Chicago, Burlington, & Quincy Roundhouse and Locomotive Shop
Why it's listed
Built in 1855-1856, this limestone roundhouse in Aurora, Illinois, once serviced locomotives for the Aurora Branch Railroad and later the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad. The semicircular structure was originally 22 stalls and measures 264 feet, 4 inches across. Additions before 1865 brought it to 40 stalls. Locally quarried coursed limestone forms the walls, while cast iron columns and trusses support a wood roof covered with tar paper. A limestone machine shop, 50 by 180 feet, is attached on the north side. It was the only survivor of a complex that also held blacksmith, car, carpenter and paint shops. The Historic American Engineering Record identified it as the oldest roundhouse known to it, ten years older than the 1866 Martinsburg example, and as the only known stone roundhouse in the country. The repair shops employed many Aurora residents and shaped the community's growth. Locomotive repair continued until 1927, boiler repair followed, and all work ended in 1974.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is the oldest roundhouse known to the Historic American Engineering Record, ten years older than the previously known oldest example from 1866. It is also the only known stone roundhouse in the nation. Locally, the repair shops employed many Aurora residents and contributed to the city's development.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 78001154, listed February 16, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Broadway and Spring Sts., Aurora |
|---|---|
| County | Kane County |
| Listed | February 16, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78001154 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1855-1856 |
| Architect / builder | C.F. Allen (architect); J.R. Coulter (builder) |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Engineering |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Repair work in the roundhouse ended in 1974. The form lists condition as excellent and the original basic structure as intact, though a section three stalls wide was recently torn into the interior wall. Supporting letters say the owner planned to raze it. |
| Acreage | 18.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.76063, -88.30871 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 78001154.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7858865
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.