Curtis, Elijah P., House
Also known as: Massac County Historical Museum
Why it's listed
Built in 1870 at 405 Market Street in Metropolis, Illinois, this two-story brick house with a one-story rear wing is a Classic Revival residence now used as the Massac County Historical Museum. Its symmetrical east front centers on a two-tier portico with octagonal columns and a balustered railing, framing matching doorways with scalloped transoms and sidelights. Inside, a central hall holds an open walnut stair, and the first floor has two coal-burning fireplaces. Joseph Alexander Fardell, a local craftsman noted for perfection in his work, built it for Major Elijah Curtis. Curtis, a lawyer, helped recruit the first Massac County company of the 29th Illinois Volunteers and rose to major in the Civil War. The house is one of only a few brick homes of its period left in the county. It was listed mainly for its architecture and secondarily for its link to local history. Alterations have been limited, though the rear porch was enclosed and the return eaves removed.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a fine Classic Revival house, built by a local craftsman noted for perfection in his work. It is one of only a few brick homes of its period remaining in Massac County. It is secondarily significant for local history because of Major Curtis, a Civil War officer and lawyer closely identified with the county's early history.
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 78001172, listed June 9, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 405 Market St., Metropolis |
|---|---|
| County | Massac County |
| Listed | June 9, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78001172 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Joseph Alexander Fardell |
| Architectural style | Classic Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and used as the Massac County Historical Museum, owned by the Massac County Historical Society; limited alterations noted. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.15135, -88.73407 (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 78001172.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16890982
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.