Du Quoin State Fairgrounds

Du Quoin State Fairgrounds occupies the south edge of Du Quoin in southern Illinois. The nominated district covers the main section of a roughly 1,450-acre site and contains 21 contributing buildings, 3 contributing sites and several later noncontributing structures. William R. Hayes, a businessman with a strong interest in horse racing, founded the fair in 1923. Its original half-mile track was the main feature when it opened. A major building campaign followed in the 1940s, producing a monumental brick grandstand from 1947, an Exhibition Hall, ticket and concession buildings, gate houses and horse barns. Most of these buildings use Art Deco or Art Moderne detailing, including glass block windows, limestone trim and urns. The fairgrounds is significant for its long role as a popular state-level entertainment venue, for its place in harness racing history, including hosting the Hambletonian from 1957 to 1980, and for the cohesive collection of Art Deco buildings that remain in their original locations.