Broadway Historic District
Why it's listed
Broadway Historic District is a dense residential neighborhood south and east of downtown Rock Island, Illinois, close to the Mississippi River. Of its 865 buildings and outbuildings, 715 contribute to its historic character. Construction dates run from about 1854 to 1948. Most buildings are single-family houses, along with historic double houses, two-flats, eight apartment buildings, more than 180 garages and twelve carriage barns. Queen Anne houses dominate, many showing Colonial Revival influence, alongside Greek Revival, Italianate, Craftsman, Romanesque Revival and other styles. Four churches, the 1893 Old Lincoln School and a few small storefronts add variety. Most buildings are frame with clapboard siding, though brick, stone and rock-faced concrete block also appear. Mature trees, limestone or concrete curbs, retaining walls and the circular Lincoln Court give the area a distinct character. Alterations such as synthetic siding and enclosed porches are mostly reversible, and an ongoing effort to restore original siding has helped the district keep its integrity.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the district as a largely intact late nineteenth and early twentieth century neighborhood with a wide range of architectural styles, dominated by Queen Anne and transitional Queen Anne/Colonial Revival houses. It retains its design, setting, materials, workmanship and location, and recent rehabilitation has reversed many alterations. The excerpt provided does not include the full statement of significance.
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 98001046, listed August 14, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Roughly bounded by 17th and 23rd Sts., 5th and 7th Aves., Lincoln Court, and 12th and 13th Aves., Rock Island |
|---|---|
| County | Rock Island County |
| Listed | August 14, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98001046 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, Italianate (also Greek Revival, Romanesque Revival, French Second Empire, Classical Revival, International) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Overwhelmingly residential and still mostly single-family use; the Old Lincoln School and the First Church of Christ, Scientist are vacant. Many houses are being rehabilitated. |
| Acreage | 168 |
| Coordinates | 41.50225, -90.57023 (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 98001046.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4972453
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.