Elgin National Watch Company Observatory
National Register of Historic Places

Elgin National Watch Company Observatory

Elgin, Kane County, Illinois
Listed
August 15, 1994
Type
Building
Period
Civil War
Ref No.
94000976

About this property

The Elgin National Watch Company Observatory is a historic building in Elgin, in the U.S. state of Illinois. It was built in 1910 to serve the Elgin National Watch Company two blocks to the west. The two-story observatory provided data on time that was scientifically accurate to a tenth of a second. Manufacturers could then produce a more accurate watch. The observatory was an important part of the company's legacy, and they even changed their motto to reflect this. By 1950, the Elgin National Watch Company could no longer compete with wristwatch companies. The observatory was donated to a local school district and became known as the School District U-46 Planetarium/Observatory. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.

Location

312 Watch St.
Elgin, Kane County, Illinois
42.03014, -88.27343

Categories

COMMERCESCIENCE
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

Gifford-Davidson House
Civil War
0.3 mi
Fire Barn 5
Industrial
0.4 mi
Pelton, Ora, House
Industrial
0.5 mi
Elgin Historic District
Listed
0.5 mi
First Universalist Church
Industrial
0.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Elgin National Watch Company Observatory listed on the National Register?

Elgin National Watch Company Observatory was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 15, 1994.

What type of historic resource is Elgin National Watch Company Observatory?

Elgin National Watch Company Observatory is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Elgin National Watch Company Observatory?

The period of significance for Elgin National Watch Company Observatory is recorded as the civil_war era.

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