These Are The 10 Most Endangered Historic Places In IL For 2024

ILLINOIS — Landmarks Illinois this week announced its 10 Most Endangered Historic Places for 2024, including three in Cook County.

The list calls attention to culturally and architecturally significant sites in need of preservation resources across the state.

“This year’s ‘Most Endangered’ sites are not only incredibly important places in their communities, but many are large-scale buildings that sit prominently in highly visible areas near city centers, in historic districts or on state-owned land. Their neglect is seen and felt,” Bonnie McDonald, president and CEO of Landmarks Illinois, said in a news release.

“Despite their current condition, these places tell important stories from our past — stories that should not be erased due to insufficient investment or general disregard for our collective histories.”

Chicago-area sites on the list include the Sears Administration Building and the Portage Theater, both in Chicago, and the Libby, McNeill and Libby Building in Blue Island.

The Sears Administration Building was constructed in two phases in 1905 and 1914 in the North Lawndale neighborhood and served as the headquarters for the former retail giant until the 1970s. The building has been on the market for a year and is vacant.

Portage Park's Portage Theater was finished in 1920 and was a local cultural institution but has suffered from deferred maintenance since closing in 2018. Long-term plans are unclear and financing has been a challenge.

Constructed in 1918, the Libby, McNeill and Libby Building was a canning and bottling factory for the second-largest producer of canned foods in the country, but it was shuttered in 1968. It is vacant and starting to decay due to lack of maintenance.

Other sites on the list include:

• Bishop Hill Colony Church, Bishop Hill, Henry County
• Buel House State Historic Site, Golconda, Pope County
• Shawneetown Bank State Historic Site, Old Shawneetown, Gallatin County
• Former Collinsville Township High School, Collinsville, Madison County
• Decatur Masonic Temple, Decatur, Macon County
• Former Lincoln School, East St. Louis, St. Clair County
• Johnson County Courthouse, Vienna, Johnson County

To learn more about the endangered sites, visit www.landmarks.org/preservation-programs/most-endangered-historic-places-in-illinois.