North Aurora in Kane County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Lincoln Highway

Village of North Aurora

— Exposition Park Caters to Highway Tourists —

Lincoln Highway Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 3, 2026

1. Lincoln Highway Marker

Inscription.

Lincoln Highway. Village of North Aurora. The village of North Aurora offered the tourist traveling on the Lincoln Highway the beautiful scenery of the Fox River Valley and a one-of-a-kind attraction, Exposition Park. Located just inside North Aurora on the Lincoln Highway, Exposition Park opened in 1922 being billed as America's most beautiful picnic and playground. The park was so much more. It was the site of the annual Central States Fair (a nine state fair) from 1922 through 1931, and also operated as an amazing amusement park featuring a racetrack, the "world's largest" log cabin, "world's largest" swimming pool, giant carousel, carnival rides, a children's playground and a cottage style' hotel. Exposition Park also offered agricultural, cultural and industrial exhibits. Spectators were also thrilled by auto races, stunt flying, horse races, rodeos and the extremely popular locomotive demolition derbies. , , [Box with red text:] , The Interpretive Gazebo Project was partially funded through a National Scenic Byway Grant from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), with support from the Village of North Aurora. The project was coordinated by the Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition, the management agency for the illinois Lincoln Highway National Scenic Byway. Grant funds were provided to tell the history and heritage of the Lincoln Highway in Illinois and stories of our corridor communities., Frank Thielen was a promoter of entertainment who purchased farmland in North Aurora to bring his concept of Exposition Park to life, costing one million dollars to complete. His business venture provided substantial commerce and employment for the village, attracting a steady stream of toursts., While Traveling the Lincoln Highway.... . Lincoln Highway Interpretive Murals now in Creston, Dekalb and Rochelle with forty more planned along the highway. , . Lincoln Highway Interpretive Exhibit is located in the Dixon Welcome Center. , . Lincoln Highway's First Concrete Mile, the Seedling Mile, is located in Malta. , . Interactive Kiosk in Aurora, check web site for location. , . Check the website for locations of the Lincoln Highway Traveling Exhibit.

The village of North Aurora offered the tourist traveling on the Lincoln Highway the beautiful scenery of the Fox River Valley and a one-of-a-kind attraction, Exposition Park. Located just inside North Aurora on the Lincoln Highway, Exposition Park opened in 1922 being billed as America's most beautiful picnic and playground. The park was so much more. It was the site of the annual Central States Fair (a nine state fair) from 1922 through 1931, and also operated as an amazing amusement park featuring a racetrack, the "world's largest" log cabin, "world's largest" swimming pool, giant carousel, carnival rides, a children's playground and a cottage style' hotel. Exposition Park also offered agricultural, cultural and industrial exhibits. Spectators were also thrilled by auto races, stunt flying, horse races, rodeos and the extremely popular locomotive demolition derbies.

[Box with red text:]
The Interpretive Gazebo Project was partially funded through a National Scenic Byway Grant from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), with support from the Village of North Aurora. The project was coordinated by the Illinois

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Lincoln Highway Coalition, the management agency for the illinois Lincoln Highway National Scenic Byway. Grant funds were provided to tell the history and heritage of the Lincoln Highway in Illinois and stories of our corridor communities.

Frank Thielen was a promoter of entertainment who purchased farmland in North Aurora to bring his concept of Exposition Park to life, costing one million dollars to complete. His business venture provided substantial commerce and employment for the village, attracting a steady stream of toursts.

While Traveling the Lincoln Highway... • Lincoln Highway Interpretive Murals now in Creston, Dekalb and Rochelle with forty more planned along the highway.
• Lincoln Highway Interpretive Exhibit is located in the Dixon Welcome Center.
• Lincoln Highway's First Concrete Mile, the Seedling Mile, is located in Malta.
• Interactive Kiosk in Aurora, check web site for location.
• Check the website for locations of the Lincoln Highway Traveling Exhibit.

Erected by Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment •

Two of the four Lincoln Highway, facing the North Aurora police station image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 3, 2026

2. Two of the four Lincoln Highway, facing the North Aurora police station

Roads & Vehicles • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lincoln Highway series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1922.

Location. 41° 47.918′ N, 88° 19.52′ W. Marker is in North Aurora, Illinois, in Kane County. It is at the intersection of Lincolnway Street (Illinois Route 31) and Airport Road, on the right when traveling south on Lincolnway Street. The marker is front of the North Aurora police station, in a gazebo near the "Tollway Park of Commerce" sign. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 South Lincolnway Street, North Aurora IL 60542, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in 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 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Illinois Lincoln Highway (here, next to

Lincoln Highway gazebo with four markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 3, 2026

3. Lincoln Highway gazebo with four markers

this marker); The Lincoln Highway - the nation’s first coast-to-coast highway! (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Illinois Lincoln Highway (a few steps from this marker); North Aurora (within shouting distance of this marker); Exposition Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Wilder Park (approx. 2½ miles away); Aurora Vietnam Veteran Memorial (approx. 2½ miles away); Memorial Bridge (approx. 2.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in North Aurora.

More about this marker. The marker is one of four about the Lincoln Highway housed in a gazebo. Based on Google Street View archived photos, this gazebo was installed between in 2023 or 2024.

Regarding Lincoln Highway. Exposition Park was located near here, around where I-88 intersects Lincolnway Street. The park hosted its last fair in 1931 but may have been in limited operation through World War II.

Also see . . . Exposition (Amusement) Park, Aurora, Illinois (1922-1931). From the Digital Research Library of Illinois History Journal.

Excerpt: “Permanent offerings at Exposition Park included a 130 room hotel; the 'world’s
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largest swimming pool,' measuring 320 feet by 160 feet; a race track with grand stand; a golf course; a beautiful pergola filled with imported flowers, birds and exotic animals; and a restaurant that later became a ballroom, roller skating rink and exhibit hall, situated in what was said to be the 'world’s largest log cabin.' A 'Kiddie Amusement Park' contained a roller coaster (the Exposition Flyer); tilt-a-whirl; Ferris wheel (the 'Swooper'); a pony track; the House of Fun; 'Monkey Island' with live monkeys; the 'Ol’ Mill' boat rides; a penny arcade; 'Leapin’ Leana' children’s playground; a miniature railroad (the 'Exposition Limited’) and other attractions.”

(Submitted on May 5, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Credits. This page was last revised on May 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 3, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 25 times since then. Photos: 1. submitted on May 3, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 2, 3. submitted on May 4, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.