Illinois State Park Lodges and Cabins Thematic Resources
Encyclopedia
Illinois State Park Lodges and Cabins Thematic Resources is a Multiple Property Submission on the National Register of Historic Places
in the U.S. state of Illinois
. The listing includes the lodge and cabin sites in five different Illinois State Parks.
s. Though White Pines State Park Lodge
is much smaller than the other four it still features the focal point lounge, fireplace
and open truss systems displayed at the other sites. The lounge is designed to be an area of relaxing recreation and conversation. This use is reflected in the lodges' specially made furniture which is arranged in patterns meant to encourage such a use. Other features common to all the lodges are restaurants, toilets and showers, meeting rooms and souvenir stands. The Watch Tower Lodge
at Black Hawk State Historic Site
includes two museums. The Hauberg Indian Museum and a Civilian Conservation Corps museum. Besides Watch Tower and White Pines, this Multiple Property Submission included Starved Rock
Lodge and Cabins, Pere Marquette
Lodge and Cabins and Giant City State Park
Lodge and Cabins.
system grew slowly at first. Fort Massac was the state's first park, in 1903, after that additions were sporadic, Starved Rock State Park
was added in 1911 and remained, by far, the largest of Illniois' State Parks until the 1930s. In 1917 Illinois
Governor Frank Lowden instituted major reforms in government which gave the governor direct control of state departments through a director who sat on a cabinet
. Though many of the 1917 reforms, including one that authorized a governor-appointed Board of State Park Advisors, were not instituted until later a 1925 state law helped the State Park system grow.
The 1925 state law, which was later amended in 1931, gave the director of the Illinois Department of Public Works jurisdiction over the state parks. The Public Works position was one of Lowden's 1917 reforms that had already gone into effect. The law also mandated a system of state park's, under the Illinois Department of Conservation, later renamed the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
. Per the 1925 mandate three of the parks included in the Multiple Property Submission became state parks in 1927, Black Hawk State Historic Site
, Giant City State Park
and White Pines Forest State Park
. White Pines nearly became a state park in 1903, along with Fort Massac, but the $30,000 appropriation for its purchase was subject to a veto by Governor Richard Yates
. Pere Marquette State Park
was not acquired until May 1932. Known then as Piasa Bluff State Park, the 1511 acres (611.5 ha) park was the largest in Illinois at the time.
In 1933 the state park system's development picked up. Under the governorship of Henry Horner
the lodge projects at the state parks began. This was thanks in large part to the increase in federal funds thanks to the New Deal
and the appointment of Robert Kingery as director of the Public Works Department. Kingery had guided the State Park Board of Advisors through the development of a preservation beginning in 1930. The need for the lodges had been set forth in that 1932 plan that Kingery had helped adopt.
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in the U.S. state of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. The listing includes the lodge and cabin sites in five different Illinois State Parks.
Lodges
The lodges are the largest buildings on each of the sites. In each case, except for White Pines, the lodge a large two story structure. The two stories encompass the lounge, each lodge's focal point with large stone fireplaces and exposed log rafterRafter
A rafter is one of a series of sloped structural members , that extend from the ridge or hip to the downslope perimeter or eave, designed to support the roof deck and its associated loads.-Design:...
s. Though White Pines State Park Lodge
White Pines State Park Lodge and Cabins
The White Pines State Park Lodge and Cabins are located in rural Ogle County, Illinois near the village of Mount Morris. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. The Cabins are one of two Historic Places found in or near Mount Morris, the other is the Samuel M. Hitt House...
is much smaller than the other four it still features the focal point lounge, fireplace
Fireplace
A fireplace is an architectural structure to contain a fire for heating and, especially historically, for cooking. A fire is contained in a firebox or firepit; a chimney or other flue allows gas and particulate exhaust to escape...
and open truss systems displayed at the other sites. The lounge is designed to be an area of relaxing recreation and conversation. This use is reflected in the lodges' specially made furniture which is arranged in patterns meant to encourage such a use. Other features common to all the lodges are restaurants, toilets and showers, meeting rooms and souvenir stands. The Watch Tower Lodge
Black Hawk Museum and Lodge
Black Hawk Museum and Lodge is located in the Black Hawk State Historic Site in Rock Island, Illinois, United States. The lodge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the in 1985...
at Black Hawk State Historic Site
Black Hawk State Historic Site
The Black Hawk State Historic Site, in Rock Island, Illinois, occupies much of the historic site of the village of Saukenuk, the home of a band of Native Americans of the Sauk nation. It includes the John Hauberg Museum of Native American Life. The state park is located on a 150-foot bluff...
includes two museums. The Hauberg Indian Museum and a Civilian Conservation Corps museum. Besides Watch Tower and White Pines, this Multiple Property Submission included Starved Rock
Starved Rock State Park
Starved Rock State Park is a state park in Illinois, characterized by the many canyons within its 2360 acres. Located just southwest of the village of North Utica, in Deer Park Township, LaSalle County, Illinois, along the south bank of the Illinois River, the park hosts over two million visitors...
