Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois

The Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois -- also known as Landmarks Illinois -- is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1971 to prevent the demolition of the Dankmar Adler

Dankmar Adler

Dankmar Adler was a celebrated German-born American architect.-Early years:...

 and Louis Sullivan

Louis Sullivan

Louis Henri Sullivan was an American architect, and has been called the "father of skyscrapers" and "father of modernism" He is considered by many as the creator of the modern skyscraper, was an influential architect and critic of the Chicago School, was a mentor to Frank Lloyd Wright, and an...

 designed Chicago Stock Exchange Building. Although this effort failed the organization has grown to become a 2000 member statewide voice for historic preservation.

The founding mission was "to stop the demolition of significant buildings in downtown Chicago." The LPCI has broadened its scope and geography "to embrace architecturally and historically significant archeological sites, structures, and historic districts in all the cities, towns and rural areas of Illinois." Today LPCI holds conservation easements on 341 properties. Among the historic buildings they have saved are the Marquette Building

Marquette Building (Chicago)

The Marquette Building, completed in 1895, is a Chicago, Illinois landmark that was built by the George A. Fuller Company and designed by architects Holabird & Roche. The building is currently owned by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation...

 and the Reliance Building

Reliance Building

The Reliance Building is a skyscraper located at 32 North State Street in the Loop community area of Chicago, Illinois. The first floor and basement were designed by John Root of the Burnham and Root architectural firm in 1890, with the rest of the building completed by Charles B. Atwood in 1895...

.

Landmarks Illinois was involved in a highly publicized preservation effort to save Mies van der Rohe's breathtaking Farnsworth House from being dismantled and relocated from its original site along the Fox River

Fox River (Illinois River tributary)

The Fox River is a tributary of the Illinois River in the states of Wisconsin and Illinois in the United States. There are two other "Fox Rivers" in southern Illinois: the Fox River and a smaller "Fox River" that joins the Wabash River near New Harmony, Indiana.-Wisconsin:The Fox River rises near...

. Modern architecture enthusiasts from around the globe answered the call to donate funds, and the house was purchased at auction from Sotheby's on December 12, 2003. A rare example of freestanding single family design by van der Rohe, the house is now operated by Landmarks Illinois and open to the public for tours.

In addition to preserving buildings, Landmarks Illinois has since 2007 also held an annual gala to acknowledge "Legendary Landmarks", described as "citizens who have made contributions to the civic and cultural life of Chicago and Illinois."