Architecture

History, architecture and beauty are found all around Kankakee County. Below are samplings of a few of our notable contributions to architecture. Interior tours of all these structures are by appointment only, so please call to set up a tour.

The Kankakee County Courthouse
450 E. Court St., Kankakee

This 1912 Courthouse features a dome mural depicting scenes of local history. An ancient Native American village once stood on the courthouse ridge overlooking the Kankakee River flood plains. This beautiful architecture is a focal point that is positioned in the center of six Historical Churches that were built in the early and late 1800's.

The Bradley House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
701 S. Harrison Ave., Kankakee
815-802-1421
www.flwbradleyhouse.com

With this design, Frank Lloyd Wright left behind all of the architectural styles of Europe that had influenced buildings in America. Ornamentation took on a completely new form; the ornamentation became integral with the building. The house was the beginning of what came to be known as the Prairie Style that became one of the dominant architectural styles for the first ten years of the 20th century. In addition, The Stable Shop, gift shop, carries a wide variety of Wright themed gifts that allow you to take the experience home. The Bradley House and Stable Shop are open by appointment only.

Historic Churches

Kankakee County has several beautiful historical churches, each with its own unique style and architecture. While visiting, we hope you will take the opportunity to enjoy our Downtown Historic Church Walking Tour. To learn more, please call our office.

First Presbyterian Church
371 E. Court St., Kankakee
815-939-3546
www.firstpreskankakee.org

The First Presbyterian Church of Kankakee had its founding on September 28, 1854, when ten men and women met with two ministers from the Chicago New School Presbytery. During the 1930's and 40's 13 art-glass windows were put in place in the sanctuary. The large Last Supper window was installed on the south wall of the building in 1944.

St. Paul's Lutheran Church
348 E. Merchant St., Kankakee
815-932-0312
www.stpaulslutheran.net

St Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church was founded in 1859 in downtown Kankakee. It was in the late 1850's when several Lutheran families, having left Germany, found homes in the little town of Kankakee, Illinois. The first church was built in 1864. After a serious of fires, the corner stone for the third church was laid and completed in 1888. The three large bells in the bell tower were purchased in 1901. Electric lights were added in 1923.

Asbury United Methodist Church
196 S. Harrison Ave., Kankakee
815-933-4408
www.kasburychurch.blogspot.com

Asbury Methodist Church began well before the Civil War. A Methodist circuit rider brought Methodism to the early settlers of Kankakee in 1836. In 1866 ground was broken for what is now the first third of Asbury Church. In 1922 the graceful and unique balcony was added to the beautiful sanctuary.

St. Patrick's Catholic Church
428 S. Indiana Ave., Kankakee
815-932-6716
www.stpatrickkankakee.com

In 1891, the St Patrick's parish started when the Catholic Columbian Association assembled and began construction in 1892 with the first service in the new building being held on March 11, 1894. The Romanesque style building is 135' by 60' designed to seat 600 worshipers for an original cost of $35,000. The beautiful stained glass windows depict the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, as well as the four evangelists - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
298 S. Harrison Ave., Kankakee
815-932-6886
www.k3stpauls.homestead.com

St Paul's Episcopal Church, famous for its welcoming red door, received its certificate to organize on July 14, 1863. The current building was dedicated on September 6, 1900. Built primarily of Bedford Stone, St Paul's Episcopal does not have a steeple; instead it has a Norman style tower, which reflects its English heritage. The rope rung bell is from the original 1863 church and was moved to the new church along with baptismal font, brass altar cross, the altar book, and vases. All the original stained glass work is in the new building.

St. Anne Catholic Church
230 N. Sixth Ave., St. Anne
815-427-8265

The first Catholic Church in St. Anne was built shortly after the arrival of Father Chiniquy, who in 1856 separated from the Catholic Church. Thereafter there was no resident Catholic priest in St. Anne until 1871, and the faithful were attended either from Kankakee or St. Mary's, in Iroquois county. The congregation of St. Anne numbers up-wards of one hundred and seventy-three families, and has, besides an academy for young ladies, a parochial school in charge of the Sisters of the congregation of Notre Dame, with an attendance of a hundred and thirty. As if in pious reparation for the unfortunate defection of many of their brethren, the French Canadian Catholics of Chicago and Kankakee County have, for the last fifteen years, made the shrine of "La Bonne St. Anne" a rallying point, meeting there in large and enthusiastic pilgrimages every year, on the 26th of July.

Maternity BVM Catholic Church
308 S. Marsile St., Bourbonnais
815-933-8285
www.mbvm.org

Maternity of the Blessed Mary Catholic Church was built in 1858 in French Canadian architectural style, resembling many churches around Quebec, Canada. The most notable feature of the Church is the three crypts that are located under the sanctuary of the church of Reverend Leon Broisvert, C.S.V., Reverend Antoine Lebel and Sr. Marie-Louise-Edesse-Paiement, C.N.D. In the adjacent cemetery to the church, there is the grotto built in honor of those soldiers who fought in World War I from Bourbonnais and artifacts from the former St. Viator College. Most notable of these artifacts is the sundial donated to the school from the class of Archbishop Fulton J.Sheen, whose cause for Sainthood in the Catholic Church is currently being considered.