Old Market House
Why it's listed
Built in 1845-46 on Market Square in Galena, this red brick market house served the city during its years as a steamboat trade center and lead mining district. Its two-story central block holds the town council chamber above offices, while the wings contained large market halls with colonnaded porches and a wide pedimented roof. A cupola with pedimentlike parapets, corner acroteria and a square dome crowns the building. The city funded construction through lot sales and stock, and Henry J. Stouffer won the contract to build it. Final cost was $3,104.16, and it opened in July 1846. Beyond marketing, it housed the city council, the jail and local organizations. After 1910 the city government and fire department used it for 26 years. Threatened with destruction, it was sold to the State of Illinois in 1947. The exterior has been restored to its 1846 appearance, and the building now holds historical and architectural exhibits.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a characteristic example of the impressive public buildings Illinois communities built for necessary civic functions. It was the focal point of community life during Galena's prosperity as a steamboat trade center and lead mining district. Its architecture is also noted, with colonnaded porches, a pedimented roof and an individual cupola.
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 73000707, listed July 16, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Market Square-Commerce St., Galena |
|---|---|
| County | Jo Daviess County |
| Listed | July 16, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73000707 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1845-46 |
| Architect / builder | Henry J. Stouffer (builder); Slaymaker and Blish were paid for plan and specification, though the actual designer is not proven |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the State of Illinois and maintained by the Department of Conservation as a state memorial; exterior restored to its 1846 appearance, interior partly restored, and used to house historical and architectural exhibits. Condition listed as excellent. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Galena Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.41566, -90.42725 (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 73000707.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7084478
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.