West Bluff Historic District
Also known as: See Also:Judge Jacob Gale House; Pettingill-Morron House
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Why it's listed
West Bluff Historic District covers roughly 365 acres on the bluffs above the Illinois River in Peoria. It is mainly a residential neighborhood of single-family houses, with masonry buildings nearest the bluff edge and frame houses toward the interior. The largest houses sit along the crest, especially on Randolph, High, and Moss streets, while more modest homes lie behind them. Styles range from Italianate and French Second Empire to Queen Anne, Classical Revival, and other revival forms, and the district includes two works by Frank Lloyd Wright and the Prairie School. Settlement began with farming in the 1840s, and more intensive residential building followed around mid-century as the city's commercial center expanded. The district was judged significant for its well-preserved architecture and for the open bluff setting, and for the prominent Peoria business and civic figures who lived there. A few modern commercial buildings, parking lots, and apartment buildings are noted as intrusions, mostly in the eastern part.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls the district a well-preserved reminder of the wealth and tastes of Peoria's notables in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Its architecture is of better than average quality, and parts of Randolph, High, and Moss are described as unsurpassed in the state. The largely undeveloped bluff face gives the large houses along the crest an open setting. Residents of the area helped Peoria grow into a major industrial center.
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 76000725, listed December 17, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Randolph, High and Moss Sts., E of Western St., Peoria |
|---|---|
| County | Peoria County |
| Listed | December 17, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000725 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1900- (box checked); text also refers to the 19th and early 20th centuries |
| Architectural style | Mixed 19th and early 20th century styles: Italianate, French Second Empire, Queen Anne, Classical Revival, other revival styles, and Prairie School |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition marked excellent; occupied. Land use is predominantly residential, with some commercial, religious, and educational uses and a few modern intrusions. |
| Acreage | 365 |
| Coordinates | 40.69703, -89.60874 (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 76000725.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7984492
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.