Peoria Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, U.S. government building and former post office in Peoria, Illinois
The Peoria Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse is a courthouse and former post office in Peoria, Illinois, built in 1938. The building displays clean, geometric Moderne style with massive granite facades, decorative limestone work, and carved stone panels above the main entrance.
The building was constructed in 1937 after demolishing a smaller 1889 Romanesque Revival structure that had become too cramped. Its completion in August 1938 marked a new chapter for federal administration in Peoria, continuing until the post office relocated in 1981.
The building's name reflects its dual role as a courthouse and post office that shaped daily life in Peoria for decades. Stone carvings on the facade depict working people, agricultural scenes, and a postal worker, reflecting the roles that support the community.
The building remains an active workplace and some areas may require access controls, so it is best to explore the exterior facade and publicly accessible spaces. The striking architecture is easiest to view from Northeast Monroe Street, where the large stone carvings and geometric lines are clearly visible.
Stone reliefs on the facade were created in 1939 by artist Freeman L. Schoolcraft as part of a New Deal program supporting local artists. These artworks were uncommon for federal buildings of that era and make this one a valuable record of the period's artistic goals.
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