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United States Post Office

Historic building
In Joliet, Illinois
On Route 66
National Register of Historic Places

This two-story Renaissance Revival building in Joliet, IL, served as the city's main post office from 1903 until 1981, and it sits right by the Route 66 corridor. It was designed by James Knox Taylor and enlarged as Joliet grew in the early 1900s. Added to the National Register in 1981, it is a handsome piece of the downtown streetscape for travelers walking between Joliet's historic sights.

What is United States Post Office?

The building is a two-story federal post office in the Renaissance Revival style, a formal, classically inspired look often used for public buildings of its era. James Knox Taylor drew up the design. It was enlarged once, and that addition was the last major change to its structure, so what stands today is essentially the expanded early-1900s building.

History of United States Post Office

Congress set aside money for a new Joliet post office in 1899, and the land was bought from the Robinson family. The building opened for mail in 1903. As the city grew quickly in the early 20th century, Congress approved more money to buy extra land and expand it. It remained Joliet's post office until 1981, when a new one was built, and it joined the National Register that same year.

Visiting United States Post Office: tips

No visitor access is listed, so enjoy it from the sidewalk. It makes a quick stop on a downtown walk: the Rialto Square Theatre and the Joliet Area Historical Museum are both about 0.1 miles away, and the Joliet YMCA building about 0.3 miles.

Practical info

On site & nearby

Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix

Where to eat near United States Post Office

All diners →

Diner & restaurant
Rich & Creamy
Joliet, IL · 1.0 mi from United States Post Office
A Joliet ice cream stand on old Route 66 with the Blues Brothers dancing on its roof.