Carved in two by the Fox River, Elgin is a historic city on the northwestern outskirts of Chicago. In the late 19th century, it became famous for manufacturing dairy products and watches, with many of its most notable architectural landmarks dating from the period. In the Elgin Historic District, you’ll find everything from Cobblestone-style residences to Gothic Revival skyscrapers.
Things to do in Elgin
Take a step back in time at the Elgin History Museum, which occupies a Greek Revival-style building of the Elgin Academy. Its exhibits detail the founding of Elgin in the 1830s and the arrival of the railroads, as well as the architectural styles that predominate today. In the “Made in Elgin” exhibits, you can learn about the innovative Toastmaster and the Elgin Street Sweeper.
Want to stretch your legs? Head to the waterfront trails of Lords Park, which was gifted to the city by a wealthy local family in 1893. In addition to its ponds and creeks, it’s home to recreational facilities and an aquatic centre. Kids can run around in the children’s playground or get up close to animals in the Lords Park Zoo, which is home to bison, white-tailed deer and elk.
Also within the park is the Elgin Public Museum, which is dedicated to the natural history and anthropology of the region. Its displays detail the mammals that roamed Illinois during the Ice Age and the cultural traditions of the area’s Native American peoples, as well as the 17th-century expeditions of La Salle.
Getting around Elgin
Elgin is around a one-hour drive from the centre of Chicago and 30 minutes from O'Hare International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular trains connect to the Elgin, National Street and Big Timber Road railway stations while buses travel throughout the city.