St. Louis, Peoria and Northern Railroad Depot
Also known as: Pekin Depot, Chicago and Alton Depot
Why it's listed
Built in 1898 for the St. Louis, Peoria and Northern Railroad, this wood-frame depot at 1408 Broadway Street in Pekin, Illinois, served both passengers and freight. It later became known as the Chicago and Alton Depot after that railroad bought the line. The one-story building covers about 1,935 square feet and sits on a thick concrete foundation. A waiting room, ticket office with bay window, telegraph equipment, a middle connecting room and a large baggage room remain largely as originally arranged, though the roof has been reshingled and a fire once led to some wood paneling. A red caboose beside it is noncontributing. The depot is valued for its link to the railroads that fueled Pekin's industry and shipping, and it is described as the only depot in the city left in its original state. Its period of significance runs from 1898 to 1954. It is currently vacant.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the depot is significant under Criterion A for its role in the railroad transportation that shaped Pekin's growth. It is described as the only Pekin depot remaining in its original state, while other depots have been lost or remodeled. Its history ties to five railroad companies, and its period of significance runs from construction in 1898 to 1954.
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 04001305, listed December 6, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1408 Broadway St., Pekin |
|---|---|
| County | Tazewell County |
| Listed | December 6, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04001305 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1898-1954 |
| Architect / builder | St. Louis, Peoria and Northern Railroad |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as vacant/not in use; the interior is described as little changed from the original, and the building needs paint and some repairs. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.56971, -89.63058 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 04001305.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q23022467
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.