Lincoln Courthouse Square Historic District, Illinois

What it is

The district covers the courthouse square and several blocks around it, with Broadway and Pulaski Street among its edges. Of its 112 buildings, 89 count as contributing to its historic character. The downtown grew up around the courthouse, so the square is still the natural place to start.

The oldest storefronts are mostly brick Italianate buildings. After 1900, newer styles joined them, which gives the streets a pleasing mix. Look for the Scully Building, one of the district's standout commercial blocks, built in the Richardsonian Romanesque style.

A bit of history

Lincoln was platted in 1853, and the county courthouse followed a year later, in 1854. The Scully Building served as headquarters for Scully Estate Holdings, a large real estate business that dealt in farmland. The district as a whole was placed on the National Register in December 1985, recognizing the square and its surrounding blocks together.

Visiting tips

Park near the square and give yourself 30 to 45 minutes to walk around it. Start at the courthouse, circle the square once, then walk a block or two along the side streets to see where the Italianate storefronts give way to later buildings. The area is wheelchair accessible, and there are places to eat within a block or so. Two historic homes are a short walk or drive away: the Stephan A. Foley House about 0.4 mile and the Hoblit House about 0.5 mile. The Postville Courthouse State Historic Site, about 0.9 mile off, pairs naturally with the courthouse square.