Although the magnificent eagle that once set atop the monolith is now absent it remains essentially as it was in 1866. It seems that more than one disaster has befallen this monument to our servicemen. In 1899, just as Decoration Day services were ending, a great storm boiled up from the West and a bolt of lightning struck the stone and shattered the eagle and the top shaft. It was hit by a tornado in 1918 and after these repairs, the eagle was left off as a cost saving measure. For more history of our community contact the Byron Museum District.
Rock River is the present attraction.
Lucius Read Society Established in 1995, the Lucius Read Historical Society is a nonprofit educational division of the Byron Museum District. Our purpose is to educate members about the history of Byron, Ogle County, and the state of Illinois.