Downtown Peoria Historic District

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.

From the record

One of 35 National Register listings published here for Peoria County · listed in 2018 · category: District.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

The listing

Address. Roughly between N William Kumpf Blvd., Perry Ave., Fulton, Fayette & Water Sts., Peoria, 61602
When was it listed? December 2018
Category. district
Township. Peoria City township
National Register reference number. 100002825 - assigned by the National Park Service when the property was listed.

The ground it stands on

43,882 words

The chapter on Peoria City Township in The History of Peoria County, Illinois. Containing a History of the Northwest--history of Illinois--history of the County, Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., Etc. .., published 1880 names Peoria. This is what it says, exactly as the scans read.

Near the lower end of the expansion of the Illinois river denominated Lake Peoria, and on its north-western margin, midway between the two great cities of the We.st, in latitude 40°40' north and longitude 12 10' west from Wiu-^hington. upon a sandy plateau, nestles the beautiful, tlirifty city of Peoria. Were a person to ascend to the brow of the bluff three-fourths of a mile back from the margin of the lake and there leisurely survey the magnificent landscape spread out before him ; the busy city four or five miles in lengtli. witli its broad avenues, lined hy superb business blocks or palatial jirivate dwellings, nestling at its feet, semi-girdled beyond l)y T^ake Peoria and the Illinois river - a great silver mirror, upon whose surface the sunbeams dance in joyous glee - ; the many miles of fertile valley skirting their borders ; and in the distance the variegated declivities of the bluff - the frame to the picture ; and in addition to this inspiring spectacle the beholder contemplates the practical advantages of natural drainages of this gently sloping gravelly plateau ; and the furtlier grand fact tliat the country within a radius of a hunilred miles of Peoria is prf>l)ably uiiequaled by a like area in the world for productiveness, he at once recognizes a Divine handiwork in shaping this as a site for a great commercial metropolis. The observer is not surprise that tlie Indians selected it as their favorite camping ground, nor that those heroic French explorers. Father P. Manjuette, M. Joliel, Father Ilcnntpin, and M. De LaSalle, fell in love with this diarming spot and resolved to plant the first seeds of civilization here more than two luindred years ago.

Passage source: The History of Peoria County, Illinois. Containing a History of the Northwest--history of Illinois--history of the County, Its Early Settlement, Growth, Development, Resources, Etc., Etc. .., published 1880.

The site upon which the most populous portion of the city of I'eoria is built rises from the lake and river bank with a gradual slope to the height of s:'. feet at the liase of the bluff above the low water horizon ; and varies in widtli from le.ss than three-fourths of a mile at the upper end of the city to a mile and a half al the lower end. The bluffs rise from a hundreil to a luindred and twenty feet above the plateau. On the top of the bluffs are situatccl numerous priin'dy n.-sidences, surrounilfd liy amph- and ricldy decorated grounds, commanding a view of many miles of tiie city, lake, river and valley below. Farther back also rise church edifices and imposing school buildings, among which are interspersed dwellings and business houses, constituting a city of several thousand inhabitants on the highlands. The conntiy beyond presents a gently undulating surface of fertile prairie and woodland, which is converted into finely improved farms of rare productiveness. About four miles up the lake from the Court-house is Prospect Hill, which rises nearly a thousand feet above the lake, and from its summit is presented one of the most extended and charming landscape views in tlie West. Tlie upper end of Lake Peoria, some fifteen miles away, is plainly visible, as are the city of Chiliicothe still beyond and the villages of Rome and Mossville along its border. Wlien the atmosphere is veiy clear the city of Lacon, on the opposite shore of the river, twenty-five miles distant, can be seen. In 1850 a hotel costing if .5, 000 was erected there, covering an area of 53x76 feet, containing a fine ball room and other attractions for visitors. It was called Prospect Hill Pavillion, and was kept by Mason Gass. It was destroj^ed by fire some years ago, and was never rebuilt.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Peoria City Township - 43,882 words on its settlement, mills, schools and churches.

