Pioneer Gothic Church
The Keeley Building
The Keeley Building is located at 310 South Prairie.  Built in
the 1890s by John R. Oughton as a residence for his
mother-in-law, Mrs. Bennett. In 1920 it was remodeled into the
administration building of the Keeley Institute.  It was
redesigned and remodeled again in 1942.  After the closing of
the Keeley Institute in 1966, it was converted into a general
office building and now houses an investment firm, attorney,
insurance and previously housed newspaper offices.
The Pioneer Gothic Church is located at the corner of Franklin and
Seminole, it was built in 1857.  This is a fine example of Carpenter
Gothic Architecture.  Pointed arched windows and doors as well as
board and batten frame construction characterize this style.  The steeple
is 80' high.  Richard P. Morgan, Jr. donated the land for the church.  
The cost of the building was $2,650 and became the Presbyterian
Church, which maintained a congregation until 1890.  From 1891 -
1893 the Keeley Company used the church as a clubroom.  In
December of 1893, the Danish Methodist Episcopal Church bought the
building for $700.  The building was then sold to the Christian Science
Society in 1924 and was again sold in 1956 to the Calvary Baptist
Church who sold it in 1964 to Mr. &  Mrs. Oscar Jensen.Mr. & Mrs. Jensen
sold it in 1966 for $6,264.00, given by Charles McWilliams in memory of
his Uncle Edward, to the Dwight Historical Society.  The Historical
Society raised $29,000 to completely renovate the building.  In order to
insure the future of the building, the Historical Society gave the church
to Dwight Township to be used as their Town Hall.  On July 1, 1977,
James H. Oughton, President of the Historical Society, presented the
deed to Clement J. Steichen, Township Supervisor.The Prince of Wales,
son of Queen Victoria and later to become King Edward VII, arrived in
Dwight on September 22, 1860 and visited the church.  The Prince
spent a week in Dwight "shooting on the prairie."
The Country Mansion is located 101 East South Street.   Built in
1891, The Country Mansion originated as the Scott House, a
twenty room Victorian boarding house, located one block
northeast of its present location.  In 1894, the three story structure
was moved to its current site by the use of horses, according to
town historians.  In 1895, the home was elaborately renovated
under the direction of Joliet architect Julian Barnes, to become
the residence of John R. Oughton, one of the founders of the
Keeley Institute.  In 1977, the home was purchased by the
Ohlendorfs, remodeled and reopened as The Country Mansion.  
The Bakery has been in the same family since 1907.  On
September 23, 1980 the home was placed, and remains today, on
"The National Register of Historic Places."
Weese Blacksmith Shop
Oughton Estate Windmill
The Weese Blacksmith Shop is located at 100 North Franklin Street.  For
many years it was the Reeb Monument works.  Peter Riccolo worked here
as a stonecutter.  The building currently houses Grieff's Precious
Monuments.
Mickelson Building
The Oughton Estate Windmill is located behind The
Country Mansion.  It was built in 1896 to supply
water for the Oughton Estate and grounds.  In 1975,
the head of the Windmill was destroyed.  In 1977
the Ohlendorfs had a new head shipped from South
America to replace the old one.  This head was
again repaired in June of 2003 to begin the
restoration and renovation of the Windmill.  On
September 23, 1980, the Windmill was placed on
the "National Register of Historic Places".
The Mickelson Building, located at 160 - 162 East Main Street, was built in
1880 and is known as a flat-iron building.  This building was purchased in
1938 by Forrest Klingler and used as a jewelry store for many years.  It also
housed a restaurant which is now the Hair Affair and an insurance office.
There are also several apartments upstairs. Bob Klingler sold it to Mr. and Mrs.
Hahn who own it now.
Baker Building
Oughton Estate Carriage House
The Baker Building is located at 144 East Main Street.  It presently
houses Emling Florist.  In April of 1854, Isaac H. Baker, a railroad
surveyor and carpenter, built a hut at this location that came to be known
as the Baker Cabinet and Coffin Shop.  Charles M. Baker joined the
business in 1872.  Roy M. Baker continued the business until James Baker
took the business over in 1945.
The Oughton Estate Carriage House is located on Carriage Way.  This
building presently houses the Prairie Creek District Library.  Built in
1896 as a carriage house where it housed prize cattle and horses for
the Oughton Estate, it was later transformed into a treatment and
recreation building for the Keeley Co.   In 1989, the Oughtons
donated the building to the library.  On September 23, 1980, the
Library was placed on the "National Register of Historic Places".
Miller Brothers Store
Railway Express Office
The Miller Brothers Store is located at 140 East Main Street.  It was
operated by Joe and Carl Miller as a clothing and dry goods store.  
It housed Kaiser's 10c to $1.00 store for many years.  It presently is
occupied by Main Street Company.
The Railway Express Office is adjacent to the Depot.   This
building was built about 1892 or 1893.  In 1986 the building
was remodeled to become the home of the Dwight Chamber of
Commerce.  It presently houses the offices of the Dwight Main
Street Program.
