Illinois State Police Office, Pontiac
Why it's listed
Built in 1941 beside Old U.S. Route 66 southwest of Pontiac, this one-story Illinois State Police office is a tan wire-brick building with Art Moderne influences. A curved corner wall of structural glass block holds the main entrance, and glazed tile trim and a flat gravel-and-tar roof complete the exterior. One wing housed administration and the other a garage. Inside, terrazzo floors, plaster walls, built-in cupboards, a squad room with a raised platform, a locker room and an original oil boiler remain. An original steel flagpole stands in front. The office served as headquarters of State Police District 6 until 2003, patrolling a corridor that by the 1940s carried more traffic than any other long-distance highway in Illinois. Route 66 earned a reputation for accidents, which made police presence there important. The building was listed for its role in state government and highway transportation, with a period of significance from 1941 to 1956. It is currently vacant.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant under Criterion A for government and transportation. It served as headquarters for State Police District 6 until 2003 and handled traffic and safety along the heavily traveled U.S. Route 66 corridor. It retains a high degree of integrity in its original design, materials, location and setting.
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 07000117, listed March 7, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 15551 Old US 66, Pontiac |
|---|---|
| County | Livingston County |
| Listed | March 7, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000117 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1941-1956 |
| Architect / builder | State of Illinois, Department of Public Works and Buildings, Division of Architecture and Engineering |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement: Art Moderne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as vacant/not in use; the building served as District 6 headquarters until 2003. |
| Acreage | 2.6 |
| Coordinates | 40.85302, -88.65567 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 07000117.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5999761
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.