National Register of Historic Places

Keithsburg Historic District

Keithsburg, Mercer County, Illinois

Listed

May 7, 1986

Type

District

Period

Pre Contact

Ref No.

86001004

About this property

The Keithsburg Historic District is a historic commercial district encompassing four blocks at the center of Keithsburg, Illinois. The district includes 17 buildings, 15 of which are contributing buildings to its historic nature; all but two of the buildings were historically used for commercial purposes. Two of the district's buildings, the Commercial House and the Masonic Lodge, date to the 1840s and 1850s, when Keithsburg was the Mercer County seat; the remainder of the contributing buildings were built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The buildings are mainly one- and two-story brick structures, and many are adorned with metal storefronts, window hoods, and cornices. The district's collection of commercial buildings are representative of Keithsburg's role as a small but prosperous Mississippi River port and regional trade center prior to the rise of the automobile. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 8, 1986. Of the remainder, all but #5, part of #12, and #16 are vacant and derelict.

Location

Keithsburg, Mercer County, Illinois

41.10108, -90.94262

Everything a full report reveals about Keithsburg Historic District

This page lists Keithsburg Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Thompson, James S., House

Civil War

5.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Keithsburg Historic District listed on the National Register?

Keithsburg Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 7, 1986.

What type of historic resource is Keithsburg Historic District?

Keithsburg Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Keithsburg Historic District?

The period of significance for Keithsburg Historic District is recorded as the pre_contact era.

Can I research the history near Keithsburg Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Keithsburg Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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