historic downtown dixon architectural tour

Nestled along the banks of the Rock River, Dixon, Illinois is a small city with a rich architectural heritage and deep roots in our nation's history. You are invited to explore some of downtown Dixon's most notable buildings, each with its own story to tell. From historic commercial buildings to elegant civic structures, downtown Dixon showcases a fascinating blend of styles that reflect the city's growth from the 19th century to today.

Whether you're an architecture enthusiast, a history buff, or even just curious about your hometown, this tour will deepen your appreciation for the character and charm that make Dixon unique. Put on some comfortable shoes, bring your curiosity, and get ready to take a walk through history while discovering the architectural treasures that line the streets of Dixon, Illinois.


 The First Dixon Arch was erected in 1919 to honor returning World War I soldiers.  The wording on this side reads, “A grateful people pause in their welcome to the victorious living, to pay silent tribute to the illustrious dead.”  The present Memorial Arch is the 4th one.  It is made of fiberglass and was dedicated on November 11, 1985.

***To complete this stop, take a selfie making an arch with your arms in front of the present Memorial Arch***
 


Dixon Arch

The old Lee County Court House sits on land donated to Lee County by “Father” John Dixon in 1840.  It was completed in 1901 by builder William McAlpine

 “Father” John Dixon was born at Rye, Westchester County, New York in 1784. He moved to Illinois in 1820 and on April 11, 1830, came to Dixon, where he purchased a rope ferry from Joseph Augé, later spelled Ogee. Dixon was friendly to the Native Americans of the area, who called him “Na-Chu-Sa”, which roughly translates as “the white-haired one.”  The original name of what we know as the City of Dixon today was Dixon’s Ferry. We celebrate Founders Day in his memory on April 11th each year with a presentation on a valuable part of Dixon history while honoring a local historian and a local preservationist.  The image above is the best-known likeness of Dixon was taken by Charles H. Keyes, a local photographer. John Dixon died in 1876 at age 92, practically penniless, after giving so much of himself to the community.

***To complete this stop, find the flagpole north of the building, stand near it and click "Guess"***

Lee County Court House

 In the Reagan Peace Park three murals picture President Ronald Reagan telling Soviet Premier Gorbachev, “Tear down this wall!”  Three bronze plaques explain the murals, with a replica of the Berlin Wall and a sculpture named “Wings of Peace.”

***To complete this stop, take a selfie in front of the Berlin Wall, flashing the peace sign ✌️***

The Reagan Peace Park

The Historic Dixon Theatre is the third theatre at this location.  The Dixon Opera House opened in 1876, burned in 1903, and was rebuilt.  It burned again in 1920.  

The Dixon Theatre opened in 1922. It cost $200,000 to build (equivalent to $3 million today). It was designed in an Italian Renaissance style by local architect, William J. McAlpine, who had been responsible for the Lee County Courthouse, the Old Post Office, and the Dixon National Bank among other buildings.

The Rorer family owned and operated the theater for nearly 30 years. Early show bills featured several vaudeville acts, a seven-piece orchestra and frequently a motion picture. Through changes of ownership, The Dixon continued to serve as a movie house until 1984 when the final movie was shown and the theater closed.

In October 1985, Dixon Theatre Renovation, Inc. signed a lease-purchase agreement and The Dixon once again became a showcase for the performing arts. DTRI and the Lee County Civic Center Authority shepherded this wonderful building through nearly 35 years of almost continuous use as a performing arts center. Volunteers, along with generous contributors, renovated the theater and returned it to its position as a fine cultural asset that the entire Sauk Valley area could enjoy and be proud of.

The Dixon | Historic Theatre is now owned and operated by Historic Dixon Theatre Group. The board is appointed by the Mayor and City Council of the City of Dixon, but operates as an entirely independent body.

***To complete this stop, take a selfie in front of the theater, striking your best "acting" pose***

The Historic Dixon Theater

This photo of First Street was taken around one hundred years ago from Galena Avenue looking toward the west.  In those days cars were called “gas buggies” because they didn’t need a horse to make them go. The speed limit in those days was six miles per hour in town. It was a slower, quieter way of life.
 
