Lock and Dam No. 17 Historic District
Why it's listed
Lock and Dam No. 17 crosses the Upper Mississippi River near New Boston, Illinois, in a rural setting of marshes, sloughs and islands. The 86.93-acre complex includes a main lock with an 8-foot lift, an incomplete auxiliary lock, a dam with eight Tainter gates and three roller gates, earthen dikes, a Moderne-style central control station and a lawn esplanade. Contractors built most of it between 1935 and 1938, and it opened to navigation on May 14, 1939. It was among the last locks in the 9-foot channel project paid for with emergency relief funds. The site was so remote that a 3.7-mile access road and a worker camp with eleven bunk houses and a mess hall were built first; 626 men worked there at the 1936 peak. Later additions include 1951 guide wall extensions to correct outdraft problems and a 1991 rehabilitation. The lock, auxiliary lock, dam, control station and two stage recorders contribute to the district's historic character.
Significance in brief: The district is significant for its role in the Upper Mississippi River 9-Foot Navigation Project, in transportation, maritime history, commerce, conservation, military, economics, politics/government and social history. It was the 20th complex of the 1931-1940 project and one of the last funded with emergency relief money. Its construction shows the residential work-camp life of relief workers at a remote site.
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 04000177, listed March 10, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 173 Lock and Dam Rd., New Boston |
|---|---|
| County | Mercer County |
| Listed | March 10, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04000177 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1935-1948 |
| Architect / builder | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District; Edwin E. Abbott |
| Architectural style | Lock and dam; Moderne (central control station); machinery |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Maritime History, Commerce, Social History, Conservation, Economics, Politics/Government, Military |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In continuous use as part of the navigation system since May 14, 1939; the lock and dam had a 50-year major rehabilitation in 1991 and are described as being in excellent condition. |
| Acreage | 86.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.19170, -91.06258 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 04000177.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6665266
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.