Peoria Automobile Club
Also known as: Shore Acres Park Clubhouse
Why it's listed
Built in 1915 on the bank of the Illinois River in Shore Acres Park, south of Chillicothe, this wood-frame clubhouse was designed by Hotchkiss & Harris of Peoria for the Peoria Automobile Club. It has a gabled central pavilion with a two-story portico, Corinthian pilasters, French doors and balconies, flanked by two gambrel-roofed wings. Inside, a two-story ballroom has a balcony and a 1925 mural of the river valley by Peoria artist Erick Arons. The club formed around 1911 to improve roads, promote touring and offer hospitality to motorists. Members campaigned for better roads between Peoria, Chillicothe and Chicago. The building hosted dances, weddings, picnics and fraternity and sorority formals through the 1920s and 1930s. The club later became a country club, and the property was sold at auction in 1935 after bankruptcy. The building has been in continual use since 1915 and is significant locally for its role in recreation and entertainment.
Significance in brief: The building is significant under Criterion A in the area of Entertainment/Recreation. It reflects the early twentieth-century trend of automobile clubs that promoted road improvement, touring and social life. It has served continuously as a place of recreation and entertainment since its 1915 dedication.
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 95000984, listed August 4, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 100 Park Blvd., Chillicothe |
|---|---|
| County | Peoria County |
| Listed | August 4, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000984 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1915-1935 |
| Architect / builder | Hotchkiss & Harris, Architects |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a park pavilion and clubhouse; part of the south wing is used as a residential apartment and the north wing rooms are used for storage. |
| Acreage | 2.2 |
| Coordinates | 40.90337, -89.49005 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 95000984.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14688010
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.