This building served as the Illinois District 6 State Police Headquarters, home to state troopers who patrolled Route 66 and risked their lives protecting travelers. By the 1940s, Route 66 carried more traffic than any other highway in the state, and the headquarters was built there in 1941 to provide easy access to the "Hard Road." The architect allegedly designed the building in the shape of a Derringer pistol when viewed from above. It remained in operation for 62 years, and even after I-55 diverted most traffic from Route 66 in 1977, the men and women of District 6 continued to serve Illinois from this building until it closed in 2003, when a new headquarters opened in Pontiac. In March 2007, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.