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

Northern Illinois University Entrance

Photographed by Matthew Stevens, September 8, 2026

1. Northern Illinois University Entrance Marker

Inscription.

"...the Normal School...is more than a 'castle on the hill' with its graceful campus and curving drives...it should be ready to proclaim its supreme aim as an educational auxiliary int he determination of our national life."

John W. Cook
First President
Northern Illinois State Normal School
1917

"I believe, one hundred years from now, historians will see 1995 as a turning point for Northern Illinois University, as important as its founding a century earlier."

John E. La Tourette
President
Northern Illinois University
1995

The original entrance gates were built in the late 1890s. These gates were removed when Castle Drive was widened in the 1960s. The design of the original gates influenced the current Castle Drive gateway, which was built in 1994 as part of the university's Centennial celebration. The gates were dedicated on October 1, 1995.

Erected 1995 by Northern Illinois Univserity.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Education. A significant historical date for this entry is October 1, 1995.

Location. 41° 55.876′ N, 88° 45.731′ W. Marker is in DeKalb, Illinois, in

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DeKalb County. It is at the intersection of Castle Drive and West Lincoln Highway (Illinois Route 38), on the left when traveling north on Castle Drive. This marker is located at the western gate entrance of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 115 Castle Dr, 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 (a few steps from this marker); Northern Illinois University (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); NIU Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Northern Illinois State College Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Northern Illinois University 75th Anniversary Time Capsule (approx.

Photographed by Matthew Stevens, September 8, 2026

2. Northern Illinois University Entrance Marker

¼ mile away); William George Eckhardt (approx. ¼ mile away); Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (approx. 0.4 miles away); “Unified and Diversified” Time Capsule (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in DeKalb.

Also see . . . NIU 125 Year Campus Buildings Timelapse. See this timelapse of the different buildings that have existed on the campus of Northern Illinois University since its founding.

Excerpt from 125th Anniversary Webpage: "In September of 1895, NIU founders used a lead pencil to formally break ground on construction of a new university in DeKalb, Illinois. The following month, more than 20,000 people showed up to watch a crane slowly lower the cornerstone in place for what would become Altgeld Hall."

(Submitted on September 9, 2026, by Matthew Stevens of Washington, Illinois.)

Photographed by Matthew Stevens, September 8, 2026

3. Northern Illinois University Entrance Marker

Photographed by Matthew Stevens, September 8, 2026

4. Northern Illinois University Entrance Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on September 23, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 8, 2026, by Matthew Stevens of Washington, Illinois. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 8, 2026, by Matthew Stevens of Washington, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.