Pine Craig
Also known as: Caroline Martin-Mitchell Historical Museum
Why it's listed
Pine Craig is a 12-room Victorian house on Aurora Road in Naperville, Illinois, completed in 1883 for George Martin II. Its walls are brick made in Martin's own brick and tile yard, set on limestone from Du Page River quarries, and the design in a modified Italianate style came from Aurora architect J. Mulvey. Inside, six marble fireplaces carry different Eastlake-influenced carvings, and a hand-carved black walnut staircase was made without nails by Levi Shafer of Naperville. Martin's name is etched in glass above the office doorway, a reminder that the house also served his tile and brick business, once among the larger operations of its kind in the West. The family lived here until the last daughter died in 1936, leaving the house to the city to serve as a museum. Few comparable local brick-and-limestone houses survive, and none of the others are open to the public.
Significance in brief: It is one of the few remaining brick and limestone buildings in the Naperville area made from local materials by local workmen in the 1880s. Its modified Italianate style is the work of Aurora architect J. Mulvey. It is also tied to the Martin family's pioneer, business and brick-and-tile manufacturing history.
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 75002076, listed August 15, 1975. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Aurora Rd. (Rte. 65), Naperville |
|---|---|
| County | DuPage County |
| Listed | August 15, 1975 |
| Reference number | 75002076 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1883 |
| Architect / builder | J. Mulvey |
| Architectural style | Modified Italianate (with Eastlake interior influence); classed as Eclectic |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Operated as a Victorian house museum owned by the City of Naperville; restoration of rooms and exterior trim was carried out in the years before 1975. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 41.76958, -88.15372 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 75002076.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6964848
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.