Cook Memorial Library
Also known as: Ansel B. Cook Home; Victorian Museum
Why it's listed
Built in 1878 at 413 North Milwaukee Avenue in Libertyville, this house began as the country residence of Ansel B. Cook, a Connecticut-born stonemason who became a contractor, state legislator and Chicago alderman. Chicago architect William W. Boyington is thought to have designed it. Original features include a limestone basement, seven marble fireplaces, octagonal bays with angled windows, a Stick Style front stairway and Queen Anne entry doors. Cook's will directed that his home become a library and memorial hall. After his widow's death, the village opened it as the Cook Memorial Library in 1921, when the wood siding was covered with stucco and a four-column Classical Revival portico replaced the original porch. Plans in 1939 and 1963 that would have altered or overshadowed the house were not carried out. A 1968 addition stands to the west, set back and joined by a link. Today the building serves as a museum, and the chimneys, roof and siding were restored in 1998.
Significance in brief: The house was built for Ansel B. Cook, a stonemason, contractor and Chicago alderman, and is thought to have been designed by architect William W. Boyington. Cook willed it to the village as a library and memorial hall, and it opened as the Cook Memorial Library in 1921. The 1921 stucco and Classical Revival portico, together with original details such as fireplaces, stairway and trim, are described as retaining its integrity despite the non-contributing 1968 addition.
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 01000867, listed August 16, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 413 N. Milwakee Ave., Libertyville |
|---|---|
| County | Lake County |
| Listed | August 16, 2001 |
| Reference number | 01000867 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | William W. Boyington is thought to have been the architect; Ansel B. Cook built the property as his residence. |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now used as a museum (Ansel B. Cook Victorian Museum). A 1968 library addition to the west is non-contributing, and the chimneys, roof and siding were restored in 1998. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Libertyville Downtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.28729, -87.95536 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 01000867.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5166987
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.