Two sites in Rock Island have been added to the National Register of Historic Places - the Downtown Rock Island Historic District and the Arsenal Courts Historic District.
Andrew Heckenkamp is the National Register Coordinator for the Illinois State Historic Preservation Office. And he says downtown Rock Island deserves the honor because it's been the center of culture and society for the city.
"It's a good collection of architectural styles from the 19th and 20th century, and it also has this historical significance - it was and still is the home of county and local government there."
Arsenal Courts, now known as Century Woods, was built in 1940 and '41, on an emergency basis, for workers employed at the Rock Island Arsenal.
Heckenkamp says it's a privilege and honor to be on the National Register, but there are also financial advantages.
"Now that downtown Rock Island is designated, these owners, if they meet certain requirements for the tax credit program, they can get a historic tax credit for their rehab."
And you can't qualify for historic tax credits unless you're on the National Register.
Illinois now has about 2,000 listings on the National Register of Historic Places, including Wrigley Field, the Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, and the Rockford Woman's Club.
