This has been commemorated by the Illinois State Historical Society as the birthplace of barbed wire. It is now undergoing restoration. This is a beautiful example of the Greek Revival Style.
Tours are available by appointment.
Hundred's of pictures highlight the growth and changing face of the downtown area from 1860 through the present. Northern Illinois University NIU celebrated its centennial in 1995. Self-guided walking tours are available. They have records on 18 of the 19 northern Illinois counties. This is a World War 1 memorial, originally dedicated in 1921.