The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of U.S. sites, generally more than 50 years old, that deserve special attention and preservation. Each county in Illinois is home to at least one historic district or special site listed. On Feb. 7, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) announced 30 Illinois properties that were added to the National Register of Historic Places throughout 2018. The properties range from community art centers and high schools to firehouses and churches.
Scroll through to see 10 of the Illinois properties that have been recently added to the list. You can also take a look at last year's additions here and learn more about the National Register application process here.
South Side Community Art Center, Chicago
The South Side Community Art Center in Chicago was established with help from African American community leaders and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) back in 1940. Over the years, the center has played an important role in both showcasing established African American artists and cultivating those who would later become known on a national level. Today, the art center is nationally recognized as the only WPA Federal Art Project community art center for African Americans to survive to the present day. The center still operates under its original ownership in the original 1892 building that community leaders bought and renovated.
READ MORE: 10 Must Do’s in Chicago
