Wood, John, Mansion
Also known as: Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County Building
Why it's listed
Built in 1835 for John Wood, this Greek Revival frame house at 425 South Twelfth Street in Quincy, Illinois, has served as a public museum and the home of the Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County since 1907. Wood, who in 1822 became the first white man to settle permanently in the Quincy area, later served as Lieutenant Governor and became Governor of Illinois in 1859. The house was built by master mechanic John Cleaveland. Wood moved it across the street in 1864 after building a larger mansion, and it became the home of his eldest son. When the Society acquired it, part of the one-story section was raised to two stories and a Doric-style porch was added by local architect Ernest Wood. Carved woodwork and plaster ceiling medallions survive inside. It is considered the oldest major large residence still standing in good condition in Quincy, and the museum holds items tied to local, Lincoln-era and Mormon history.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as the oldest major large residence still standing and in good condition in Quincy. It was the home of John Wood, the first permanent white settler in the Quincy area, a founder of the Republican party and Governor of Illinois in 1859. It is also noted for fine Greek Revival architectural details and for the Society's historical collections.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 70000228, listed April 17, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 425 S. 12th St., Quincy |
|---|---|
| County | Adams County |
| Listed | April 17, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000228 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1835) |
| Architect / builder | John Cleaveland, master mechanic (builder); Ernest Wood, local architect (1907 porch and second-story alterations) |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as structurally sound and in good condition, in use as a public museum and home of the Historical Society; exterior repair and painting were scheduled for spring 1970. |
| Within district | South Side German Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.92743, -91.39602 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 70000228.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6264785
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.