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 | |
   | |
| Location | 1071 Wesley Rd., Creve Coeur, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°37′55″N 89°37′30″W / 40.63194°N 89.62500°W |
| Area | 27.3 acres (11.0 ha) |
| Built | 1938-39 |
| Architect | LeGromwell, Paul |
| MPS | Illinois Waterway Navigation System Facilities MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 04000169[1] |
| Added to NRHP | March 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
edit- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ Lynn, Greg (May 19, 2017). "A Historic Complex". Peoria Magazine. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Peoria Lock and Dam". www.mvr.usace.army.mil. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Sheehan, Matt (November 12, 2018). "Peoria Lock and Dam to close for up to four months in 2020". CIProud.com. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
- ^ "Peoria lock and dam tour". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
- ^ Grant, Daniel (July 15, 2020). "'Much-needed' work underway on locks and dams along Illinois River". FarmWeek Now. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
- ^ Eggert, Timothy (February 15, 2022). "Durbin: Lock and dam upgrades a 'game changer' for Illinois farmers". Effingham Daily News. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
