Batavia Depot Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Batavia
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| Former Burlington Route passenger station | |
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Batavia station in August 2007.
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| Location | 155 Houston Street, Batavia, Illinois 60510 |
| History | |
| Opened | 1854 |
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Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad Depot
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 Location in Chicago metropolitan area
Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | Batavia, Kane County, Illinois, United States |
| Built | 1854 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000842 |
| Added to NRHP | June 6, 1979 |
The Batavia Depot Museum is a cool place in Batavia, Illinois. It used to be the main train station for the town! It was the very first train station built by a big company called the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. This old building is so special that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. It was listed as the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad Depot.
Contents
A Train Station's Story
Why a New Railroad Was Built
Back in the 1850s, a new train company called the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad (CB&Q) started up. It wanted to compete with another railroad. People in towns like Batavia and Aurora were worried. The first railroad had skipped their towns! They feared their towns would lose money and jobs. So, the CB&Q decided to build a new line that went through Batavia and Aurora.
Building the First Station
The train station in Batavia was super important. It was the very first one the CB&Q ever built! Because of this, the company made sure it looked extra special. They wanted it to stand out.
What the Station Looked Like
The station was made of wood and had two floors. It had red, vertical panels on the outside. When it was first built, it was about 22 feet wide and 45 feet long. In 1868, they added a four-room extension to the first floor. The main part of the building had a pointed roof, called a gable roof. It also had fancy Gothic Revival style decorations. The new extension had a flat roof.
Moving the Station and Making it a Museum
Later on, the CB&Q train company stopped using the Batavia station. They decided to focus on a more direct route through Aurora. But people in Batavia didn't want to lose their historic building! So, in 1973, they moved the entire station to a new spot.
They worked hard to make the building look just like it did in 1919. This was probably very similar to its original look. They put the station on a new foundation made of cinder blocks. The new location also had a basement. This basement allowed them to add a furnace, so the museum could stay open even in winter. Now, the Fox River is right next to the building on its east side.
Because of its history and unique style, the building was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 6, 1979. Today, it's a museum where you can learn all about the history of trains and Batavia!