Fires near this property

3 since 2009

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 3 fires within 5 miles of Downtown Peoria Historic District in 2009, burning about 3 acres in total. None started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause	Fires
Debris and open burning	3

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

Date	Cause	Size	Reported by	Name on the report
3 March 2009	Debris and open burning	1.0 acres	Illinois Division of Forestry Resources	MURR
23 March 2009	Debris and open burning	under an acre	Illinois Division of Forestry Resources	9273
20 March 2009	Debris and open burning	2.0 acres	Illinois Division of Forestry Resources	DUNDEE

Every fire recorded in Peoria County

Mines and quarries near this property

10 of 12 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 12 workings within 5 miles of Downtown Peoria Historic District: 7 past producers, 3 producers, 1 occurrence, 1 plant. 4 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Stone, Crushed/Broken, Fire Clay (Refractory), Clay. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Site	Commodity	Status
Clay Pit No 3 Peoria Brick & Tile	Clay	Producer
Peoria Blacktop S & G	Fire Clay (Refractory)	Plant
Limestone Prospect	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Occurrence
Peoria City Pit	Stone, Crushed/Broken	Past Producer
Farmdale Sand & Gravel Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer
Joos Sand Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Jubilee Materials Inc.	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Moushon Construction Co. Pit #1	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer
Moushon Construction Co. Pit #2	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Producer
Peoria Blacktop Sand Pit	Sand and Gravel, Construction	Past Producer

Every working recorded in Peoria County

Storms near this property

60 of 106 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Peoria, the town this property stands in, in 106 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 67 thunderstorm wind, 35 hail, 2 flash flood, 2 lightning. The reports record 2 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

