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NewsChicago Sun-TimesJuly 2, 2026United States

South Chicago's Bowen High School Recommended for National Historic Register

The Illinois National Register Advisory Council has recommended that James H. Bowen High School in South Chicago be added to the National Register of Historic Places. The school, designed by architect Dwight Perkins in 1910, is a architectural twin to the already-recognized Carl Schurz High School but has lacked similar historic protections.

Historic PreservationArchitectureChicagoEducationUrban Development
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Why It Matters

A National Register listing would formally recognize the building's historic status and require future renovations to adhere to the , potentially influencing the preservation of the site amid local development.

Key Facts

  • The Illinois National Register Advisory Council voted to recommend Bowen High School for the National Register of Historic Places.
  • The National Park Service is expected to make a final decision on the listing by September 2025.
  • Bowen High School was built in 1910 and designed by architect Dwight Perkins.
  • A $2,800 grant from the Landmarks Illinois Timuel D. Black Jr. Grant Fund supported the nomination process.
  • Bowen High School is not currently a designated Chicago landmark.
  • The school underwent expansions in 1940 and 1969.
  • The Public Building Commission of Chicago states no significant work has been performed on the building since the 1990s.
  • Current enrollment at Bowen High School is approximately 300 students.
  • A National Register listing would mandate that future renovations follow the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.

Who's Mentioned

OrganizationPublic Building Commission of Chicago“Reported that Bowen has received no significant work since the 1990s.”OrganizationLandmarks Illinois“Provided a $2,800 grant to help pay for the consultant work required for the nom”PersonDwight Perkins“The architect who designed both Bowen and Schurz High Schools.”locationCarl Schurz High School“An architectural twin to Bowen High School that is already a city landmark and o”locationJames H. Bowen High School“The historic school building in South Chicago currently under consideration for ”OrganizationNational Park Service“The federal agency that will make the final decision on the National Register li”PersonMarc Edelstein“A 1968 Bowen graduate who led the decade-long effort to secure the historic desi”OrganizationIllinois National Register Advisory Council“The body that voted to recommend Bowen High School for the National Register.”