Lodge and Cabins, Pere Marquette
Pere Marquette State Park
Pere Marquette State Park is an 8,050-acre protected area in southwestern Jersey County, Illinois, United States. It is located near the city of Grafton, Illinois, at the confluence of the Mississippi River and the Illinois River...
Lodge and Cabins and Giant City State Park
Giant City State Park
Giant City State Park is an Illinois state park on in Jackson and Union Counties, Illinois, United States. Illinois acquired more than in 1927, and dedicated the park as Giant City State Park. A lodge and visitor center welcome state park guests. The park is served by the River to River...
Lodge and Cabins.
History
The Illinois State ParkState park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
system grew slowly at first. Fort Massac was the state's first park, in 1903, after that additions were sporadic, Starved Rock State Park
Starved Rock State Park
Starved Rock State Park is a state park in Illinois, characterized by the many canyons within its 2360 acres. Located just southwest of the village of North Utica, in Deer Park Township, LaSalle County, Illinois, along the south bank of the Illinois River, the park hosts over two million visitors...
was added in 1911 and remained, by far, the largest of Illniois' State Parks until the 1930s. In 1917 Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
Governor Frank Lowden instituted major reforms in government which gave the governor direct control of state departments through a director who sat on a cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
. Though many of the 1917 reforms, including one that authorized a governor-appointed Board of State Park Advisors, were not instituted until later a 1925 state law helped the State Park system grow.
The 1925 state law, which was later amended in 1931, gave the director of the Illinois Department of Public Works jurisdiction over the state parks. The Public Works position was one of Lowden's 1917 reforms that had already gone into effect. The law also mandated a system of state park's, under the Illinois Department of Conservation, later renamed the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is a cabinet-level department of the state government of Illinois. It is headquartered in the state capital of Springfield...
. Per the 1925 mandate three of the parks included in the Multiple Property Submission became state parks in 1927, Black Hawk State Historic Site
Black Hawk State Historic Site
The Black Hawk State Historic Site, in Rock Island, Illinois, occupies much of the historic site of the village of Saukenuk, the home of a band of Native Americans of the Sauk nation. It includes the John Hauberg Museum of Native American Life. The state park is located on a 150-foot bluff...
, Giant City State Park
Giant City State Park
Giant City State Park is an Illinois state park on in Jackson and Union Counties, Illinois, United States. Illinois acquired more than in 1927, and dedicated the park as Giant City State Park. A lodge and visitor center welcome state park guests. The park is served by the River to River...
and White Pines Forest State Park
White Pines Forest State Park
White Pines Forest State Park, more commonly referred to as White Pines State Park, is an Illinois state park in Ogle County, Illinois. It is located near the communities of Polo, Mount Morris and Oregon...
. White Pines nearly became a state park in 1903, along with Fort Massac, but the $30,000 appropriation for its purchase was subject to a veto by Governor Richard Yates
Richard Yates (son)
Richard Yates, Jr. was the 22nd Governor of Illinois from 1901 to 1905. From 1919 to 1933, he served in the U.S. House of Representatives from Illinois. Although he failed to receive his party's nomination in 1928 to the Seventy-first Congress, he was later appointed nominee and elected in place...
. Pere Marquette State Park
Pere Marquette State Park
Pere Marquette State Park is an 8,050-acre protected area in southwestern Jersey County, Illinois, United States. It is located near the city of Grafton, Illinois, at the confluence of the Mississippi River and the Illinois River...
was not acquired until May 1932. Known then as Piasa Bluff State Park, the 1511 acres (611.5 ha) park was the largest in Illinois at the time.
In 1933 the state park system's development picked up. Under the governorship of Henry Horner
Henry Horner
Henry Horner was the 28th Governor of Illinois, serving from 1933 to 1940, when he died in office. Horner was the first Jewish governor of Illinois.- Political biography :...
the lodge projects at the state parks began. This was thanks in large part to the increase in federal funds thanks to the New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
and the appointment of Robert Kingery as director of the Public Works Department. Kingery had guided the State Park Board of Advisors through the development of a preservation beginning in 1930. The need for the lodges had been set forth in that 1932 plan that Kingery had helped adopt.