Magnolia Manor
Also known as: Charles A. Galigher House,1869-1872
Why it's listed
Magnolia Manor is a fourteen-room Italianate Victorian mansion at 2700 Washington Avenue in Cairo, Illinois, built between 1869 and 1872 for Charles A. Galigher, a prosperous milling and lumber merchant. It was constructed during a boom period for the town and reflects the wealth of the post-Civil War years. The house is built of locally fired red brick with wood trim, stone, and ornamental cast iron verandas. Window openings have recessed, beaded brick frames, wood frames with a twisted rope pattern, and sheet metal console heads. Inside are classical wood columns, a walnut spiral balustrade, plaster cornices, and Carrara marble fireplaces. Ulysses S. Grant, a friend of Galigher, stayed here in 1880 after his world tour and was honored at a large reception. The house later passed through several owners before the Cairo Historical Association bought it in the early 1950s. It now operates as a museum and hosts community events.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the house as an ornate example of the prosperity of Cairo's post-Civil War boom, known as the Golden Era. It is also tied to Ulysses S. Grant, who was a friend of the builder Charles A. Galigher and stayed at the house in 1880 as a retired President. The form also places the house in the context of Cairo's Civil War role.
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 69000053, listed December 17, 1969. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2700 Washington Ave., Cairo |
|---|---|
| County | Alexander County |
| Listed | December 17, 1969 |
| Reference number | 69000053 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Charles A. Galigher (builder/original owner); no architect named |
| Architectural style | Italianate Victorian |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition, occupied and open to the public as a museum and event venue, owned by the Cairo Historical Association. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Cairo Historic District |
| Coordinates | 37.00893, -89.18203 (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 69000053.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q11766243
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.