Landmarks Illinois Explores Moving Historic Briggs Mansion to Save It

Nonprofit seeks to relocate 19th-century home that may have been part of Underground Railroad before demolition by UW Health

Apr. 13, 2026 at 7:38pm

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph showing the soft, hazy outline of a 19th-century home partially obscured by foliage, conceptually representing the fading memory and uncertain future of the Briggs Mansion.A historic home's uncertain future hangs in the balance as preservationists race against time to save it from demolition.Rockford Today

Landmarks Illinois, a historic preservation organization, is investigating a plan to physically move the historic Briggs Mansion in Rockford, Illinois to a new location in order to prevent its demolition by UW Health. The health system plans to raze the Civil War-era home in May to make way for new development on its campus, but Landmarks Illinois believes they may be able to relocate the house to a nearby city-owned lot that still maintains visibility.

Why it matters

The Briggs Mansion is considered a significant historic structure, with potential ties to the Underground Railroad, and its demolition would result in the loss of an important piece of Rockford's history and architecture. Landmarks Illinois is exploring this relocation effort as a last-ditch attempt to preserve the home.

The details

UW Health plans to demolish the Briggs Mansion, a Civil War-era house at 1244 E. State St., in May to make way for new development on its medical campus. However, Landmarks Illinois has identified nearby city-owned lots that could potentially serve as a new location for the historic home, allowing it to be saved from demolition.

  • UW Health plans to demolish the Briggs Mansion in May 2026.
  • Landmarks Illinois is currently investigating the relocation plan.

The players

Landmarks Illinois

A historic preservation organization exploring a plan to physically move the Briggs Mansion to a new location in order to save it from demolition.

UW Health

The health system that owns the Briggs Mansion property and plans to demolish the historic home in May 2026 to make way for new development on its campus.

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What’s next

Landmarks Illinois is currently investigating the feasibility and logistics of physically relocating the Briggs Mansion to a new site in order to save the historic home from demolition by UW Health.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges historic preservation organizations face in trying to save significant buildings from demolition, especially when they are owned by large institutions like hospitals that have expansion plans. The Briggs Mansion's potential ties to the Underground Railroad make its preservation even more important for Rockford's history and culture.