U.S. Post Office
Why it's listed
Joliet's main post office, at 150 North Scott Street, is a free-standing two-story limestone building with a partial basement, constructed from August 1901 to June 1903. Congress appropriated $100,000 for it in 1899, and the site was bought that October. James Knox Taylor served as supervising architect, and Joliet contractor Adam Groth carried out the work. The design is most characteristic of Renaissance Revival, with a rusticated facade, four two-story engaged fluted Ionic columns at the entrance, a curved pediment with a cartouche, and a balustrade above the cornice. Inside, the lobby was praised in 1903 for its tile floor, Vermont marble wainscoting and carved oak paneling. A rear addition in 1931-1932 enlarged the workroom, mailing platform and vestibule in matching style. The building served as the post office for nearly eighty years and was listed as a local landmark of community pride and architectural integrity.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is architecturally and historically significant as a long-serving public facility, a symbol of community growth and pride, and a distinctive Renaissance Revival design that has kept its basic integrity. It is described as a physical link between present-day Joliet and its past development.
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 81000223, listed August 20, 1981. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 150 N. Scott St., Joliet |
|---|---|
| County | Will County |
| Listed | August 20, 1981 |
| Reference number | 81000223 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-1999 |
| Architect / builder | Supervising Architect: James Knox Taylor; Contractor: Adam Groth; Govt. Supervisor: Ennis R. Austin |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition rated good and occupied; in use as the post office since 1903 but scheduled to be vacated in 1981 when a new facility was completed. |
| Acreage | 0.7 |
| Within district | Downtown Joliet Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.52746, -88.08024 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 81000223.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7890981
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.