Shiloh House
Also known as: Residence of Founder of City of Zion
Why it's listed
Built in 1902-3 at a cost of $90,000, Shiloh House at 1300 Shiloh Boulevard was the Zion residence of John Alexander Dowie, founder of the Christian community at Zion. Architect Paul Burkhardt, born and educated in Switzerland, designed it as a Swiss chalet with 25 rooms, five bathrooms, quartersawed oak woodwork and a full basement. Dowie died in the house in 1907, after the city fell into bankruptcy. Later it served as a boarding house, a private home and a Bible institute dormitory, then declined until the Zion Historical Society bought it in 1967. The society reroofed it, restored its tile pattern and interiors, and returned original Dowie furniture. It is valued as the major monument to Dowie's short-lived foundation and as a fine example of mixed Queen Anne and chalet design. Tours run on summer weekends.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is the major surviving monument to Dowie's short-lived Christian community at Zion. It is also noted as an expensive, high-quality residential design in a mixed Queen Anne and chalet style. Its original furniture and turn-of-the-century interiors add to its value.
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 77000488, listed May 12, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1300 Shiloh Blvd., Zion |
|---|---|
| County | Lake County |
| Listed | May 12, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77000488 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1902-3 |
| Architect / builder | Paul Burkhardt (architect) |
| Architectural style | Swiss chalet; mixed Queen Anne and chalet style |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the local historical society, in good condition, restored and open for tours on summer weekends; a caretaker lives in the servants' quarters. |
| Acreage | 0.8 |
| Coordinates | 42.45058, -87.82729 (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 77000488.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q65054429
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.