Discover 11 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Elgin (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Elgin National Watch Company Observatory, Elgin Public Museum, and Elgin Area Historical Society. Also, be sure to include Lords Park Zoo - Elgin in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Elgin (Illinois).
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Elgin National Watch Company Observatory
The Elgin National Watch Company Observatory is a historic building in Elgin, in the U.S. state of Illinois. It was built in 1910 to serve the Elgin National Watch Company two blocks to the west. The two-story observatory provided data on time that was scientifically accurate to a tenth of a second. Manufacturers could then produce a more accurate watch. The observatory was an important part of the company's legacy, and they even changed their motto to reflect this. By 1950, the Elgin National Watch Company could no longer compete with wristwatch companies. The observatory was donated to a local school district and became known as the School District U-46 Planetarium/Observatory. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.[1]
Address: 312 Watch St, Elgin
Elgin Public Museum
Museum in Elgin, Illinois. The Elgin Public Museum of Natural History and Anthropology in Lords Park is a natural history museum located in Elgin, Illinois. The museum, now over a hundred years old, is located within the 108-acre Lords Park.[2]
Address: 225 Grand Blvd, 60120-4278 Elgin
Elgin Area Historical Society
Museum in Elgin, Illinois. The Elgin Area Historical Society is a non-profit organization that preserves and presents the history of the Elgin, Illinois area. Located at 360 Park Street in Elgin, Illinois on the Elgin Academy campus. The historic "Old Main" building houses offices, research facilities, the Elgin History Museum, and a gift shop.[3]
Address: 360 Park St, Elgin, IL 60120, 60120 Elgin
Lords Park Zoo - Elgin
Park, Playground, Outdoor activities, Garden, Aquarium, Zoo
Address: 100 Oakwood Blvd., 60120 Elgin
Fire Barn 5
Museum in Elgin, Illinois. Fire Barn 5 or Fire Station 5 is a historic building in Elgin, Illinois. It was the fifth official fire barn in Elgin, originally housing horses and a fire fighting carriage. Over the years, the carriage was replaced by automobiles. The building is an example of Classical Revival architecture and operated as a fire station until 1991, the year it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It now functions as the Elgin Fire Barn No. 5 Museum, a museum of firefighting history.[4]
Ora Pelton House
The Ora Pelton House, or the Izzo-Pelton House, is a historic residence in Elgin, Illinois. The Stick-Eastlake residence is the only Victorian house remaining on South State Street, formerly a wealthy area. It was built for Ora Pelton, a physician and surgeon, by local architect Gilbert M. Turnbull. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.[5]
Address: 214 S State St, Elgin
First Universalist Church
The First Universalist Church in Elgin, Illinois was built in 1892. It was designed by George Hunter to resemble a pocket watch in Richardsonian Romanesque style. The church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. It was subsequently included as a contributing property in the Elgin Historic District.[6]
Elgin Academy
Independent school in Elgin, Illinois. Elgin Academy is an independent, coeducational, college-preparatory school in Elgin, Illinois, United States. Elgin Academy is notable for many accomplishments, such as their Scholastic Bowl and WYSE teams.[7]
Elgin Tower Building
The Elgin Tower Building, originally the Home Banks Building, is a historic office building in downtown Elgin, Illinois. The tower is 186 feet tall and 15 stories. It was built in 1929 to house the Home National Bank and Home National Savings and Trust. Though initially successful, the Great Depression devastated the bank only months later. The tower was again prosperous following World War II, when demand for Elgin goods increased. However, this prosperity was only temporary, and the tower again fell on hard times in the 1960s, particularly after the 1965 closing of the Elgin National Watch Company. The tower was eventually purchased by William R. Stickling, who went to great lengths to restore it. It was donated to a charity named in his honor following his 1999 death, and the William R. Stickling Charitable Foundation continues to maintain the structure. Its restoration is considered a major part of a hopeful rehabilitation of downtown Elgin. The tower is one of only two Art Deco buildings in Elgin and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. An elevator in the building that had a wooden interior was destroyed by arson on May 4, 2014. The building was then purchased in 2016 by Capstone Development and renovated into apartments.[8]
Elgin Downtown Commercial District
The Elgin Downtown Commercial District is a historic district encompassing the commercial core of downtown Elgin, Illinois. The district includes 94 buildings, 76 of which are considered contributing buildings to its historic character. While development in downtown Elgin began in the 1830s, the oldest buildings in the district were built in the 1870s; most of the district's buildings were built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but its development continued through the 20th century. The majority of the buildings in the district are two- and three-story commercial buildings, but it also includes several taller commercial buildings, churches, a public library, and a power station. Most of the 19th-century buildings in the district have Italianate or Queen Anne designs, while the 20th-century buildings features styles such as Colonial Revival and Renaissance Revival.
The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 22, 2014.[9]
Gifford–Davidson House
The Gifford–Davidson House, also known as Stone Cottage, in Elgin, Illinois was built in 1850 and expanded in 1871. The Gifford–Davidson House is unusual due to its cobblestone construction and Second Empire style details. This design would have been more typical in James Gifford's original home of New York City. It was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Also, it is a contributing property in the Elgin Historic District, which was listed on the NRHP in 1983.[10]