When	Event	Place named	Harm	What the report says
July 1994	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	1 hurt, $5,000	A 30-square-foot brick facade of a building collapsed, injuring one person in a car, near downtown Peoria.
June 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	1 hurt	A large tree limb was blown down onto a van. A roofer was blown off a roof and injured.
June 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	$100,000	A 14-inch tree was snapped at the junction of US-150 and IL-6. Numerous other trees were blown down around the city of Peoria. In addition, multiple power outages were reported.
June 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	$75,000	Numerous tree limbs and power lines were blown down near the Peoria Airport. Siding and shingles were stripped off several houses east of the airport.
June 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	$65,000	Numerous large tree branches were blown down around Peoria. A firetruck was struck by a falling tree.
May 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	$60,000	Numerous tree limbs were blown onto powerlines throughout the city of Peoria.
July 2016	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	$50,000	Numerous tree limbs were blown down in Peoria.
July 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	$25,000	The roof and sheeting were torn off a building.
July 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	$25,000	Several 6-inch diameter tree branches were blown down in Peoria.
August 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	$25,000	Numerous trees were blown down around the city of Peoria.
July 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	$20,000	A tree was blown onto a house.
June 2010	Thunderstorm Wind	West Peoria	$20,000	A large tree was blown down onto a house.
July 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	West Peoria	$15,000	Several trees and tree limbs were blown down.
July 2008	Lightning	West Peoria	$15,000	Lightning struck an apartment complex near Bradley University setting fire to a third floor apartment ceiling, the attic and the roof. There were no injuries.
June 2011	Lightning	Peoria	$10,000	A two story house was struck by lightning, which started an upper floor fire. The seven occupants in the house were able to escape without injury.
June 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	$6,000	Several tree limbs were blown down.
July 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	$5,000	Eight inch diameter tree branches were blown down onto Route 150 and Route 29.
September 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	$5,000	A tree was blown down onto a house in Peoria.
July 1994	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	$5,000	Trees were blown down. Tazewell County Morton,20,1735CST,,,0,0,1,0,Thunderstorm Winds Power lines were blown down. Lightning started a tree on fire.
June 2013	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	$4,000	A 3-foot diameter tree was blown down in Laura Bradley Park in Peoria. A 2-foot diameter tree was snapped at the base on West Ayers Avenue and a 10-inch diameter tree was blown down onto the 700 block of West Main Street.
June 2013	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	$3,000	An 18-inch diameter tree was snapped off about 15 feet above the ground near the intersection of University and Gale in Peoria. A 12-inch diameter tree limb was blown down onto the road, blocking traffic on Glenwood and Columbia Terrace.
August 2009	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	$2,000	A 9-inch diameter tree was blown down onto Grandview Drive in Peoria.
July 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	$2,000	An 18-inch diameter tree limb was blown down at Bradley University.
June 2013	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	$1,000	A 6 to 8-inch diameter tree limb was blown down onto Grand Boulevard north of War Memorial Drive.
July 1994	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	$50	A flag pole was blown over near Weaver Farms.
July 1994	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	$50	A 2-foot diameter tree was blown down across Knoxville Avenue near the American Red Cross Office.
August 1993	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	$50	Tree limbs were blown down.
May 2025	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	-	Several small tree branches were blown down across Peoria.
June 2024	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	-	A tree was blown onto a home.
July 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	-	A large maple tree was blown down on Glen Oak Avenue.
July 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	West Peoria	-	An 8-inch diameter tree was blown down at Bradley University.
July 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	-	A large tree and power lines were blown down on High Street.
July 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	-	A power line was blown down.
August 2020	Thunderstorm Wind	West Peoria	-	Two trees were blown down, one of which blocked a roadway.
June 2015	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	-	A ten to eleven-inch diameter tree was snapped off.
April 2015	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	-	Plastic panel was blown down.
June 2012	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	-	Several power lines were blown down.
May 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	-	A 10-inch diameter tree was blown down across a road.
May 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	-	Numerous trees and power lines were blown down across the city of Peoria.
May 2011	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	-	A tree was blown down across a road near the corner of Route 8 and Heinz Lane.
July 2008	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	-	A ten-inch diameter tree was split by high winds.
September 2008	Flash Flood	Peoria	-	I-74 near the North University Street exit in Peoria was flooded due to heavy rainfall. A vehicle became stranded in the high water.
June 2007	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	-	A 1 foot diameter tree was blown down, as well as a few other smaller trees.\|
April 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	-	Numerous trees and power lines blown down. A billboard was also blown down.
April 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	-	Numerous 2 to 4 inch tree limbs blown down.
May 2006	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	-	A tree was blown down.
May 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	-	Numerous trees and power lines blown down.
July 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	-	Numerous large tree branches blown down.
September 2005	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	-	Several large tree limbs were blown down on the Bradley University campus.
May 2004	Flash Flood	Peoria	-	Brief heavy rains caused several roads in Peoria to become flooded.
May 2004	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	-	Numerous trees were blown down throughout town, as well as numerous power lines. No injuries were reported.
July 2003	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	-	Numerous tree limbs, trees and power lines were blown down.
February 2003	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	-	Several trees and large power poles were blown down on the west and south sides of the city. No one was injured by the fallen trees or power poles.
July 2002	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	-	Thunderstorm winds blew over a small metal shed, as well as several large tree limbs.
May 2001	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	-	Several shingles were blown off the roof of a local restaurant.
August 2001	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	-	An 8 to 9 inch diameter branch was blown down, blocking an alley in the city of Peoria.
May 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	-	Numerous large tree limbs were blown down.
June 2000	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	-	Major damage to trees throughout the city.
June 1999	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	-	In Peoria, a large tree was blown over onto a house causing minor damage. Also, several power lines were blown down as well.
June 1999	Thunderstorm Wind	Peoria	-	Numerous trees and tree limbs were blown down in Peoria. Some caused minor damage to a few homes, mainly to porches and roofs. No injuries were reported.

Every storm recorded in Peoria County

Map coverage status

No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.

Listed places nearby

6 within 8 miles

Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.

Property	Distance	Listed
Central National Park Building	under 500 feet	1978
Peace and Harvest	0.1 miles	1994
Peoria City Hall	0.2 miles	1973
Pere Marquette Hotel	0.2 miles	1982
Madison Theatre	0.2 miles	1980
Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Hall	0.2 miles	1976

Sources for this property

National Archives record	The nomination case file for reference 100002825 in Record Group 79.
Peoria County	All 35 listed properties in this county.

Provenance

Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.