Morris in Grundy County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Morris Downtown Commercial Historic District
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 13, 2023
1. Morris Downtown Commercial Historic District Marker
National Register
of Historic Places
January 31, 2006
A place of historical and architectural
significance
Established as the Grundy County Seat in 1842
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1842.
Location. 41° 21.383′ N, 88° 25.415′ W. Marker is in Morris, Illinois, in Grundy County. Marker is at the intersection of West Illinois Avenue and Liberty Street, on the left when traveling west on West Illinois Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Morris IL 60450, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Elsie Armstrong (a few steps from this marker); Welcome to Morris a Historic I&M Canal town (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Welcome to Morris a Historic I&M Canal town (a few steps from this marker); Manitowoc Submarines (within shouting distance of this marker); Grundy County World War I Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Indian Pole (within shouting distance of this marker);
this page online
Regarding Morris Downtown Commercial Historic District. National Register of Historic Places #05001603.
From the National Register Nomination:
The Morris Downtown Commercial Historic District area contains 16 whole blocks, for a total of approximately 24 acres. Typical streetscape characteristics of a small town central business district are found in Morris: uniform setbacks, party walls, front sidewalks at the curb line, planters, street lamps and furniture. Morris, although having two historic main streets, can be considered a traditional, small town business district, with commercial buildings densely clustered together on small blocks on an orthogonal grid oriented to the street and sidewalk. Diagonal parking is found up and down most of the streets. Its center blocks remain compact and pedestrian oriented.
Also see . . . Morris Downtown Commercial Historic District (Wikipedia). Excerpt:
The(Submitted on September 19, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)historic district reflects the history of Morris, Illinois as a canal town on the Illinois & Michigan Canal. Named after canal commissioner Isaac N. Morris, the town became the Grundy County seat in 1841 and was originally platted a year later. The earliest of the buildings were built in the 1850s, shortly after the canal's construction. The buildings in the district were designed in a wide variety of architectural styles, including Commercial, Italianate, Queen Anne, Classical Revival, Renaissance Revival, and Tudor Revival. The district also contains two prominent government buildings, the Grundy County Courthouse and the Morris Post Office.Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 13, 20232. Morris Downtown Commercial Historic District Marker(looking northwest • West Illinois Avenue in left background • Liberty Street in right background)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 13, 2023
3. United States Post Office, Morris, Illinois
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, September 13, 2023
4. Grundy County Courthouse
Credits. This page was last revised on January 13, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 19, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 72 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 19, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
