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

The Elgin National Watch Company

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 16, 2026

1. The Elgin National Watch Company Marker

Inscription. In 1865, the Elgin National Watch Company began construction of a factory just west of here. The shopping center now stands on that site.

The success of the watch company lead to the factory being enlarged several times. By 1910 the building had over 23 acres of floor space. By 1927 more than 4,000 employees worked for "Father Time."

The factory complex included the National House and Gymnasium. A school for watchmakers and repairmen was once located where the casino parking garage now stands. The factory building was demolished in 1966.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1866.

Location. 42° 1.831′ N, 88° 16.572′ W. Marker is in Elgin, Illinois, in Kane County. It is at the intersection of Wellington Street and National Street, on the left when traveling north on Wellington Street. The marker is in the south window of the Watch Factory Depot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 201 National Street, Elgin IL 60120, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

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It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

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: The Watch Factory District (here, next to this marker); Elgin Railroad Watches (here, next to this marker); The National House (here, next to this marker); Life Inside the Watch Factory (a few steps from this marker); Generations of Watch Workers (a few steps from this marker); Watch Factory Depot (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Elgin National Watch Company (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Elgin National Watch Co. Observatory (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Elgin.

More about this marker. Markers can be found in each of the eight windows of the Watch Factory Depot, a one-time stop on the Chicago & Northwestern train line. The rails were removed in the 1990s but the old embankment

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 16, 2026

2. The Elgin National Watch Company Marker

The marker is in the south-facing window in the old Watch Factory Depot.

is visible.

Also see . . . Encyclopedia of Chicago: Elgin National Watch Company.

Excerpt: “Under the leadership of company president T. M. Avery, annual output rose from about 30,000 watches in the early 1870s to about 500,000 by the late 1880s, when the company employed nearly 2,500 people at its Elgin plant. By the early twentieth century, Elgin had surpassed its old rival Waltham and stood as the world's greatest mass producer of watches.”

(Submitted on May 16, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Watch Factory Depot image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, May 16, 2026

3. Watch Factory Depot

The site of the watch factory is on the right, where the clock is located. The factory was torn down in the 1960s and its location today is a strip mall, where there is a historical marker.

Elgin Watch factory image. Click for full size.

Charles R. Childs, photgrapher; courtesy of Chicago History Museum (ICHi-096908), circa 1930

4. Elgin Watch factory

The factory was closed around 1964 and demolished in 1966.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 16, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 16, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 4. submitted on May 19, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.