Central Springfield Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Also known as: See Also:Central Springfield Historic District
Why it's listed
Seven masonry commercial buildings along the 300 block of South Sixth Street in downtown Springfield, Illinois, were added to the Central Springfield Historic District as a boundary extension. They range from two to nine stories and date from about 1885 to 1929. The anchor is the Leland Hotel of 1911, an eight-story, U-shaped brick building designed by Chicago firm Holabird & Roche. It served as a lodging and political hub, including as Adlai Stevenson's 1952 presidential campaign headquarters. Across the street, the 1929 Illinois State Journal Building, by Helmle & Helmle, has an Art Deco facade and a decorated plaster lobby. The 1906 Ferguson Building, designed by Samuel J. Hanes, was an early Springfield skyscraper; its original design remains under modern metal sheathing, so it is counted as non-contributing. The remaining buildings are modest two-story commercial structures. Together they mark the last southeastern growth of the downtown business zone before commercial development shifted to the city's edges.
Significance in brief: The block is described as the last area of the downtown business zone's southeastern expansion and complements the architecture of the existing district. The Leland Hotel (1911, Holabird & Roche) is the most important building, tied to Springfield's role as state capital and to politics. The State Journal Building and Ferguson Building are locally important designs by Helmle & Helmle and Samuel J. Hanes.
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 86003184, listed November 19, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Sixth St. from Capitol to Monroe St., Springfield |
|---|---|
| County | Sangamon County |
| Listed | November 19, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86003184 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1822-1936 |
| Architect / builder | Holabird & Roche (Leland Hotel); Helmle & Helmle (Illinois State Journal Building); Samuel J. Hanes (Ferguson Building) |
| Architectural style | Classical commercial (Leland Hotel, 321 S. Sixth); Art Deco (State Journal Building); early skyscraper with Sullivan-like design (Ferguson Building) |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Six buildings are contributing and one, the Ferguson Building, is non-contributing because metal sheathing covers its upper facades. The Leland Hotel has been altered, with its interior remodelled in the 1970s, and it housed offices and a university campus. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Within district | Central Springfield Historic District |
| Coordinates | 39.79902, -89.64810 (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 86003184.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19460919
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.