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

Lincoln Highway

Village of Creston

— A town of celebration —

Lincoln Highway Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 11, 2023

1. Lincoln Highway Marker

Inscription.

Lincoln Highway. Village of Creston. , October 9, 1920, the celebration over the formal opening of the long stretch of pavement from DeKalb to Creston on Lincoln Highway attracted a large crowd. An estimated 300 automobiles were loaded to capacity in a parade that left DeKalb and proceeded to Malta and Creston. At each town fireworks were discharged, confetti filled the air, the bands played and speeches were made. Over 3,000 people were on the highway to witness the opening. As soon as the parade reached Creston, corn meal was thrown on the cement to make it slippery enough for dancing around the truck holding the band performing. , On October 23, 1919, after the first World War, Creston had a big homecoming for the soldiers. It started at one o'clock in the afternoon and continued through the evening. They built a big bandstand in the town square, and the DeKalb 3rd Regiment Band played. There were outdoor attractions by Chicago talent. Mr. C.C. Carpenter of Princeton, Illinois gave an address to the soldiers. In the evening, at five o'clock, there was a big supper at the Woodman Hall, served by the ladies of the community. A fine program was presented in the hall by players and singers of a club from Louisville, Kentucky. A final event of the day was the grand ball with music by Grafs Orchestra of Chicago. , The Creston Opera House was built for entertainment and programs. With seating for a couple hundred people, this was the place to be for church services, banquets, family reunions, wedding receptions, home talent shows and musicals, as well as roller skating and basketball events, medicine shows, revivals and even Chautauquas often times came to small towns for performances and special events, and were accessible through the new paved roads, like the Lincoln Highway. , 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 Highways First Concrete Mile, the Seedling Mile, is located in Malta. , . Interactive Kiosk is located at the Phillips Park Visitors Center in Aurora. , . Check the web site for locations of the Lincoln Highway traveling exhibit.

, 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 Creston. 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.

October 9, 1920, the celebration over the formal opening of the long stretch of pavement from DeKalb to Creston on Lincoln Highway attracted a large crowd. An estimated 300 automobiles were loaded to capacity in a parade that left DeKalb and proceeded to Malta and Creston. At each town fireworks were discharged, confetti filled the air, the bands played and speeches were made. Over 3,000 people were on the highway to witness the opening. As soon as the parade reached Creston, corn meal was thrown on the cement to make it slippery enough for dancing around the truck holding the band performing.

On October 23, 1919, after the first World War, Creston had a big homecoming for the soldiers. It started at one o'clock in the afternoon and continued through the evening. They built a big bandstand in the town square, and the DeKalb 3rd Regiment Band played. There were outdoor attractions by Chicago talent. Mr. C.C. Carpenter of Princeton, Illinois gave an address to the soldiers. In the evening, at five o'clock, there was a big supper at the Woodman Hall, served by the ladies of the community. A fine program was presented in the hall by players and singers of a club from Louisville, Kentucky. A final event of the day was the grand ball with music by Grafs Orchestra of Chicago.

The Creston Opera House was built for entertainment

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and programs. With seating for a couple hundred people, this was the place to be for church services, banquets, family reunions, wedding receptions, home talent shows and musicals, as well as roller skating and basketball events, medicine shows, revivals and even Chautauquas often times came to small towns for performances and special events, and were accessible through the new paved roads, like the Lincoln Highway.

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 Highways First Concrete Mile, the Seedling Mile, is located in Malta.
• Interactive Kiosk is located at the Phillips Park Visitors Center in Aurora.
• Check the web site for locations of the Lincoln Highway traveling exhibit.

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 Creston. 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
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 11, 2023

2. Lincoln Highway Marker
North Main Street is in the background.
communities.

Erected by Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition & America's Byways.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Patriots & Patriotism • Roads & Vehicles • War, World I. In addition, it is included in the Lincoln Highway series list. A significant historical date for this entry is October 9, 1920.

Location. 41° 55.882′ N, 88° 57.873′ W. Marker is in Creston, Illinois, in Ogle County. It is on North Main Street north of East North Street, on the right when traveling north. The marker is in the Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition interpretive gazebo on the south side of Creston Village Hall. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 110 North Main Street, Creston IL 60113, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is 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 Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Illinois Lincoln Highway (here, next to 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 (here, next to this marker); Creston (within shouting distance of this marker); The History of Headons (within shouting distance of this marker); The Water Fountain and Mile Marker Below

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 11, 2023

3. Lincoln Highway Marker

This is one of four related markers in the Creston Village Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition interpretive gazebo.

(within shouting distance of this marker); Lincoln Highway Seedling Mile (approx. 4½ miles away); The Lincoln Highway – The nation's first coast-to-coast highway! (approx. 4½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Creston.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition - Creston

Also see . . .
1. Lincoln Highway Illinois.

Excerpt: Established in 1912 by early automotive entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher, the Lincoln Highway is regarded as the country’s first transcontinental route and is affectionately known as the “Father Road.” Inspired by the Good Roads Movement and the National Old Trails Road, the Lincoln Highway was also the first route constructed specifically for automobile use, catalyzed by the need for all-weather, hard-surfaced, durable roads and the idea that the route would showcase what roads could be.
Illinois has the distinguished honor of being the first state to complete its segment through the dedication and hard work of the communities along the route. The first federal highway funding legislation would not be established until the 1916 Federal Aid Road Act
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 11, 2023

4. Creston Opera House (northwest elevation)
The opera house is two blocks south of this marker, at the southeast corner of South Main Street and East Depot Street.
was signed into law, which provided federal subsidies for road-building efforts for the first time in the nation's history. Due to the lack of public funding, individuals and communities funded and undertook the physical construction of the Lincoln Highway. In turn, the highway provided an economic boost to the communities located along the route, earning the nickname “The Main Street of America.”

(Submitted on June 16, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Creston’s Haunted Opera House.

Excerpt: The restoration of the Italianate Creston Opera House has been an ongoing project for some time now. In 1900 there were over 800 of these across Illinois; now roughly 20 survive. They epitomized a source of community pride and interaction. They hosted local and traveling programs and recitals, and served as a venue for community meetings and speakers. Creston’s Opera House is staging a comeback as the re-building commences in earnest over the past few years.

(Submitted on June 16, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Creston Opera House (<i>north elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 11, 2023

5. Creston Opera House (north elevation)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 16, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on June 16, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.