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Robert Greenlee House

Historic building
In Bloomington, Illinois
0.5 mi from Route 66
National Register of Historic Places

Robert Greenlee's Queen Anne home stands near Bloomington, IL, about 0.7 miles from the old Route 66 corridor. Contractor Robert Greenlee built it for his own family around 1884, and he gave it unusual touches: dragon-shaped brackets and a roof with a pagoda-like curve. Listed on the National Register, it rewards anyone who enjoys looking closely at the details of old houses.

What is Robert Greenlee House?

The roof is hipped, with cross gables. Above the attic, a dormer grows out of the front window on the second story, and both are trimmed with Eastlake spindlework and brackets. On the north side, a tall stained glass window shows a central rose design framed by geometric panes, a pattern that suits both Queen Anne and Eastlake taste.

The most unusual details come from Anglo-Japanese design. Brackets shaped like dragons decorate the cornice and front porch, and the roofline curves upward in the manner of a pagoda.

History of Robert Greenlee House

Greenlee, a building contractor, put up the house around 1884 as his own family home. It joined the National Register on February 7, 1997.

Visiting Robert Greenlee House: tips

It is a historic residence, so view it from the sidewalk. Look for the dragon brackets on the porch and the stained glass on the north side. White Place Historic District, the John M. Hamilton House and Vrooman Mansion are all right nearby.