Near West Lincoln Highway (Illinois Route 38) east of West Locust Street, on the left when traveling east.
This house, built in 1861, was the home of Joseph Glidden, who in 1873 invented barbed wire fencing. With Phineas W. Vaughn he perfected a machine to manufacture it. DeKalb was the home of Isaac L. Ellwood and Jacob Haish, also manufacturers of . . . — — Map (db m230891) HM
On Crego Road, 1 mile south of Perry Road (County Road 7), on the left when traveling north.
These trees were planted by the citizens of DeKalb County in honor of our country's bicentennial. This horizons project affirms our faith and pride in the United States and our hope and love for it. May future citizens enjoy this area and remember . . . — — Map (db m203047) HM
Near Sycamore Road (Illinois Route 23) 0.1 miles north of Gateway Drive, on the right when traveling north.
DeKalb's roots date to 1912 when a group of farmers and bankers formed the DeKalb County Soil Improvement Association to improve area farming. In 1917, an offshoot was formed, the DeKalb County Agricultural Association, with a focus on quality seed. . . . — — Map (db m230905) HM
On Roberts Lane south of Roberts Circle, on the right when traveling south.
Success in developing and commercializing hybrid seed corn in the 1930s and early 1940s prompted DeKalb Agricultural Association in 1944 to see if the principles of hybridization could be applied to the breeding of poultry. Association President Tom . . . — — Map (db m230904) HM
On Oak Street west of North 4th Street, on the right when traveling west.
Known for his inventive genius, eccentric personality, and generous philanthropy, Jacob Haish is perhaps most remembered as an inventor of barbed wire. Born in Germany, he immigrated to this country in 1832 and came to DeKalb County in the 1840s.
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On West Lincoln Highway (Illinois Route 38) east of Castle Drive, on the right when traveling west.
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. . . . — — Map (db m213756) HM
On North 4th Street north of Lincoln Highway (Illinois Route 38), on the right when traveling north.
The DeKalb® brand winged ear logo is perhaps one of the most widely-recognized agricultural trademarks in the world. Over the years it has undergone many design enhancements from the original concept. But the same iconic image of a flying ear of . . . — — Map (db m230901) HM
On West Roosevelt Street just west of Hickory Street, on the left when traveling west.
In the early 20th century William George Eckhardt (1879-1959) was a pioneer in DeKalb County's leading role in agricultural innovation. Eckhardt, an agronomy professor at the University of Illinois, was an expert in the blossoming field of soil . . . — — Map (db m198012) HM
Near Bethany Road east of Sycamore Street (Illinois Route 23), on the right when traveling east.
Hybrid corn results from the cross of two inbred parents, each of which is developed by selfing (in-breeding) a corn line for 6-8 generations until it is mostly homozygous.
Corn plants are diploid with one set of chromosomes coming from the . . . — — Map (db m230907) HM