Riverview Historic District
Also known as: See Also:Hickox House; Swannell House
Why it's listed
Riverview is a triangular neighborhood in Kankakee, Illinois, set between the Kankakee River, Wildwood Avenue, and River and Eagle Streets. The land was originally swampy lowland, later used as pasture and as the site of a resort hotel from 1887 to 1897. After the hotel burned, lots were sold for housing. Emory Cobb controlled most of the land until 1910, and Louis Beckman then continued residential development. Of 164 structures, 52 were rated significant, 120 contributing and 44 non-contributing. The district is best known for two early Prairie style houses by Frank Lloyd Wright, the Warren Hickox House of 1900 and the B. Harley Bradley House of 1901, along with the Charles Swannell House by Tallmadge and Watson. Queen Anne, Shingle, Colonial Revival, Craftsman, Mission and Tudor styles also appear. Generous setbacks, mature oaks, the river and Cobb Park give the area a cohesive character, with few alterations since development ended in the 1930s.
Significance in brief: The district is a well-preserved early twentieth century neighborhood with few intrusions or exterior alterations. It includes two early Prairie style houses by Frank Lloyd Wright (Hickox and Bradley) and the Swannell House by Tallmadge and Watson. Most styles popular in Illinois from the 1890s to the mid-1930s are represented, and many houses are tied to local civic and business leaders.
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 86001488, listed August 22, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by River and Eagle Sts., Wildwood Ave., and the Kankakee River, Kankakee |
|---|---|
| County | Kankakee County |
| Listed | August 22, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86001488 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architect / builder | Frank Lloyd Wright (Hickox and Bradley Houses); Tallmadge and Watson (Swannell House); various local builders and contractors |
| Architectural style | Prairie, Queen Anne, Shingle, Colonial Revival, Craftsman, Mission, Tudor Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Land use is almost exclusively residential, with a modern synagogue and the Bradley House as exceptions. The district is described as well preserved, and houses are occupied. |
| Acreage | 78.2 |
| Coordinates | 41.10788, -87.85744 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 86001488.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16932162
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.