Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Also known as: Peoria Musicians Club
Why it's listed
Built in 1856 at 405 N. Monson Street, this brick Greek Revival church is the oldest standing church building in Peoria. It measures about 36 by 70 feet, including a rear addition, and has a strong front pediment, heavy cornice and double brick pilasters with wood capitals. Large north and south windows, with cross-shaped mullions, are partly covered with plywood. In the attic, heavy timber queen-post roof trusses span the 32-foot width. The building first housed the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, then St. John's Episcopal Church in 1863, the First German Baptist Church in 1875, and Agudas Achim Congregation in 1897. It was briefly a YMCA training school for black youth around 1911. Musicians' Union Local 26 has owned it since 1913. The building is notable as an early masonry structure in the Peoria area and one of few remaining Greek Revival buildings in Central Illinois.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is Peoria's oldest standing church building and one of the earliest masonry structures in the Peoria area. It is also one of very few Greek Revival buildings remaining in Central Illinois. It has served several congregations and, since 1913, a musicians' union, making it a long-standing center of community life.
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 80001401, listed March 18, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 405 N. Monson St., Peoria |
|---|---|
| County | Peoria County |
| Listed | March 18, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001401 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in good condition; altered, with some windows covered by plywood and the door trim possibly not original. Used as union headquarters and rehearsal hall. |
| Within district | West Bluff Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.69260, -89.59626 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
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 80001401.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5193941
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.