Everything Union is known for
16 stories, landmarks & places within ~20 miles — the same local lore RoadyGoat plays as you drive through.
Imagine a young Orson Welles, practically a kid, standing on that very stage! That's the Woodstock Opera House, built back in 1889. It wasn't just for plays, though. This beautiful Victorian building was designed to…
Pull over for a second - you're about to pass a little piece of Frank Lloyd Wright history. This unassuming house nestled in the landscape is the Robert and Elizabeth Muirhead House, a Usonian home designed by Wright…
Ever wonder what it's like to walk the same halls as generations of Belvidere students? That's what you're seeing here at the Old Belvidere High School. It all started with the Garfield School in 1893, followed by the…
Catch a glimpse of the golden age of entertainment at the Apollo Theatre, a beautifully preserved 1920s theater in Belvidere. Built in 1921, the Apollo Theatre has been a landmark in downtown Belvidere, right on the…
Ever seen a Frank Lloyd Wright building inside a cemetery? Here's your chance. In 1906, Emma Pettit commissioned the famous architect to design a chapel in Belvidere Cemetery, honoring her late husband, William. It was…
Ever wonder how a quiet river valley transformed into a bustling industrial hub? That's the story of the Dundee Township Historic District. From the 1870s to the 1920s, this area along the Fox River, encompassing East…
Imagine learning your ABCs right here! The North Grove School, built by Swedish immigrants in 1878, was more than just a building; it was the heart of this community. Originally a Lutheran school, it quickly became part…
Get ready to tee off at a true Illinois treasure: Wing Park Golf Course! It's not just a place to play; it's the oldest and best-preserved nine-hole municipal course in the entire state. Back in the early 1900s, golf…
Imagine the laughter and tears echoing from this very spot – this is the former site of the Larkin Home for Children. Founded as the Elgin Children's Home Society in 1898, the home initially operated out of a donated…
Ever wonder what a quintessential 19th-century American town looked like? This is it. The Sycamore Historic District is a well-preserved area encompassing the downtown of Sycamore, Illinois. Listed on the National…
Pass through these cast iron gates, likely built in 1865, marking the entrance to Elmwood Cemetery. These gates aren't just decoration; they’re a rare example of cast iron being used in landscape design back in the day.…
Imagine the steam engines that once pulled into this 1865 railway station, connecting Sycamore to the world. In the early 1850s, the Chicago and Northwestern Railway bypassed Sycamore. Determined to connect their town,…
Imagine staking your claim on untouched land. That's exactly what Robert Corron did here, becoming one of Kane County's very first settlers.He arrived in 1835 and began purchasing land from the government throughout the…
Pull over for a second and take a look around; you're in the heart of Elgin's history! This downtown commercial district tells the story of Elgin's growth from a small settlement to a bustling city. Development here…
Look to your left! You're passing a church designed to resemble a pocket watch. The First Universalist Church was built in Elgin in 1892. George Hunter designed it in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, which emphasizes…
Peer into the past at this observatory, built to ensure the precision of Elgin watches, once a symbol of American ingenuity. Built in 1910, the Elgin National Watch Company Observatory served the nearby Elgin National…