Ricker, Nathan C., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1892 on West Green Street in Urbana, this two-story wood frame house served as the home of Nathan C. Ricker, longtime head of the University of Illinois Department of Architecture. Its Queen Anne character shows in an irregular form, many projecting bays, a half-conical east bay, clapboard and sawn shingle siding, and a decorative wraparound-style front porch. Inside, eleven rooms are arranged around a central hall, with tall ceilings, rich pine and oak woodwork, tiled fireplaces and a distinctive staircase newel post. A carriage barn once stood on the property but was razed in 1993. Later changes were modest: aluminum siding was removed to expose the original clapboard, the porch was restored in 1997, and the roof was rehabilitated in 1998. The house is recognized for its connection to Ricker, who studied the Bauakademie in Berlin before starting his teaching career in Illinois in 1873, and for its architecture and its role in the history of architectural education.
Significance in brief: The house is listed under Criterion B for its association with Nathan C. Ricker, who headed the University of Illinois Department of Architecture beginning in 1873. Its areas of significance are Architecture and Education, and the period of significance runs from 1892 to 1924. The form notes that it retains its integrity despite minor changes.
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 00000682, listed June 21, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 612 W. Green St., Urbana |
|---|---|
| County | Champaign County |
| Listed | June 21, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00000682 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1892 - 1924 |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house is undergoing restoration; the porch was rehabilitated in 1997 and the roof in 1998, and the interior details remain intact. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.08963, -89.51879 (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 00000682.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q20710432
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.