Birthplace of Ronald Reagan
Encyclopedia
The Birthplace of Ronald Reagan, also known as the Graham Building, is located in an apartment on the second floor of a late 19th century commercial building in Tampico, Illinois
, United States
. The building was built in 1896 and housed a tavern from that time until 1915. On February 6, 1911 the 40th President of the United States
, Ronald Reagan
, was born in the apartment above the tavern. The Reagans would move out of the apartment and into a house in Tampico a few months after Ronald was born. Architecturally, the two story brick building is similar to its neighboring buildings, all of which are part of a historic district
in Tampico. The historic district, to which the Reagan Birthplace is considered a contributing property
, was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
in 1982.
, was born was constructed in 1896 for G.W. Stauffer by Fred Harvey Seymour and later became known as the "Graham Building." From 1896-1915 the first floor of the building housed a tavern
while the second floor contained an apartment
. On October 1, 1906 Jack
and Nelle Reagan
moved into the apartment above the tavern. The Reagans had two sons while they lived in the apartment. In 1908, they had their first son, John Neil Reagan. Their second son, Ronald Wilson Reagan, was born on February 6, 1911 inside the second floor apartment. The Reagans lived at the address from 1906 until May 5, 1911 when they moved into a house on Glassburn Street, also in Tampico. While the Reagans lived in Tampico, Jack was employed at the H.C. Pitney Variety Store, across the street from the Reagan Birthplace in the 100 block of Main Street.
The Reagans were in Tampico until Pitney's store closed in 1914, after which they settled in Chicago
, Galesburg
and Monmouth
for various periods of time. Pitney's store reopened in 1919 and the Reagans returned to Tampico for a short time, where they lived in an apartment above the store. Pitney's store again closed and on December 6, 1920 the Reagans moved to Dixon, Illinois
where they occupied the house that would later be known as the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home.
From 1915-1919 the building housed a bakery
. The First National Bank located in the structure in 1919, where it remained until 1931. The bank's owner and president, R.F. Woods, served as mayor
of Tampico from 1917-1919. In 1968 the building was purchased by Paul Nicely and his wife. After Mrs. Nicely died the building was put up for sale in 2003 and purchased by WPW Partners of Chicago.
The Reagan Birthplace is similar to most of the commercial buildings along Tampico's Main Street. It is brick
, two-stories tall, has three second story windows and a cornice
. Only the area's oldest buildings differ from the Reagan Birthplace's metal cornices and flat headed windows.
to the Tampico Main Street Historic District
. The Main Street Historic District
was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
on June 3, 1982.
Tampico, Illinois
Tampico is a village located in Tampico Township, Whiteside County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census the village had a total population of 790, up from 772 at the 2000 census. U.S. President Ronald Reagan was born there and lived there for two brief periods of his...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The building was built in 1896 and housed a tavern from that time until 1915. On February 6, 1911 the 40th President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, was born in the apartment above the tavern. The Reagans would move out of the apartment and into a house in Tampico a few months after Ronald was born. Architecturally, the two story brick building is similar to its neighboring buildings, all of which are part of a historic district
Historic district
A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries, historic districts receive legal protection from development....
in Tampico. The historic district, to which the Reagan Birthplace is considered a contributing property
Contributing property
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing resource or contributing property is any building, structure, or object which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic district, listed locally or federally, significant...
, was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1982.
History
The building where the 40th U.S. President, Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, was born was constructed in 1896 for G.W. Stauffer by Fred Harvey Seymour and later became known as the "Graham Building." From 1896-1915 the first floor of the building housed a tavern
Tavern
A tavern is a place of business where people gather to drink alcoholic beverages and be served food, and in some cases, where travelers receive lodging....
while the second floor contained an apartment
Apartment
An apartment or flat is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building...
. On October 1, 1906 Jack
Jack Reagan
John Edward “Jack” Reagan was the father of United States President Ronald Reagan and his older brother Neil "Moon" Reagan .-Early life:...
and Nelle Reagan
Nelle Wilson Reagan
Nelle Clyde Wilson Reagan was the mother of United States President Ronald Reagan and his older brother Neil "Moon" Reagan .-Early life:...
moved into the apartment above the tavern. The Reagans had two sons while they lived in the apartment. In 1908, they had their first son, John Neil Reagan. Their second son, Ronald Wilson Reagan, was born on February 6, 1911 inside the second floor apartment. The Reagans lived at the address from 1906 until May 5, 1911 when they moved into a house on Glassburn Street, also in Tampico. While the Reagans lived in Tampico, Jack was employed at the H.C. Pitney Variety Store, across the street from the Reagan Birthplace in the 100 block of Main Street.
The Reagans were in Tampico until Pitney's store closed in 1914, after which they settled in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Galesburg
Galesburg, Illinois
Galesburg is a city in Knox County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 32,195. It is the county seat of Knox County....
and Monmouth
Monmouth, Illinois
Monmouth is a city in and the county seat of Warren County in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is the home of Monmouth College and contains Monmouth Park, Harmon Park, North Park, Warfield Park, West Park, South Park, Garwood Park, Buster White Park and the Citizens Lake & Campground. It is the host...
for various periods of time. Pitney's store reopened in 1919 and the Reagans returned to Tampico for a short time, where they lived in an apartment above the store. Pitney's store again closed and on December 6, 1920 the Reagans moved to Dixon, Illinois
Dixon, Illinois
Dixon is a city in Lee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 15,733 as of the 2010 census, down from 15,941 at the 2000 census. Named for its founder, John Dixon , it is the county seat of Lee County. Located on the Rock River, Dixon was the boyhood home of former U.S...
where they occupied the house that would later be known as the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home.
From 1915-1919 the building housed a bakery
Bakery
A bakery is an establishment which produces and sells flour-based food baked in an oven such as bread, cakes, pastries and pies. Some retail bakeries are also cafés, serving coffee and tea to customers who wish to consume the baked goods on the premises.-See also:*Baker*Cake...
. The First National Bank located in the structure in 1919, where it remained until 1931. The bank's owner and president, R.F. Woods, served as mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Tampico from 1917-1919. In 1968 the building was purchased by Paul Nicely and his wife. After Mrs. Nicely died the building was put up for sale in 2003 and purchased by WPW Partners of Chicago.
Architecture
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
, two-stories tall, has three second story windows and a cornice
Cornice
Cornice molding is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns any building or furniture element: the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the edge of a pedestal. A simple cornice may be formed just with a crown molding.The function of the projecting...
. Only the area's oldest buildings differ from the Reagan Birthplace's metal cornices and flat headed windows.
Significance
The structure known as Ronald Reagan's Birthplace is most notable for being the place where Ronald Reagan was born on February 6, 1911. The building's first floor interior has been restored as the First National Bank, which occupied the property from 1919-1931. On the second floor the apartment has been restored to the period when Reagan was born. The site offers tours to the public and is listed as a "significant" contributing propertyContributing property
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing resource or contributing property is any building, structure, or object which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic district, listed locally or federally, significant...
to the Tampico Main Street Historic District
Main Street Historic District (Tampico, Illinois)
The Main Street Historic District in Tampico, Illinois, United States is a historic district notable as home to the birthplace of Ronald Reagan. The district includes the late 19th century collection of buildings that comprise Tampico's central business district, among them are two apartments that...
. The Main Street Historic District
Historic district
A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries, historic districts receive legal protection from development....
was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on June 3, 1982.