Carbondale
- Universalist Unitarian Church, Peoria
- Veterans Memorial Pool, Dixon
- Westgate Street, Oak Park
- Zook Home & Studio, Hinsdale
- Cook County Hospital, Chicago (pictured)

2004 Most Endangered

- Eldred House, Eldred
- Fuller Geodesic Dome House, Carbondale
- Henneberry Farmstead, Oswego
- Northeast Evanston Historic District, Evanston
- Palm Tavern, Chicago (pictured)
- Plainfield's Early Settlement Structures, Plainfield
- Promontory Point/Monroe Harbor, Chicago
- St. Leo Catholic Church, Chicago
- Steel Plant Structures along the Calumet River, Chicago
- Judge Taylor House, Springfield
- Cook County Hospital, Chicago

2003 Most Endangered

- Alton City Hall, Alton
- Cook County Hospital, Chicago
- Emmert (“Spring”) House, Mount Carroll
- Des Plaines Methodist Camp Ground, Des Plaines
- Hayes-Healy Gymnasium, Chicago
- Hibbard “Cupola” House, Marengo
- Illinois Central Railroad Depot, Mattoon
- Kendall County Sheriff's Resident & Jail, Yorkville (pictured)
- Metropolitan Community Church and Rectories, Chicago
- Streator Township High School, Streator
- Farnsworth House, Plano

2002 Most Endangered

- Nathan W. Huntley Residence, Chicago
- Big Rock Township Farms, Big Rock
- Eagle Hotel, Wilmington
- Prairie Dell Church, Watseka
- Rosenwald Apartments, Chicago
- Loyola University Mallinckrodt Campus, Wilmette (pictured)
- Moses King Brick & Tile Works, Colchester
- Middaugh Mansion, Clarendon Hills
- Pinckneyville Community High School, Pickneyville
- Joliet Penitentiary, Joliet
- Soldier Field, Chicago

2001 Most Endangered

- C.B.&Q Depot, Aurora
- Cook County Hospital Main Building, Chicago
- Baum & Temple Buildings, Danville
- Goodman Memorial Theater, Chicago
- Main Brothers Box & Lumber Company Office Building, Karnak
- Manske-Niemann Farm, Litchfield (pictured)
- Mound City Marine Ways & U.S. Naval Station/Yard, Mound City
- Uptown Theatre, Chicago
- Warm Air Research Residence, Urbana
- Burton, Peck & Couch Buildings, Chicago
- The Vanishing Urban Corner (Special Thematic Designation)

2000 Most Endangered

- Central School, Lincoln
- Congregational Church, Pittsfield
- Culver House, Decatur
- The DuPage Theatre and The DuPage Shoppes, Lombard
- Platt Luggage Building, Chicago (pictured)
- Sarah Atwater Denman Row Houses, Quincy
- Spring Valley City Hall, Spring Valley
- Unity Temple, Oak Park
- Upper Kaskaskia Trace Corridor, Waterloo
- Waltmire Bridge, Tremon

1999 Most Endangered

- Harwood-Solon House, Champaign (pictured)
- Joseph Cluster Round Barn, Morris
- N.O. Nelson Factory/Leclaire Village, Edwardsville
- Pepsin Syrup Company Factory, Monticello
- Pullman Palace Car Factory & Village, Chicago
- St. Boniface Church & School, Chicago
- Sugar Load Mound Complex, Collinsville
- Teeple Barn, Elgin
- Tree Studios/Medinah Temple Block, Chicago
- Richards' Farm, Galena

1998 Most Endangered

- Paul Schweikher Home & Studio, Schaumburg
- Village of Hinsdale
- Henke-Buck Farmstead, Waterloo
- Cairo Ohio River Commercial District
- Berwyn National Bank, Berwyn (pictured)
- McPike Mansion, Alton
- The Telegraph Properties, Alton
- Springdale Cementary & Mausoleum, Peoria
- Wagner Farm, Glenview
- East St. Louis Mound Group, East St. Louis

1997 Most Endangered

- Alter-Jaques House, Urbana
- Cahokia Archaeological Site, Madison & St. Clair Counties
- Ferguson Mansion, Springfield
- Glasner Residence, Glencoe
- Hettler House, Chicago
- Loop Elevated Train Stations, Chicago (pictured)
- Marseilles Hydro Plant, Marseilles
- National Guard Armory, Rock Island
- Old Post Office, Chicago
- Washington School, River Forest

1996 Most Endangered

-. Nachusa House Hotel, Dixon (pictured)
- Medinah Temple, Chicago
- The Grand Village of the Illinois, Connerton Parcel, Lasalle County
- The Chatterton's Block, Springfield
- Pending Chicago Landmarks, Chicago
- Downtown Oak Park, Oak Park
- Chicago Transit Authority Green Line L Stations: Garfield Blvd., Homan Ave. & Racine Ave, Chicago
- Elgin Milk Condensing Co./Borden Building, Elgin
- Uptown Theatre, Chicago
- Walden/Bluff's Edge Bridge, Lake Forest

1995 Most Endangered

- Albany Mounds, Whiteside Co.
- Dekalb Post Office, Dekalb
- 8th Regiment Armory, Chicago
- Enoch Building, Carrolton (pictured)
- Ft. Sheridan, Lake Forest
- Grand Village of the Kickapoo, LeRoy
- Michigan Avenue, Chicago
- Musician's Hall, Peoria
- North Shore Station, Skokie
- Pullman Market Hall & Market Hall Square, Chicago

Support our advocacy

Be a voice for the future of our communities by supporting Landmarks Illinois. Our work enhances communities, empowers citizens, promotes local economic development and offers environmentally sound solutions.

Become A Member