DeKalb in DeKalb County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Northern Illinois University

Photographed By Molly Fischer

1. Northern Illinois University Marker

Inscription.
On May 22, 1895, Governor John Peter Altgeld signed an act establishing the Northern Illinois State Normal School. The first building, "The Castle on the Hill", was constructed here on what was once the site of the DeKalb County Fairgrounds.

The DeKalb citizens contributing their influence, land and money to the school were Clinton Rosette, newspaper publisher, Col. Isaac L. Ellwood, Joseph Glidden and Jacob Haish, barbed-wire inventors and manufacturers.

With 16 faculty members and an enrollment of 173 students, school opened September 12, 1899. The school has been renamed Northern Illinois State Teachers College, 1921, Northern Illinois State College, 1955, and Northern Illinois University, 1957.

Erected 1973 by DeKalb County Board and DeKalb County Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. A significant historical date for this entry is May 22, 1895.

Location. 41° 55.872′ N, 88° 45.633′ W. Marker is in DeKalb, Illinois, in DeKalb County. Marker is on West Lincoln Highway (Illinois Route 38) east of Castle Drive, on the right when traveling west. On campus, South of East Lagoon and just west of the Kishwaukee River on the north side of Lincoln Highway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 440 W Lincoln Hwy, Dekalb IL 60115, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. William George Eckhardt (approx. 0.3 miles away); Barbed Wire Manufacturing (approx. half a mile away); Jacob Haish (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Winged Ear Logo (approx. 0.6 miles away); DeKalb Poultry Research, Inc. (approx. 2.6 miles away); DeKalb AG (approx. 3.1 miles away); Sherret S. Chase (approx. 3.2 miles away); DeKalb Swine Breeders (approx. 3.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in DeKalb.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 11, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 10, 2023, by Molly Fischer of DeKalb, Illinois. This page has been viewed 95 times since then and 15 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on January 10, 2023, by Molly Fischer of DeKalb, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.