National Register of Historic Places

West Bluff Historic District

Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois
Listed
December 17, 1976
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
76000725

About this property

The West Bluff Historic District is one of three Registered Historic Districts in the Peoria County, Illinois, city of Peoria. The district is mostly residential and is an example of the opulence once enjoyed by the upper class in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Of particular note are two contributing structures designed by Frank Lloyd Wright: Francis W. Little House at 1505 W. Moss Ave., and the house at 1316 W. Moss Ave. Other NRHP properties also listed as contributing to this district include the Judge Jacob Gale House at 1007 N. North St. and Pettingill-Morron House at 1212 W. Moss Ave. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 17, 1976. The West Bluff was largely overlooked in Peoria's development until the 1840s, when prominent families began purchasing property in the area for farming and distilling. Among them was Tobias Bradley, who married Lydia Moss, the founder of Bradley University, which today anchors the western edge of the district. The area's period of greatest development spanned from 1875 to 1924, during which wealthy residents built the mansions and stately residences that define the district today. The NRHP nomination identifies Charles E. Duryea, a pioneer of the American automotive industry, as a historically significant resident, having lived on Barker Avenue within the district during the 1890s. Today the district encompasses several sub-neighborhoods including the Arbor, Cottage, and Orchard Districts, as well as Bradley Park.

Location

Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois
40.69870, -89.61145

Categories

TRANSPORTATIONARCHITECTURE
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
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
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
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Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Pettingill-Morron House
Industrial
0.3 mi
Peoria Mineral Springs
Listed
0.4 mi
Kickapoo Building
Industrial
0.9 mi
Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Industrial
0.9 mi
Marquette Apartments
Industrial
0.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was West Bluff Historic District listed on the National Register?

West Bluff Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 17, 1976.

What type of historic resource is West Bluff Historic District?

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

What is the period of significance for West Bluff Historic District?

The period of significance for West Bluff Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near West Bluff Historic District?

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