Tuesday, September 20, 2011

The Chautauqua Auditorium at Forest Park, Shelbyville, IL

Last Friday I came across the most wonderful historical building located in Shelbyville, IL. I had decided to eat at the park and noticed this huge building. Not knowing what it was- I took the second picture and decided to research it when I returned home from camping. I was able to look inside and saw this wonderful stage area(of course it didn't look like this-I snagged this off the internet so you could see what the inside looks like. It is an absolutely amazing building. I'm hoping that they can raise the money to do the needed repairs. It would be a horrible shame if it was torn down. This municipal park features 120 acres of rolling woods, with a fishing lagoon and sunken garden, along with the Chautauqua Auditorium, Vietnam memorial, family aquatic center, picnic area, pavillions, baseball and softball diamonds, soccerfield, volleyball and tennis courts, hiking trail and more.


The Chautauqua Auditorium, built in 1903, is a large historic icosagonal (20-sided) wooden chautauqua meeting hall located at Forest Park and North East 9th Street, Shelbyville, Illinois, United States. On January 30, 1978, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
In 2009 Landmarks Illinois declared it one of the 10 most endangered historic places in Illinois. The building is in need of extensive repairs which are estimated to cost $1,750,000. The city of Shelbyville which owns the auditorium has threatened to tear it down if repairs cannot be made within 2 years. The Chautauqua Auditorium Preservation Committee is working on funding for a four-phase renovation project.

I'm joining White Wednesday at http://fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/ and Outdoor Wednesday at http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/

5 comments:

  1. Ann@A Sentimental LifeSeptember 20, 2011 at 11:09 AM

    What a beautiful building. I just get sick when places are torn down...tears down our history and the story of what made us who we are.
    I have pictures of the Charleston Chautaqua's from the early 1900's. they were really something!!

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  2. RizziSeptember 20, 2011 at 11:22 AM

    HI REBECCA,
    WHAT A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING, IT WOULD BE TERRIBLE IF IT WAS TORN DOWN.....HOPE IT ALL WORKS OUT FOR THE BETTER.......VERY INTERESTING POST. HAVE A NICE DAY. RIZZI

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  3. Light and VoicesSeptember 20, 2011 at 8:26 PM

    Awwww, it is such a wonderful old historic building I hope that the city of Shelbyville will reconsider not to tear the building down.
    Joyce M

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  4. CailinMarieSeptember 20, 2011 at 10:07 PM

    What an unusual building. I hope they are able to save it. It would be a same to loose it

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  5. AnonymousSeptember 22, 2011 at 8:27 AM

    The inside looks stunning! Great place indeed.

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