Archer House Hotel
Why it's listed
Archer House Hotel is a two-story brick building at 717 Archer Avenue in Marshall, Illinois. Colonel William B. Archer, who founded the town, began construction in 1841, and the hotel was finished two or three years later. It rests on a foundation of large stones, with walls 15 to 20 inches thick and skinned hickory log beams visible in the basement. Pressed-metal ceilings, original marble entry steps, tile flooring and ruby glass panels survive at the entrance. Originally the hotel held a ballroom and dining room used for the social affairs of the village, and later partitions created smaller rooms for residents. Stagecoach lines stopped here, and villagers gathered to hear news and watch passengers change horses and eat. The building is listed as one of the town's oldest, a social center, and a place where Abraham Lincoln often stayed while holding court in Marshall. Grover Cleveland is also recorded as a guest. The hotel has remained in operation.
Significance in brief: It is one of the oldest buildings in Marshall and was built by the man who founded the town. It served as a social center and stagecoach stop, and the nomination says Abraham Lincoln often stayed there and Grover Cleveland also stayed there.
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 76000685, listed March 16, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 717 Archer Ave., Marshall |
|---|---|
| County | Clark County |
| Listed | March 16, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000685 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific dates 1841-44) |
| Architect / builder | Col. William B. Archer (builder and town founder) |
| Architectural style | Vernacular |
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition; a new roof was added in 1972, the interior was remodeled into rooms for residents, and the hotel has operated since it was built. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 39.39096, -87.69444 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 76000685.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16830008
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.