Elizabeth station (Illinois) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Chicago Great Western Railroad Depot
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 Location in Illinois
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| Location | Elizabeth, Jo Daviess County, Illinois, United States |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1877–78 |
| Architectural style | Stick style |
| NRHP reference No. | 96000098 |
| Added to NRHP | February 16, 1996 |
The Chicago Great Western Railroad Depot is a special old train station in Elizabeth, Illinois, USA. It was built a long time ago, between 1877 and 1878. This building is famous for its unique Stick style design, which was popular for many train stations back then. Because of its history, the depot was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1996.
Contents
A Look Back: The Depot's History
The Elizabeth train station was built by a company called the Minnesota Northwestern Railway. This happened in the late 1870s. Later, in 1892, a bigger company, the Chicago Great Western Railroad, bought the Minnesota Northwestern company. This meant the Elizabeth depot became part of a larger train network.
Building Style: What is Stick Style?
The Elizabeth depot has a special look called Stick style. Many small train stations built in the 1880s and 1890s shared this design. These buildings were usually small and rectangular. They had a roof shape called a side-gabled roof. The Stick style uses wooden boards to create patterns on the outside walls. This makes the building look like it's made of many sticks. Over the years, some parts of the depot's original design have changed. Across the street, you can still see the "Commercial Hotel." This old hotel was built in 1889 and served travelers using the train station.
The Depot Today: A Fun Museum
Today, the old train station has a new life! It has been fixed up and is now the Chicago Great Western Railway Depot Museum. The Elizabeth Historical Society runs the museum. Inside, you can watch a film about the railroad. There are also many cool train items to see. You can even find working model train sets in different sizes! The museum is open on weekends during certain times of the year.
Why This Depot is Important
The arrival of the train station in Elizabeth was a big deal. It helped the village grow a lot between 1880 and 1900. More people moved to Elizabeth, and the population increased. The train station and the railroad brought new opportunities to the area. On February 16, 1996, the Chicago Great Western Railroad Station became a nationally recognized historic place.
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