Do you see what looks like a bus coming up the street in the second picture?  That is a trolley car that ran on tracks in the street and used electricity to make it go.  Dixon’s trolley lines were in use from 1904 until 1925.  For a nickel you could go from one part of town to another, and for a quarter you could ride all the way to Sterling.

***To complete this stop, take a photo recreating the view down First Street today***

First Street looking west, 1911

This photo of the David S. Horton Drugstore was taken around 125 years ago.  Mr. Horton is on the left. Can you see how the façade of his building has changed since then?  Shortly after this picture was taken, he did something that changed the world. Wait ’til you hear this story!

Horton hired a young man who'd recently suffered from an industrial accident--part of his middle finger had been cut off at the Henderson Shoe Factory! Horton took the young man on as an apprentice pharmacist and changed the course of history. That young man was Charles R. Walgreens. 

***To complete this stop, find the plaque on the building, read it, and fill in the blank below:***
The third floor of the "_____ Block" served as a meeting hall for recreational and community organizations.

David S. Horton Drugstore

 The building behind the drugstore sign is the oldest building in downtown Dixon.  It is over 160 years old!  If your eyesight is very, very good, you might be able to read that sign.  Something pretty important happened here, too.

If you zoom in on the sign you might be able to see the words: Walgreen-Davis Co. DRUGS - Cigars and Soda. It was Walgreen's second drugstore (he'd opened his first in Chicago in 1901).

Downtown Dixon's Oldest

A wooden building once stood where Books on First is now located. The original building burnt down in hours and was rebuilt within a month! You will be amazed with the rest of the story! Check out the image of the newspaper article from the Illinois State Journal, October 19, 1859

***To complete this stop, find the plaque on the building, and take a selfie pointing to it***

Books on First

This building has had many different types of businesses in it.  This picture was taken almost 120 years ago in 1897.  Do you see much change in the façade?

***To complete this stop, answer the yes or no question below***
Do you think this building has changed its façade much since 1897?

A Blast from the Past

 This 1910 view of First Street looking east from Peoria Avenue shows the Union State Bank building at the far left. The newly organized Union State Bank occupied this imposing McAlpine stone building from 1902 until 1920, when an embezzlement by an employee caused the bank to fail.  Later, the first floor would house the H. A. Roe real estate and insurance office, law offices, accounting businesses, credit associations, and a furniture store.

***To complete this stop, take a selfie in front of the main entrance at 223 W. First St. pointing up at the ornate projecting turret above you***

Union State Bank

From the cabin built here by Joseph Ogee (Augé) in 1828 sprang our beloved City of Dixon. The need to cross the Rock River to transport mail and goods from Peoria to Galena prompted the choosing of this location. In 1829, Ogee opened a post office. In the spring of 1830 John Dixon purchased the cabin and rope ferry from Ogee (Augé).

***To complete this stop, take a selfie with John Dixon***

Dixon's Cabin and Ferry

Fort Dixon stood in the area that is now Presidents Park on the north side of the Rock River between the bridges.  It was established in 1832 to provide protection during the Black Hawk War of that same year.  This hand-made drawing is the only image of it that we have.

Many notable soldiers served here, including two presidents, Abraham Lincoln and Zachary Taylor.

Fort Dixon

Leonard Crunelle sculpted this statue of a 23-year-old Abraham Lincoln, dressed in miner’s clothes and holding a sword at his side, in honor of Lincoln’s service as a militia captain during the Black Hawk War of 1832.  The statue has stood in Presidents Park since 1930, the 100th anniversary of the founding of Dixon, and is made of bronze, which takes on a greenish color when exposed to the weather.  Be sure to check out the plaque honoring Lincoln's service on the boulder behind the statue.

***To complete this stop, take a selfie with Lincoln***

This is the final stop on your Downtown Dixon Tour!  After you submit your photo, be sure to mark the Adventure as Complete!

Discover Dixon

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