Morse, Robert Hosmer, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1932 at 1301 Knollwood Circle in Lake Forest, Illinois, this house was designed as a summer home by the firm Zimmerman, Saxe and Zimmerman. It stands in the center of the Knollwood Country Club, one of the first homes built on the club grounds. The building is horizontal and asymmetrical, with a flat roof, set-back upper story, smooth stucco over brick and concrete, steel-case windows and red-painted metal railings meant to suggest speed and a steamship. Inside, Art Deco details include a stepped limestone fireplace, etched mirrors, geometric light fixtures and baseboards, and a basement game room and tavern with Streamlined Moderne curves. Changes have been limited: a four-car attached garage was added in 1979, and in 1998 the coach house was separated onto its own lot. The house is recognized as a locally significant example of early Art Moderne design with classical Art Deco detailing.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a locally significant example of early Art Moderne architecture with classical Art Deco details, under Criterion C. It also includes Streamlined Moderne features, notably in the basement. Original materials, fixtures and design elements remain largely intact.
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 00000947, listed August 10, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1301 Knollwood Circle, Lake Forest |
|---|---|
| County | Lake County |
| Listed | August 10, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00000947 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1932 |
| Architect / builder | Zimmerman, Saxe and Zimmerman, Architects |
| Architectural style | Art Moderne; Art Deco |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed current function is single-family domestic use; the property was split in 1998 so the coach house is now a separate residence. |
| Acreage | 2.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.27385, -87.87888 (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 00000947.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q86753184
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.