Moore, C. H., House
Also known as: Homestead
Why it's listed
Built between 1863 and 1867, this two-story frame house in Clinton, Illinois, combines a vaguely Italianate look with a low mansard roof, dormers and a modest central pavilion that point toward the Second Empire style. A west wing added in 1887 holds a kitchen, a tackroom and a two-story library with a vaulted ceiling and iron-railed gallery. Inside, the original parquet floors, marble mantelpieces, walnut staircase and many Moore furnishings remain. A carriage house from the 1860s and a servants' privy stand on the grounds. The house matters mainly for its link to Clifton H. Moore, who arrived in DeWitt County in 1841 and was its only resident lawyer for eight years. He worked alongside Abraham Lincoln for the Illinois Central Railroad, partnered with David Davis in land speculation, and helped bring the railroad to Clinton in 1854. Moore inherited the house in 1881. It now operates as a house museum.
Significance in brief: The house represents the transition from Italianate to Second Empire domestic architecture. Its primary significance comes from its association with Clifton H. Moore, the county's first resident lawyer, a land agent and speculator who helped shape Clinton and DeWitt County until his death in 1901.
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 79003112, listed March 23, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 219 E. Woodlawn St., Clinton |
|---|---|
| County | DeWitt County |
| Listed | March 23, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003112 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1881 to 1901 |
| Architectural style | Vaguely Italianate with Second Empire elements (transition from Italianate to Second Empire) |
| Areas of significance | Law, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent, unaltered and on its original site; leased to the DeWitt County Museum Association and operated as a house museum called "The Homestead." |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.16055, -88.95805 (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 79003112.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5006499
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.