Lock and Dam No. 13 Historic District
Why it's listed
Lock and Dam No. 13 spans the Upper Mississippi River north of Clinton, Iowa, and Fulton, Illinois. The district covers about 254 acres and includes a lift lock with an 11-foot lift, an incomplete auxiliary lock, a dam with Tainter and roller gates, a brick control station and long earthen dikes. McCarthy Improvement Company built the lock by December 1936 and the dam by December 1938, and the complex opened to navigation on May 13, 1939. It was the 17th complex of the 9-Foot Navigation Project to go into service. Its significance rests on its role in that project and on one unusual feature: an 8,900-foot dike linking the lock to the Illinois shore, which makes it the only complex in the project with part of its dam on the landward side of the main lock. Upstream guide wall and mooring dike additions in 1942 and 1950 addressed outdraft problems. Later rehabilitation resurfaced the lock, but the form says the setting and overall character remain intact.
Significance in brief: It is a good example of the final stage of design evolution in the Upper Mississippi River 9-Foot Navigation Project. It also has an unusual feature: an 8,900-foot dike extending from the lock to the Illinois shore, making it the only complex in the project with part of its dam on the landward side of the main lock. The form ties its significance to transportation, commerce, conservation, military, politics, economics, maritime and social history.
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 04000173, listed March 10, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 4999 Lock Rd., Fulton |
|---|---|
| County | Whiteside County |
| Listed | March 10, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04000173 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1935-1948 |
| Architect / builder | McCarthy Improvement Company of Davenport, Iowa (lock and dam); Charles H. Langman of Rock Island, Illinois (temporary buildings); U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District |
| Architectural style | Other: lock and dam; Moderne: control station; Other: machinery |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Maritime History, Commerce, Conservation, Politics/Government, Economics, Social History, Military |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In continuous use since May 13, 1939. The lock and dam were rehabilitated in 1993-1997, and the form describes the components as in excellent condition, though some original architectural details have been lost. |
| Acreage | 254.2 |
| Coordinates | 41.90052, -90.16023 (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 04000173.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q266350
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.