National Register of Historic Places

Egyptian Theatre

De Kalb, De Kalb County, Illinois
Listed
December 1, 1978
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
78003100

About this property

The Egyptian Theatre in DeKalb, Illinois, United States, is an Egyptian Revival theatre that is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The theatre was built in 1928 and 1929 as part of a much larger wave of national fascination with Ancient Egypt throughout the United States, due, in large part, to the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922. The theatre was added to the National Register in 1978 and its 1,430-seat auditorium is currently DeKalb County's largest. The building was designed by architect Elmer F. Behrns, who had an interest in Egyptology. The interior and exterior architecture reflect Egyptian cultural symbols. Stained glass work exhibits designs such as Ra, the Egyptian sun god and the scarab, a sacred Egyptian symbol. The building was nearly demolished in the 1970s but a restoration effort led by Preservation of the Egyptian Theatre (PET) saved the structure. Rumors have long surrounded the DeKalb Egyptian about secret messages allegedly hidden in the architecture and as well as ghost hauntings. While the theater maintains there are no hidden messages in the building the ghost stories have persisted throughout the years. The Egyptian Theatre operates year-round with up to 125 events annually.

Location

135 N. 2nd St.
De Kalb, De Kalb County, Illinois
41.93115, -88.75258

Categories

ENTERTAINMENT/RECREATIONARCHITECTURE
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

Haish Memorial Library
Industrial
0.2 mi
Gurler, George H., House
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0.2 mi
Ellwood Mansion
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0.3 mi
Glidden, Joseph F., House
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1.1 mi
Elmwood Cemetery Gates
Industrial
4.6 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Stillman's Run (May 1832)
1832Early Republic
7.8 mi
Stillman's Run (Black Hawk War)
1832Early Republic
11.3 mi
Stillman's Run
1832Early Republic
12.6 mi
Battle of Stillman's Run
1832Early Republic
13.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Egyptian Theatre listed on the National Register?

Egyptian Theatre was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 1, 1978.

What type of historic resource is Egyptian Theatre?

Egyptian Theatre is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Egyptian Theatre?

The period of significance for Egyptian Theatre is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Egyptian Theatre?

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