Fox River House
Also known as: Galena Hotel
Why it's listed
Rising four floors above Galena Street in Aurora, Illinois, this brick hotel measures about seventy-seven by forty feet and has seven bays across its north front. The first hotel on the site, the Fox River House, was built in 1857 and burned in 1860. E.D. Huntoon rebuilt it in 1862 beside the Chicago-Galena State Road, which had been in use since the early 1830s, when Aurora was becoming a leading milling and manufacturing town. The hotel soon became known as the most popular place for parties, balls, marriages and political gatherings, and it served as a social center for over a generation. It later carried the names Northwestern Hotel, Grand Hotel and Galena Hotel. It is the oldest surviving hotel in Aurora. The exterior has changed little, with stone lintels, arched dormer windows and traces of former cornice brackets and verandas. Only the top floor keeps its original interior.
Significance in brief: It is the oldest remaining hotel in Aurora and its vicinity. After its 1862 rebuilding it became the best-known place for parties, balls, marriages and social and political events, serving as a social center for a generation. It was built on the Chicago-Galena State Road when Aurora was becoming a milling and manufacturing town.
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 76000710, listed May 4, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 166 W. Galena, Aurora |
|---|---|
| County | Kane County |
| Listed | May 4, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000710 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Italianate elements |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied and in fair condition; the exterior is little changed, the top-floor interior is original, and the other interior floors have been altered. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 41.75899, -88.31773 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 76000710.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5518386
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.