Du Quoin State Fairgrounds
Why it's listed
Du Quoin State Fairgrounds occupies the south edge of Du Quoin in southern Illinois. The nominated district covers the main section of a roughly 1,450-acre site and contains 21 contributing buildings, 3 contributing sites and several later noncontributing structures. William R. Hayes, a businessman with a strong interest in horse racing, founded the fair in 1923. Its original half-mile track was the main feature when it opened. A major building campaign followed in the 1940s, producing a monumental brick grandstand from 1947, an Exhibition Hall, ticket and concession buildings, gate houses and horse barns. Most of these buildings use Art Deco or Art Moderne detailing, including glass block windows, limestone trim and urns. The fairgrounds is significant for its long role as a popular state-level entertainment venue, for its place in harness racing history, including hosting the Hambletonian from 1957 to 1980, and for the cohesive collection of Art Deco buildings that remain in their original locations.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the fairgrounds was Illinois' unofficial 'little State Fair' from 1923 to 1940 and an important center of horse racing, especially harness racing. It also holds what it calls the state's largest group of fair buildings in the Art Deco/Moderne style, built mostly between 1940 and 1948.
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 90000719, listed July 11, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | US 51 N of jct. with SR 14, Du Quoin |
|---|---|
| County | Perry County |
| Listed | July 11, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000719 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1923-1948 |
| Architect / builder | Stiegemeyer, Oliver W. |
| Architectural style | Art Deco, Moderne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historic and current function are both listed as a fair; the form notes a new roof, wiring, doors and windows added to the Exhibition Hall in 1989 and says one barn was converted to a bar/restaurant. |
| Acreage | 179 |
| Coordinates | 37.98230, -89.23252 (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 90000719.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5310075
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.