Rogers, Col. Matthew, Building
Also known as: Abraham Lincoln Long Nine Museum
Why it's listed
Built around 1832 by Colonel Matthew Rogers, the local postmaster, this two-story Greek Revival store at 200 South Main Street in Athens, Illinois, is a timber-frame building with clapboard siding, mortise-and-tenon joints and a brick foundation. It housed a general store, the town's first post office in the rear northeast corner, and an upstairs meeting hall. In 1837 townspeople held a banquet there honoring Abraham Lincoln and the other Long Nine legislators who helped move the state capital from Vandalia to Springfield. Later owners, notably merchant Louis Salzenstein, kept it in commercial use, and it later served as a hardware store, garage and Masonic-related space. A 1972 rehabilitation restored windows, rebuilt the front porch and reinforced the structure. Today it operates as a museum with dioramas about Lincoln in Athens. It is significant for its long role in the commercial and social life of the town between about 1832 and 1955.
Significance in brief: The building is argued to be significant under Criterion A for its long association with the commercial development of Athens. It was one of the town's first major commercial buildings, housing a general store, the first Athens post office and an upstairs meeting room. It later served other commercial uses and remained a center for social activities, including a banquet honoring Abraham Lincoln and the Long Nine legislators.
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 05000431, listed May 22, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 200 S. Main St., Athens |
|---|---|
| County | Menard County |
| Listed | May 22, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000431 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | circa 1832-1955 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now a museum honoring Abraham Lincoln and the Long Nine, with a post office area and general store space on the first floor; described as in very good condition after a 1972 rehabilitation. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.96006, -89.72396 (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.
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 05000431.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14687467
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.