{"nrhp_refnum":"91000087","name":"St. Charles Municipal Building","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"2 E. Main St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"St. Charles","county":"Kane County","state":"IL","lat":41.91404771200007,"lon":-88.31295707999999,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1991-02-21","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A Moderne-style municipal building at Two East Main Street in St. Charles, Illinois, on the east bank of the Fox River, built in 1940 and designed by R. Harold Zook with D. Coder Taylor as associate architect.","why_significant":"The nomination argues it is a fine example of Art Moderne design by architect R. Harold Zook and the best local expression of pre-World War II futuristic style. It also notes an innovative lighting design, described as probably the first building of any size lit throughout by tube lighting.","narrative":"Overlooking the Fox River at Two East Main Street in St. Charles, this municipal building was completed in 1940 to designs by R. Harold Zook with D. Coder Taylor. Its walls are faced in white Georgia marble above a black granite base, and an 84-foot octagonal tower with clocks, stained glass windows and a glowing glass cap anchors two low wings. The north wing holds a museum planned by the donors, Col. Edward J. Baker and Mr. and Mrs. Lester J. Norris, and it remains in use. Inside, terrazzo chevron floors and geometric door and wainscot details survive. The building was listed for its architecture as a clear example of the Art Moderne style, with streamlined forms, banded windows and spare ornament. Its lighting also drew attention: a 1941 trade journal called it likely the first sizable building lit throughout with tube lighting. It continues to serve as city hall and museum.","period_of_significance":"1940","architect_builder":"Zook, Harold R., Architect; Taylor, D. Coder, Associate Architect","architectural_style":"Modern Movement - Moderne","criteria":["C"],"status_note":"Still used as city hall and museum; the interior plan has been maintained with little change, and the nomination reports a high degree of integrity.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:55:35.897201-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/20/8931/28893120/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_IL/91000087.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/91000087/39b1663619-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/91000087/39b1663619-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY-SA 3.0","author":"G LeTourneau","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St._Charles_Municipal_Building_(St._Charles,_IL)_02.JPG\" rel=\"noopener\">G LeTourneau</a>, <a href=\"http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:St._Charles_Municipal_Building_(St._Charles,_IL)_02.JPG"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/28893120","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Charles_Municipal_Building","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7587527"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/illinois/kane-county/st-charles-municipal-building-91000087/"}