The Depot
The Bank of Dwight is located at 132 East Main Street.  It was founded
April 10, 1855 and was next door to the David McWilliams store.  This
is the 5tholdest bank in Illinois.  The bank remained in the McWilliams
family until 1963 when it was sold to independent investors.  In 1965,
control was sold to the Murphy familyThe current building was built in
1910 and remains the same except for two canopies.  In 1974 the
interior was expanded and remodeled into the adjoining building
which was the site of the David McWilliams store, the first store built in
1855 in DwightPlease note the farm scene murals, painted by
Vienna-born Oskar Gross, one located above the front windows and one
directly across from it inside the bank lobby.
The railroad depot is located at 119 West Main Street.  The
original depot, built in 1854, was a one and one-half story frame
structure measuring 16' x 24'.  A new depot was design by Chicago
architect Henry Ives Cobb who had also designed buildings at the
University of Chicago, the Newberry Library, and the Chicago Post
Office. Built in 1891, the depot was designed in the Richardson
Romanesque style, measuring 75' x 25' surrounded by an 18'
concrete platform.  The foundation is Joliet stone and the building
is made of Bedford bluestone from Indiana.  Gables extend from
each side with four double hung windows on the ground floor.  The
second story features two coupled windows with a fanlight over
each.  The facing stone above the fanlight has DWIGHT carved it
in.  Each gable has a Quatrefoil ornament on topThe Dwight
Depot, placed on the "National Registry of Historic Places" on
December 27, 1982, is one of only a few remaining railroad
stations between Chicago and St. Louis featuring the architectural
design of the 1890's.

Southbound trains stop in Dwight at 9:39am and 6:39pm to pick up
and drop off passengers, while northbound trains stop at 8:17am
and 6:57pm daily. For reservations and
information,1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245) or call your travel
agent. You can also visit www.Amtrak.com on the internet.
In 1983, the Dwight Historical Society bought the depot from the
town.  Restoration began in 1984 to transform the building into our
Village Hall.  When the village built a new Village Complex in
1998, the Dwight Historical Society moved the Museum into the
north end of the building.  The south end is a meeting room for the
Historical Society and also houses the office of the Dwight
Chamber of Commerce.
Strong Bank Building
The Strong Bank Building is located at 106 East Main Street.  
Built in 1873, this was the site of the Strong Bank that operated
one year before going broke.  It is the only building on East Main
Street that is mainly as it was in 1855.  This building is the current
office of Ron Wilder Insurance and Real Estate.
Keeley Office Building
The First National Bank of Dwight is located at 122 West Main Street.  It
was built in 1905 and designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.  Frank L. Smith
commissioned the construction of the building.  The bank stock was
primarily owned by Oughton, Judd, Romberger, Miller and Ludington.  
This building remains much the same as when constructed.
Livingston Hotel
The Keeley Office Building is located at 128 West Main Street.  The
Keeley Institute was a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center.  The
original building was built in 1891.  It  was rebuilt as it is today after
a fire in 1902.  In 1919 the building was leased to the Veteran's
Administration.  The U.S. Government later bought the entire
complex including the Livingston Hotel.  Windows representing the
five senses were from the studio of Louis J. Millet who worked with
Tiffany but also had his own business in Chicago.  He has windows
in the Art Institute and in the Smith Art Glass Museum on Navy Pier.  
In July of 1965, the Veteran's Administration closed and the State of
Illinois took over the building for the W. W. Fox Children's Center.  It
is presently called the W. W. Fox Developmental Center.
The Livingston Hotel is located at the corner of West
Main and Mazon Avenue.  At one time the hotel
housed Keeley Institute patients and was later
bought by the V.A. for patient rooms.
United States Post Office
The post office is located at the corner of Mazon
and Prairie.  The corner stone laying of the Post
Office took place January 2, 1937, and the
dedication was on April 10, 1937.  The mural on the
east wall was done by Carlos Lopez in 1937.  The
subject of the fresco is the off loading of mail.  The
small scenes below depict the dangers early mail
carriers are said to have encountered.  Mr. Lopez's
most ambitious work is a Civil War scene in the
Register of Deeds Building in Washington, D. C.
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Dwight is a quiet little town and an unexpected storehouse of architectural treasures.  Check out the First National Bank of Dwight, opened in 1906
and designed by Frank Lloyd Wright to convey the solidness of a small town bank.  Another bank, the Bank of Dwight (1855), has farm scene murals
created by Vienna-born artist Oskar Gross.  And before leaving town, stop by the Dwight Railroad Depot, a Romanesque building listed on the
National Register of Historic Places.  Take our pictorial tour and see some of the pride of Dwight the friendliest town in the whole USA.  Built in the
1920's, Route 66, also known as "The Mother Road" brought many people through Dwight on their way West looking for a more prosperous life.  The
road was originally built as Route 4 and has followed four different routes through Dwight.  
LODGING IN DWIGHT

Super 8 Motel - 815-584-1888
Classic Inn - 815-584-1200
DWIGHT
An authentic 1930's gas station
located on the corner of Routes 66
& 17has been restored to serve as a
village welcome center.  The
station was named to the Route 66
Association Hall of Fame in 2005
and is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places.
Ambler-Becker Texaco Station
Stop by and visit the Old Route 66 Family
Restaurant right on Old Route 66 in Dwight.  Bring
your camera for a memorable picture of you and
your family by the famous mural on the side of the
restaurant.
To arrange groups tours of Dwight, contact Janice at the Main
Street Office 815-584-1830