National Register of Historic Places

Old Iroquois County Courthouse

Watseka, Iroquois County, Illinois
Listed
June 12, 1975
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
75000663

About this property

The Old Iroquois County Courthouse, now known as the Iroquois County Museum, is a history museum in Watseka, Illinois, which served as the Iroquois County courthouse from 1866 until 1964. The Italianate building was designed by C.B. Leach and built by contractor A.C. Mantor. In addition to housing county courts and offices, the building also served as the county jail and sheriff's residence. In 1881, an addition was placed on the building, and the courthouse's octagonal tower was replaced by a square tower. A second addition was constructed in 1927; in the same year, the courthouse's copper dome was removed and replaced by a mansard roof. When a new courthouse was built in 1964, county officials planned to demolish the old courthouse; however, local outcry convinced the county to temporarily save the building. The courthouse sat disused and neglected until 1967, when the Iroquois County Historical Society formed and purchased the building for a museum. The museum is the home of the county's genealogical records library and includes collections of minerals and fossils, Native American artifacts, antique dolls, and numerous other historical items. The original courtroom is now used as a theater and concert hall. The courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 13, 1975.

Location

Watseka, Iroquois County, Illinois
40.77441, -87.73566

Categories

POLITICS/GOVERNMENTARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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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
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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
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Points of Interest
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Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

Watseka Union Depot
Early Republic
0.1 mi
Prairie Dell Meetinghouse
Civil War
6 mi
St. Mary's Church
Industrial
13 mi
Glenwood School
Industrial
13.6 mi
Chicago Board of Trade Building
Industrial
15.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Old Iroquois County Courthouse listed on the National Register?

Old Iroquois County Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 12, 1975.

What type of historic resource is Old Iroquois County Courthouse?

Old Iroquois County Courthouse is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Old Iroquois County Courthouse?

The period of significance for Old Iroquois County Courthouse is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Old Iroquois County Courthouse?

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