National Register of Historic Places

Villa de Kathrine

Quincy, Adams County, Illinois
Listed
December 8, 1978
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
78001110

About this property

The Villa Kathrine is a Moroccan-style home located on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River in Quincy, Illinois. This home is the subject of a local lost treasure story as well as a ghostlore story featuring a dog. The unique home, sometimes branded as a castle, was built in 1900 by architect George Behrensmeyer for wealthy Quincy native W. George Metz. Metz had a fondness for Mediterranean architecture, and used the Villa Kathrine as his home when he was not venturing the world. Metz eventually sold the castle in 1912, and the site fell into disrepair and neglect before the non-profit Friends of the Castle sought to restore the Villa in 1978. Work on restoring the castle was completed in 1998, and appropriate site furnishings have been donated and obtained by staff throughout the years to further enhance the castle's Moroccan roots. Currently, the site functions as the official tourist information center to the City of Quincy and tours are granted of the site on an appointment basis. Inside, the castle features a harem, a courtyard, and a reflecting pool. Much of the designs for the interior and exterior of the building were based upon W. George Metz's sketches of Islamic architecture that he observed during his global travels. In 2010, the Villa Kathrine was used as a filming location in the Struber Productions film, Fang, which has yet to be released. Quincy, Illinois Area Convention and Visitor's Bureau

Location

532 S. 3rd
Quincy, Adams County, Illinois
39.92578, -91.41302

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
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.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Villa de Kathrine

This page lists Villa de Kathrine. 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.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Villa de Kathrine report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Woodland Cemetery
Pre Contact
0.4 mi
Morgan-Wells House
Industrial
0.4 mi
State Savings Loan and Trust
Industrial
0.5 mi
Downtown Quincy Historic District
Listed
0.5 mi
Lesem, S.J., Building
Industrial
0.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Villa de Kathrine listed on the National Register?

Villa de Kathrine was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 8, 1978.

What type of historic resource is Villa de Kathrine?

Villa de Kathrine is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Villa de Kathrine?

The period of significance for Villa de Kathrine is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Villa de Kathrine?

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 Villa de Kathrine will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Adams County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Adams County.

Explore AdamsCounty ›

More historic places in Illinois

Browse all historic places in Illinois.

View Illinoishistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Illinois history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Illinoishistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Villa de Kathrine will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report