Millikin, James, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1876 at Pine and Main Streets in Decatur, this red brick mansion was the home of James Millikin, reputedly the wealthiest man in Macon County. Millikin came to Decatur in 1856, opened a bank in 1860 and later helped found Millikin University. The house is a towered Italianate residence with a high mansard roof borrowed from the French Second Empire style, and its irregular plan centers on a hall with a fireplace and a grand staircase. Interior details include carved marble fireplaces, mosaic hearths, art glass in a copper-covered stair bay and a ceiling fresco. The architect is unknown. A carriage house with horse stalls still stands nearby. After the Millikins, the house served for about half a century as an art center and sheltered influenza patients in 1918 and 1919. The nomination also links it to adjoining Millikin Place, which has three Prairie School houses of about 1909 to 1910 and landscape design by Walter Burley Griffin.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of the most prominent and best-crafted Victorian mansions in Illinois, combining Italianate and French Second Empire elements. It is tied to James Millikin, a banker and philanthropist who founded Millikin University. It later served as an art center and an influenza hospital, and it adjoins Millikin Place, a private street with Prairie School houses.
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 74000765, listed December 3, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 125 N. Pine St., Decatur |
|---|---|
| County | Macon County |
| Listed | December 3, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74000765 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1876) |
| Architectural style | Italianate with French Second Empire mansard tower; Victorian |
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture, Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good and unaltered on its original site; the building was unoccupied, with preservation work in progress, and was a potential residence for the Millikin University president. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Within district | Decatur Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.84192, -88.96708 (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 74000765.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q17194307
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.