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 museum in Batavia, Illinois. It used to be the main train station for the town. This station was the very first one built by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. In 1979, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places as the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad Depot.
Contents
History of the Batavia Train Station
Why the Railroad Was Built
The Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad (CB&Q) started in the 1850s. It wanted to compete with another railroad called the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad (C&GU). People in Batavia and Aurora worried their towns would lose money. This was because the C&GU trains didn't stop there. So, the CB&Q built a new railroad to help these towns.
Building the First Station
The Batavia train station was the very first one built by the CB&Q. Because it was the first, the company made sure it looked special. They wanted its design to stand out. The station was built in 1854.
What the Building Looked Like
The original building was made of wood and had two stories. It had red, vertical panels on the outside. It was about 22 feet wide and 45 feet long. In 1868, they added a four-room extension to the ground floor. The main part of the building had a gable roof with fancy Gothic brackets. The newer extension had a flat roof.
Saving the Old Station
Later, the CB&Q stopped using the Batavia station. They decided to only use a direct route through Aurora. To save the historic building, it was moved in 1973 to a new spot. Workers then fixed it up to look like it did in 1919. This was probably very similar to its original look. The building was placed on a new foundation made of cinder blocks. The new location also had a basement for a furnace. This meant the museum could stay open even in winter. The Fox River is now located just east of the building. The station was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 6, 1979.
