Landmarks Illinois has announced the 2025 Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois. The list calls attention to 10 culturally and architecturally significant sites across the state that face growing threats of disinvestment and demolition. For the first time, it also includes a “Watch Site.” Click Here to explore the places on this year’s list. Some standouts are on or near Route 66 in Illinois:
Meramec Caverns Barns
Statewide, including in Cumberland, Jackson, Livingston and Madison Counties
Numerous historic barns in Illinois feature mural advertisements for “Meramec Caverns,” a cave network and tourist attraction located near Route 66 in Stanton, Missouri. An estimated 400 barn murals once existed across 14 states, and the majority that remain are in deteriorated condition. Landmarks Illinois is aware of a handful left in Illinois, including ones near Glenn and Cayuga, Illinois, that face imminent danger. (Photo credit: Paul Morgan)
Spivey Building
East St. Louis, St. Clair County
The 12-story, National Register-listed building is a testament to a period in which East St. Louis experienced prosperity and growth. The city’s only skyscraper, which once housed the East St. Louis Journal and other thriving businesses, faces demolition due to decades of neglect, vacancy and deferred maintenance. The building is located about a block from Route 66. (Photo credit: Paul Morgan)
Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church
Lincoln, Logan County
Built in 1880 by a congregation comprised of formerly enslaved people and their descendants, the church is an enduring, tangible reminder of local 19th-century African American history. It has sat vacant and deteriorating ever since it closed its doors in 2012 and requires significant repairs to ensure its survival and rebirth as a place of storytelling. The building is located about a block from Route 66. (Photo credit: Paul Morgan)
