DeKalb in DeKalb County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Northern Illinois University
Photographed by Molly Fischer
1. Northern Illinois University Marker
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
this page online
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: William George Eckhardt (approx. Ό mile away); Northern Illinois University 75th Anniversary Time Capsule (approx. 0.3 miles away); DeKalb World War I Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); DeKalb War Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Annies Woods (approx. 0.4 miles away); Major General Johann De Kalb White Oak (approx. 0.4 miles away); Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (approx. 0.4 miles away); Ellwood Green (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in DeKalb.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 10, 2023, by Molly Fischer of DeKalb, Illinois. This page has been viewed 393 times since then and 53 times this year. Last updated on September 8, 2026, by Matthew Stevens of Washington, Illinois. Photo 1. submitted on January 10, 2023, by Molly Fischer of DeKalb, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
