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° 55.867′ N, 88° 45.617′ W. Marker is in DeKalb, Illinois, in DeKalb County. It is on West Lincoln Highway (Illinois Route 38) east of Castle Drive, on the right when traveling west. The marker stands on campus

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south of East Lagoon, just west of the Kishwaukee River on the north side of Lincoln Highway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 420 W Lincoln Hwy, Dekalb IL 60115, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Illinois.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Northern Illinois State Normal School (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Northern Illinois University Entrance (about 500 feet away); In Memory of SFC Julianna Gehant (approx. ¼ mile away); NIU Veterans Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Northern Illinois State College Veterans Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); William George Eckhardt (approx. ¼ mile away); Northern Illinois University 75th Anniversary Time Capsule (approx. 0.3 miles away); DeKalb World War I Memorial

Northern Illinois University Marker Close-Up image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Matthew Stevens, September 8, 2026

2. Northern Illinois University Marker Close-Up

(approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in DeKalb.

Northern Illinois University Marker & East Lagoon image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Matthew Stevens, September 8, 2026

3. Northern Illinois University Marker & East Lagoon

Northern Illinois University Marker & Lincoln Highway image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Matthew Stevens, September 8, 2026

4. Northern Illinois University Marker & Lincoln Highway

Credits. This page was last revised on September 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 10, 2023, by Molly Fischer of DeKalb, Illinois. This page has been viewed 408 times since then and 68 times this year. Last updated on September 8, 2026, by Matthew Stevens of Washington, Illinois. Photos: 1. submitted on January 10, 2023, by Molly Fischer of DeKalb, Illinois. 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 8, 2026, by Matthew Stevens of Washington, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.