Lemont Downtown Historic District, Illinois

What is Lemont Downtown Historic District?

This is a commercial district rather than a single building. Along its streets stand one-part and two-part commercial blocks, gable-front buildings and false-front shops, the kinds of storefronts seen in Midwestern towns throughout that century. Their facades draw on Italianate, plain Commercial and several revival styles.

Civic buildings belong to the district too, among them the village hall and the post office, so the area still works as Lemont's everyday downtown rather than a museum piece.

History of Lemont Downtown Historic District

Lemont's center took shape in the 1850s. The Illinois & Michigan Canal had just opened, and quarrying of limestone around the village set off a local boom, with shops and services following the work. Later in the 1800s and into the 1900s, new rail lines arrived, and so did Chicago's Sanitary and Ship Canal. Both drew more residents and more business, and the downtown kept growing. National Register listing for the district came on September 6, 2016.

Visiting Lemont Downtown Historic District: tips

Lemont sits about 2.6 miles off the old road, so the detour is short. Plan to walk: the district is compact enough to see on foot in under an hour, and coffee is close at hand. Nearby, Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve, about 3.8 miles away, adds a good trail walk in the woods. The ghost town of Tedens is about 2 miles off, and the site of Old Chicago, a short-lived 1970s indoor amusement park, is about 3.7 miles away.