National Register of Historic Places

Amboy Illinois Central Depot

Amboy, Lee County, Illinois
Listed
August 17, 1992
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
92001015

About this property

Amboy station is a former rail station in the city of Amboy, Lee County, Illinois, United States. The building was constructed as a headquarters building for the Illinois Central Railroad as well as a public train station for the fledgling city of Amboy in 1876. It was designed by railroad staff architect James Nocquet after a fire destroyed the original Illinois Central offices on the site. The building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1992 as the Amboy Illinois Central Depot. The rectangular, Italianate building operated as Illinois Central Railroad's Northern Division headquarters until 1894. After 1894 the rail line through Amboy was downgraded in importance by the railroad and the division headquarters moved elsewhere. Today the depot is operated as a public museum. The museum grounds include the depot, which houses artifacts and exhibits and several outbuildings. Also on the property is a steam locomotive which, in 1976, was the last steam engine in the United States to be commissioned for regular freight service. The locomotive was obtained from the now defunct Northwestern Steel and Wire company and is maintained as a static display.

Location

50 S. East Ave.
Amboy, Lee County, Illinois
41.71397, -89.33204

Categories

TRANSPORTATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Whitney, Col. Nathan, House
Industrial
7.5 mi
Reagan's, Ronald, Boyhood Home
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11.4 mi
Van Epps, William H., House
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11.7 mi
Dixon Downtown Historic District
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12 mi
Illinois Central Stone Arch Railroad Bridges
Early Republic
12.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Amboy Illinois Central Depot listed on the National Register?

Amboy Illinois Central Depot was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 17, 1992.

What type of historic resource is Amboy Illinois Central Depot?

Amboy Illinois Central Depot is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Amboy Illinois Central Depot?

The period of significance for Amboy Illinois Central Depot is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Amboy Illinois Central Depot?

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