Tanner, William A., House
Also known as: Aurora Historical Museum
Why it's listed
Built in 1856, this two-story brick house at 304 Oak Avenue in Aurora, Illinois, was constructed for William Tanner, an early resident and merchant of the city. It follows a Latin Cross plan in the Italianate mode and is crowned by an octagonal cupola at the junction of the cross. Ornate wooden brackets with pendants decorate the common bond brick exterior, and first floor window lintels have decorated hoods. Some features have been lost: the railings on the porch roof and front windows were removed, as was the rear porch. The first floor holds a parlor, music room, library, dining room, kitchen and pantry, with bedrooms upstairs. The house was listed because it symbolizes early settlement in Aurora and is an original example of early Italianate architecture, which is uncommon in the area. Its rooms and furnishings have been maintained as they were originally, and it now operates as the Aurora Historical Museum.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house symbolizes early settlement in Aurora and is a fine, original example of early Italianate architecture, of which few remain in the area. Its interior rooms and furnishings have been kept as originally arranged, showing 1850s lifestyle. It is also presented as a community resource for seeing the workmanship and design of the period.
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 76000711, listed August 19, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 304 Oak Ave., Aurora |
|---|---|
| County | Kane County |
| Listed | August 19, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000711 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1856-1957 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as the Aurora Historical Museum, owned by a private non-profit historical society. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Coordinates | 41.76353, -88.31830 (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 76000711.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4822556
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.