The Complete Story
The Village of Dwight was literally designed around a train station, not a town square. Born in 1854 as a stop along the Chicago and Alton Railroad, Dwight needed a new main station by 1891. The C&A Railroad hired renowned Chicago architect Henry Ives Cobb to design it, resulting in a beautiful Richardson Romanesque depot crafted from blue Indiana limestone that opened for service in spring 1892.
What makes this station truly remarkable is its longevity: it operated continuously as an active passenger station for 124 years, from 1892 until October 2016 when a new station opened several blocks away. During Route 66's heyday, travelers could step off the train and immediately be on America's Main Street, or vice versa - the depot connected two of America's great transportation arteries.
Look closely at the blue stone walls and you'll discover fossil shells - prehistoric treasures brought from Indiana quarries. The station was added to the National Register of Historic Places and now houses the Dwight Historical Society Museum and Dwight Chamber of Commerce. Directly across the street stands another National Register landmark: the First National Bank of Dwight, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1905.
Surprising Facts You Didn't Know
→ Operated continuously as a train station for 124 years (1892-2016)
→ Designed by Henry Ives Cobb, one of Chicago's most prominent architects
→ The blue Indiana limestone walls contain embedded fossil shells
→ Dwight was designed around its train depot rather than a town square
→ Directly across from Frank Lloyd Wright's 1905 bank building
Frequently Asked Questions
Visit Dwight Railroad Depot
✓ You Can Visit Today
Address: 119 W Main St, Dwight, IL 60420
What's There Now: Home of the Dwight Historical Society Museum and Dwight Chamber of Commerce. A new Amtrak station opened nearby in 2016.
GPS Coordinates: 41.0928176, -88.4278503
Photo Tip: Best photographed in early morning or late afternoon when the Illinois light brings out the building's character.
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