Moline Preservation Society

Echoes from Riverside Cemetery on sale now
Echoes From Riverside Cemetery carefully documents the lives of 109 people buried at Moline's Riverside Cemetery. Included are people from diverse classes, ages, occupations and backgrounds who were featured at twelve annual Echoes from Riverside cemetery walk events. Telling their stories opens a dramatic window on the history of Moline. A portion of the proceeds go to support the work of MPS.

Echoes from Riverside Cemetery is available at:
-Model Printers, 310 15th Street
-Lagomarcino's Confectionary, 1422 Fifth Avenue
-Trevor True Value Hardware, 2842 16th Street
-Rock Island County Historical Society, 822 11th Avenue

Moline named Preserve America Community (January 2009)

Moline was named only the 7th Illinois community to be designated a Preserve America community. The program is a White House initiative in cooperation with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and a number of government agencies that recognize communities "committed to preserving America's heritage while endusring a future fulled with opportunities for learning and enjoyment," said former First Lady Laura Bush, the honorary chair of the Preserve America initiative.

Moline named Illinois Main Street program
Moline's application to become an Illinois Main Street community was accepted in early January. Criteria for the program includes maintaining historic structures and ensuring that newer buildings fit with those surrounding them. The program will offer new opportinities to integrate current city programs, such as the Facade Improvement program, with additional design and building services based on federal and state guidelines. For more, including examples of Main Street rehabilitations, design tools, and general information, visit Illinois Main Street.

MPS Releases New Miniature of Allendale
Now available, the latest miniature from MPS. This year's miniature is a depiction of Allendale, a home built in 1906 by Frank Allen, who later donated the house to Moline School District No. 40 in 1931. Today it serves as the school district’s administration office. Allendale is located at 11th Avenue and 16th Street.

Allendale is the 18th miniature offered by MPS since 1992. It is the second miniature designed by artist Bill Gustafson. This, and other miniatures can be ordered at the MPS gift store, located in Model Printers (310 15th Street), or at Lagomarcino's (1433 5th Avenue). View the entire series of miniatures in our bookstore.

Downtown Designated as National Historic District
On August 30, a 33 acre area of downtown Moline received designation on the National Register of Historic Places. Moline's first designated national district encompasses 112 buildings from 12th Street to 18th Street, and from 4th to 7th Avenues. For more information, including history on each building in the district, visit the City of Moline's website.

Plans have been made to relocate the Davenport, Rock Island & N.W. Railroad Depot from its current address at 2021 River Drive to the corner of 23rd Street and River Drive in Moline.

Built in 1900, this rail depot was in use until 1934 when it was sold and converted into offices for the former Frank Foundry Company. The City of Moline purchased the depot in 1994 renovating it for use as a Visitor Center with office space for the Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau. That year the depot also became a Moline Landmark.