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HISTORY OF LOCKPORT

   Lockport's rich canal heritage of the 1800's can be re-discovered with a stroll amidst the native stone warehouses along the canal, in the first lock built on this important waterway, and in shadows cast by a setting sun on Lockport's unique architecture.

   If you seek the allure and the peace and quiet of earlier times, you are invited to discover Lockport's history--and the canal that made possible the growth of Chicago.  Settlers, and trade to the Midwest, came by way of the Erie Canal, Great Lakes, and the I&M Canal--the first navigable link to the Mississippi River.  The City of Lockport is one of the best preserved canal sites in existence today.

   Commerce made the canal a fascinating scene at Lockport . . . flour mills and grain warehouses, lake boats and stone barges, boatyards and canal offices.  Images of bygone eras fill your senses as you experience the sights and sounds of Lockport's downtown area.

   Lockport lies quietly nestled in the Des Plaines River Valley. Here the Miami and the Pottawatomie Indians portaged the Des Plaines, and explorers Joliet and Marquette traversed these valleys scoured by glaciers.  Gardens of long ago are tucked behind cast iron fences, when houses were on large plots often surrounded by stone walls.  Prosperous merchants, canal contractors and boat owners built proud homes.  Quaint, simple cottages (which can still be seen today) housed many of the canal workers.  A variety of architectural styles that include Greek Revival, Victorian and Romanesque, as well as less ornate vernacular styles, color Lockport's streets.

   You'll find sturdy stone houses and buildings of cream-colored dolomite limestone from nearby quarries.  This same stone was sent by mule-towed barges to Chicago to build the historic Water Tower, as well as numerous churches and houses.

   The Gaylord Building, a fine example of adaptive reuse, consists of an 1838 warehouse, and an Italianate addition built in 1859.  Both sections of this building are constructed of the same stone, though it is dressed and laid differently.  The large arched portals recall the activity on the Public Landing when wagons entered the building as boats on the canal were loaded and unloaded. The Gaylord Building now houses a visitor center and a restaurant.

   At the south end of the Public Landing stands the Norton Building.  This massive stone structure was built in 1850 by the Norton family as part of its complex of mills on the Illinois & Michigan Canal.  A careful exterior restoration was recently completed.  Recently, the Illinois State Museum Lockport Gallery relocated from the Gaylord Building to this site.  Also, the offices of the National Trust for Historic Preservation can be found in this building.

   Some structures remain almost intact, such as the canal superintendent's office and home.   Dating from 1837 and 1876 it is now the Illinois & Michigan Canal Museum, with artifacts and period furnishings.  Churches, such as St. Dennis Catholic Church, provide a distinctive landscape, with grand spires that rise above the treetops, reminiscent of a sleepy New England village.

   The east side of Lockport's State Street was rebuilt in the 1890's after a disastrous fire. Look up at the cornices on buildings to see dates and names.  Some buildings have been restored and gaily painted in colors of the era.  During Lockport's heyday, awnings lined both sides of State Street to provide shade in place of trees.

   Downtown Lockport has a Historic District that is part of the 120-mile long Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor.   The original length of the Corridor was 97 miles, however, the canal now extends to Lake Michigan.  This Historic District is bounded by the canal, 7th Street, Washington Street, and 11th Street.  It offers no less than 37 historic sites and structures to discover.

   If you're a history buff, Lockport is a treasure chest of exploration.  If you appreciate distinct and unique architecture, you'll find Lockport aesthetically delightful.  Come experience Lockport, and let its rich heritage surround you.