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

Elgin National Watch Company

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, April 21, 2012

1. Elgin National Watch Company Marker

Inscription. From 1866 to 1966 this site was occupied by the Elgin National Watch Company. This was the first watch factory built west of the Alleghenies and grew to become the world's largest. During its lifetime over 60 million 'Elgin' watches were manufactured here. The building was highlighted by a 144 foot tall clock tower containing dials with numerals three feet in length - a foot longer than those of London's 'Big Ben.' Located nearby was an observatory built for astronomical time determination before the advent of national standards. The observatory is now used as a planetarium by School District U-46.

Erected 1989 by The Elgin Heritage Commission and the Illinois State Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Illinois State Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1866.

Location. 42° 1.785′ N, 88° 16.641′ W. Marker is in Elgin, Illinois, in Kane County. It can be reached from the intersection of East National Street and South Grove Avenue. Marker is at the entrance of the Clock

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Tower Plaza. It faces north toward the intersection of National Street and South Grove Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Elgin IL 60120, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

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: Life Inside the Watch Factory (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Elgin Railroad Watches (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named The Elgin National Watch Company (about 400 feet away); The Watch Factory District (about 400 feet away); The National House (about 400 feet away); Watch Factory Depot (about 400 feet away); Generations of Watch Workers (about 400 feet away); Elgin National Watch Co. Observatory (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Elgin.

Also see . . .
1. Elgin National Watch Co.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, April 21, 2012

2. Elgin National Watch Company Marker

The large plant at Elgin was closed in 1965 and demolished the following year. (Submitted on May 18, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona.)

2. Elgin National Watch Company - Wikipedia. Website contains a photo of the factory. (Submitted on May 19, 2012, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.)

Elgin National Watch Company (1914) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Haines Photo Company, circa 1914

3. Elgin National Watch Company (1914)

Image courtesy of the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on May 18, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,839 times since then and 109 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 18, 2012, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 3. submitted on May 21, 2012. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.