Joilet YMCA
Why it's listed
Built in 1928 at the corner of Ottawa and Webster streets near downtown Joliet, this five-story YMCA wraps around an open light court. Its front is faced in buff-to-brown brick with Indiana limestone trim, an arched stone entrance with a pediment, and ornamental iron window guards. Inside were social rooms, offices, a natatorium, two gymnasiums, handball courts and dormitory rooms. The project grew out of a 1920s community campaign. William Buchanan pledged $50,000 on condition that residents raise the remainder, and United States Steel later gave $200,000. D.H. Burnham & Co. prepared the plans with help from the national YMCA Architectural Bureau. A modern three-story Women's Division addition was built on the south end in 1949. The building keeps most of its original masonry and many interior features, including the gymnasium floor, running track and several fireplace mantels. Some entrances have been replaced, and the former social rooms now serve as tenant sleeping rooms. The pool is out of use.
Significance in brief: The visible text covers mainly the architecture and the history of the fundraising campaign. The building is a Colonial Revival YMCA funded by community donors, including William Buchanan and United States Steel, and designed by D.H. Burnham & Co. with help from the national YMCA Architectural Bureau. The truncated document does not include the full significance statement or the criteria.
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 06000010, listed February 9, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 215 N. Ottawa St., Joliet |
|---|---|
| County | Will County |
| Listed | February 9, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000010 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | D.H. Burnham & Co. (architects); Hansen and Peterson (local building contractors) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th & Early 20th Century Revivals/Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The building is now used as multiple-unit housing with tenant sleeping rooms. The natatorium is not in use and is in poor condition, while the gymnasium and handball courts are still used and are in reasonably good condition. |
| Acreage | 0.7 |
| Within district | Downtown Joliet Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.53057, -88.08355 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 06000010.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6270006
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.