Reagan's, Ronald, Boyhood Home
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Why it's listed
This two-story house at 816 South Hennepin Avenue in Dixon, Illinois, was built in 1891 and is typical of ordinary late nineteenth-century American homes in its design, materials and room layout. It has a stone foundation, a full-width front porch with spindles and railing, and double-hung windows. It matters because Ronald W. Reagan, later the 40th President, lived here with his parents, Jack and Nelle, and his brother Neil from December 1920 to 1923, during his grade school years. Reagan later wrote of Dixon as the place that shaped him, and both brothers remembered this house most clearly among the family's Dixon homes. The house was divided into two apartments in 1936 and later had its original wood siding covered with asphalt siding, which was removed in 1981. Local citizens bought it in 1980 and organized a volunteer effort to restore it to its appearance during the Reagan years. At the time of the form it stood unoccupied.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its association with Ronald W. Reagan, 40th President of the United States, who lived there from 1920 to 1923 during his grade school years. Reagan and his brother Neil both recalled this house as their clearest boyhood association with Dixon. The nomination places it among several Reagan homes in the town.
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 82002580, listed March 26, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 816 S. Hennepin Ave., Dixon |
|---|---|
| County | Lee County |
| Listed | March 26, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002580 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1920-1923 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as unoccupied and vacant, in good condition but altered. The form describes a volunteer restoration under way to return it to its appearance during the Reagan years. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.83714, -89.47982 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 82002580.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7365195
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.