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

City of DeKalb Sesquicentennial

Celebrating 150 years!

— 1856 - 2006 —

City of DeKalb Sesquicentennial Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Matthew Stevens, September 12, 2026

1. City of DeKalb Sesquicentennial Marker

Inscription.
To DeKalb Citizens Present and Future:

A celebration of DeKalb's heritage was observed throughout 2006. It was led by a core committee appointed by Mayor Frank Van Buer. Citizens from all walks of life came together for the Sesquicentennial Celebration. It included a variety of cultural events and displays, festive parade, a gala ball and the sealing of a Time Capsule to be opened in 2056.

We dedicate this sculpture in honor of that 2006 Sesquicentennial Celebration.

Reflect on the City of DeKalb-it was forged from the prairie by pioneers who long ago left their material possessions behind, but brought forward for your benefit the blessings of liberty, family and entrepreneurship that have fueled DeKalb's growth from a prairie village to the great city it is today. We trust in future generations to carry on the celebrate the pioneer spirit with firm resolve to make DeKalb a better place to live, and to have the courage to defend those ideals and the United States of America.

2006 Sesquicentennial Core Committee

Linda Schwarz, Chair • Anna Marie Coveny • DeWitt Osgood • Sumathi Ross • Kathy Vance Siebrasse • Steven

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Kapitan • Glen Gildemeister • Jennifer Diedrich • Robert J. Krupp • Patti McAdams

Erected 2006 by the DeKalb Sesquicentennial Committee.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Notable Events • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1856.

Location. 41° 55.844′ N, 88° 45.141′ 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 east on Palmer Court. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 148 N 2nd St, 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: DeKalb Veterans Memorial Mural (here, next to this

City of DeKalb Sesquicentennial Sculpture & Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Matthew Stevens, September 12, 2026

2. City of DeKalb Sesquicentennial Sculpture & Marker

marker); Egyptian Theatre (within shouting distance of this marker); City of DeKalb Veterans Memorial (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); DeKalb War Memorial (about 400 feet away); DeKalb World War I Memorial (about 400 feet away); The Winged Ear Logo (about 800 feet away); Jacob Haish (approx. 0.2 miles away); Major General Johann De Kalb White Oak (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in DeKalb.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 23, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 13, 2026, by Matthew Stevens of Washington, Illinois. This page has been viewed 14 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 13, 2026, by Matthew Stevens of Washington, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.