The Peoria Lock and Dam is a historic lock and dam complex on the Illinois River at Creve Coeur, Illinois. The complex was built in 1938-39 as part of an effort to make the river navigable and establish a route for barges between Chicago and the Mississippi River.[2][3] The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers designed the complex; their influence is particularly evident in the dam's control station, as the State of Illinois designed most other dam control stations along the river. The lock has a standard 100-by-600-foot (30 m × 183 m) chamber, similar to other locks on the river, and a vertical lift of 11 feet (3.4 m). The dam is 536 feet (163 m) long and includes 108 wicket gates and a Tainter gate; it is one of two Illinois dams that still use wicket gates.[4] The control station is for the most part a large, functional building, though it has Art Deco surrounds at the main entrance. The district also contains an original maneuver boat designed to raise and lower the dam's wicket gates; the boat is still used and is one of four boats of its kind left in the United States.[5]

Peoria Lock and Dam Historic District
The lock from upstream
Peoria Lock and Dam is located in Illinois
Peoria Lock and Dam
Peoria Lock and Dam is located in the United States
Peoria Lock and Dam
Location1071 Wesley Rd., Creve Coeur, Illinois
Coordinates40°37′55″N 89°37′30″W / 40.63194°N 89.62500°W / 40.63194; -89.62500
Area27.3 acres (11.0 ha)
Built1938 (1938)-39
ArchitectLeGromwell, Paul
MPSIllinois Waterway Navigation System Facilities MPS
NRHP reference No.04000169[1]
Added to NRHPMarch 10, 2004

The complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 10, 2004.[1]

Significant repairs were made during July through October 2020.[6][7][8] After securing a multi-million dollar federal funding appropriation in 2022, the Peoria Lock and Dam is expected to further update its infrastructure.[3][9]

References

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  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ Lynn, Greg (May 19, 2017). "A Historic Complex". Peoria Magazine. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Alani, Hannah (February 2, 2022). "'An incredible system': 1930s-era Peoria Lock and Dams included in $829 million for waterway improvements". WCBU Peoria. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  4. ^ "Peoria Lock and Dam". www.mvr.usace.army.mil. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  5. ^ Henning, Barbara J. (2001). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Peoria Lock and Dam Historic District" (PDF). Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  6. ^ Sheehan, Matt (November 12, 2018). "Peoria Lock and Dam to close for up to four months in 2020". CIProud.com. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  7. ^ "Peoria lock and dam tour". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  8. ^ Grant, Daniel (July 15, 2020). "'Much-needed' work underway on locks and dams along Illinois River". FarmWeek Now. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  9. ^ Eggert, Timothy (February 15, 2022). "Durbin: Lock and dam upgrades a 'game changer' for Illinois farmers". Effingham Daily News. Retrieved September 18, 2023.