DeKalb in DeKalb County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Egyptian Theatre
National Register of Historic Places
Photographed by Matthew Stevens, September 10, 2026
1. Egyptian Theatre NRHP Marker
This property has been
placed on the
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior
Erected 1978 by the United States Department of the Interior.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is December 10, 1929.
Location. 41° 55.854′ N, 88° 45.153′ W. Marker is in DeKalb, Illinois, in DeKalb County. It is at the intersection of Palmer Court and North 2nd Street, on the right when traveling west on Palmer Court. This marker is mounted on the southeast corner of the Egyptian Theatre in downtown DeKalb. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 135 N 2nd Street, 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
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: City of DeKalb Sesquicentennial (within shouting distance of this marker); DeKalb Veterans Memorial Mural (within shouting distance of this marker); City of DeKalb Veterans Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); DeKalb War Memorial (about 300 feet away); DeKalb World War I Memorial (about 300 feet away); Jacob Haish (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Winged Ear Logo (approx. 0.2 miles away); Major General Johann De Kalb White Oak (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in DeKalb.
Also see . . .
1. History (Egyptian Theatre). Excerpt:
The Egyptian Theatre has roots back to the age of the pharaohs. This historic structure owes this connection to the discovery of the tomb of King Tut in 1922. That discovery set off a nationwide interest in everything Egyptian. The Egyptian influence reached DeKalb County in 1928, when the DeKalb Theatre Company was trying to settle on a design for a combination motion picture house(Submitted on September 21, 2026.)and vaudeville theatre. Needing a larger facility than its theatre at the corner of First Street and Lincoln Highway, the firm talked with Chicago theatre architect Elmer F. Behrns. Contracts for the new theatre were awarded in 1928, but construction, other than a foundation excavation, did not start until Spring of 1929. Dale Leifheit was president of the DeKalb Theatre Company and served as the building’s first manager when it opened on Dec. 10, 1929. It is believed that the initial construction cost roughly $250,000. The theatre served a population of approximately 8,545 in the city of DeKalb and 32,644 in DeKalb County.Photographed by Matthew Stevens, September 10, 20262. Egyptian Theatre South Side w/NRHP Marker
2. National Park Service - Egyptian Theatre. See this webpage from the National Park Service that features information on the Egyptian Theatre's accession into the National Register of Historic Places. Note that as of the submission date for this marker, the NRHP form had not been digitized. (Submitted on September 11, 2026, by Matthew Stevens of Washington, Illinois.)
Photographed by Matthew Stevens, September 10, 2026
3. Egyptian Theatre Front
Photographed by Matthew Stevens, September 10, 2026
4. Dream Big, Wild & Crazy Dreams, Little Huskie
This art exhibit is on an electrical box to the left of this marker
Photographed by Matthew Stevens, September 10, 2026
5. Egyptian Theatre Fire Hydrant
This painted fire hydrant is across the street from the Egyptian Theatre
Credits. This page was last revised on September 21, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 11, 2026, by Matthew Stevens of Washington, Illinois. This page has been viewed 23 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 11, 2026, by Matthew Stevens of Washington, Illinois. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
