History & Heritage
DeKalb Public Library
309 Oak Street, DeKalb IL 60115
815-756-9568Hours: Monday-Thursday 9:00-9:00pm; Friday 9:00am-6:00pm; Saturday 9:00-5:00pm
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Gurler House & Gurler Heritage Association
205 Pine Street, DeKalb IL 60115
815-753-8473The Gurler house hosts private events, and public events such as the Folk Music Fest. They also have an exquisite garden for viewing. This is a beautiful example of the Greek Revival Style. Tours are available by appointment.
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Heritage Square Gallery
105 North First Street, DeKalb IL 60115
815-756-1445Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm Experience DeKalb’s rich history in photographs. Hundreds of pictures highlight the growth and changing face of the downtown area from 1860 through the present day.
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Historic Guided Tours
Malta IL 60150
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815-825-2330
Historic Self-Guided Tours
164 East Lincoln Highway, DeKalb IL 60115
815-756-1336DeKalb County Convention & Visitors Bureau Books are available to assist you.
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Historic Self-Guided Tours
407 West State Street, Sycamore IL 60178
815-895-3456Sycamore Chamber of Commerce
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Joiner History Room
103 East State Street, Sycamore IL 60178
815-895-2500The Joiner History room is a safe guard for Sycamore’s heritage represented by the historical documents in their collection. This room is open to the public for viewing.
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Joseph F. Glidden Homestead and Historical Center
921 West Lincoln Highway, DeKalb IL 60115
815-756-7904This site has been commemorated by the Illinois State Historical Society as the birthplace of barbed wire. It was home of Joseph Farwell Glidden, inventor of “The Winner” barbed wire. Group tours available.
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Kishwaukee Valley Heritage Museum
622 West Park Avenue, Genoa IL 60135
815-784-5559This 1876 Depot features items of local history. Houses many items including the first horse-drawn hearse of DeKalb County. Tours are given upon request.
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Kishwaukee Valley Heritage Society
622 Park Avenue, Genoa IL 60135
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815-784-5559
Malta Historical & Genealogical Society
127 North Third Street, Malta IL 60150
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815-384-3481
Marie Louise Olmstead Memorial Museum
105 South Depot, Somonauk IL 60552
815-498-3154Tours by appointment Some describe this museum as a “hidden gem” because of their display of local, cultural, natural and prehistoric history for lower DeKalb and upper LaSalle Counties.
Midwest Museum of Natural History
425 West State Street, Sycamore IL 60178
815-895-9777Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm; Sunday: 12:00noon-5:00pm; Closed Mondays The Midwest Museum of Natural History exhibits animals in their habitats from all over North America. They also rent out space for meetings and private parties, and host events.
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Milan Township One Room School House
Gabel Hall Room 8, NIU Campus, DeKalb IL 60115
815-753-1241Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm or by appointment
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North Grove School
26745 Brickville Road, Sycamore IL 60178
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Northern Illinois Veteran’s Memorial Franklin Township Park
Third Street, Kirkland IL 60146
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Regional History Center
Northern Illinois University, Swen Parson, Room 155, DeKalb IL 60115
60115The History Center has records on 18 of the 19 northern Illinois counties. They also have genealogical information.
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Shabbona-Lee-Rollo Historical Museum
199 West Comanche, Shabbona IL 60550
815-824-2597Hours: Tuesday and Thursday: 9:00am-11:30am & 12:30pm-3:00pm; Saturday: 9:00am-11:00am This museum holds a large collection of historical information pertaining to the surrounding communities. Admission is free.
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Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Clock
DeKalb Memorial Park, Northwest Corner of First Street and Lincoln Highway, DeKalb IL 60115
815-748-7788This is a World War I memorial, originally dedicated in 1921. The town mural is also located here.
Stone Mill Museum and the Sandwich Historical Society
Railroad and Lafayette Street, Sandwich IL 60548
815-786-8176Open during the Summer on Sundays from 1-5pm, or by appointment.
Sycamore History Museum
1730 North Main Street, Sycamore IL 60178
815-895-5762The Sycamore History Museum strives to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit significant materials relating to Sycamore and the surrounding area, to provide related educational services for the public knowledge of Sycamore.
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Sycamore Public Library
103 East State Street, Sycamore IL 60178
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815-895-2500
Waterman Area Historical Society
180 West Lincoln Street, Waterman IL
815-264-3461Museum Hours: Saturday 1:00pm-3:00pm or by appointment
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