Miller, George H., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1890 at 405 W. Market Street in Bloomington, this two-story house was designed by architect George H. Miller as his own home soon after his marriage. He lived there until his death in 1927. The front section is faced in red brick below and wooden shingles above, with a modified hip roof, and a tower at the southeast corner rises from a round base to an octagon capped by a cone and spire. A brick arch on stone columns covers the front porch, and many stained glass windows include one over the south entrance bearing the name Miller in blue glass. Inside are decorative woodwork and a fireplace framed in blue tile. Miller was the first architect to practice in Bloomington for a sustained period, designing churches, public buildings, offices and homes, and many structures rebuilt after the 1900 downtown fire. The house is regarded as a unique expression of the Queen Anne style.
Significance in brief: The house was the home of George H. Miller, the first architect to practice for a sustained period in Bloomington. Miller designed many public buildings, churches, offices and homes in Bloomington and across the Midwest, and between 1880 and 1910 he shaped the city's appearance more than any other individual. His own house is described as a unique expression within the Queen Anne style.
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 78003111, listed July 20, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 405 W. Market St., Bloomington |
|---|---|
| County | McLean County |
| Listed | July 20, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78003111 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1890 |
| Architect / builder | George H. Miller |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in excellent or good condition and used as a private residence; occupied. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.48239, -88.99687 (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 78003111.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5540063
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.