Hotel Arthur
Also known as: Traction Terminal Building
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Why it's listed
Rising six stories at the corner of Broadway Avenue and Galena Boulevard, this brick and Bedford limestone building was completed in 1905 as the Hotel Arthur and was once the tallest building in Aurora. Eugene Malmer designed it in the Second Renaissance Revival style for John Knell, Sr., a German-born beer wholesaler, who named the hotel for his brother. Early newspaper accounts praised it as one of northern Illinois's finest hotels, with steam heat and telephones. Rear additions were soon needed to provide more space. In 1915 the Aurora, Elgin, and Chicago Railroad leased the building as its traction terminal station and main offices, a use that lasted until 1935. A 1937 remodel gave the ground floor a retail storefront, and it later became a restaurant, while professional offices filled the upper floors. The upper stories have stood vacant since the late 1960s but keep much original woodwork, a marble staircase and a caged elevator. The building reflects Aurora's growth as a rail-driven commercial center.
Significance in brief: The building is locally significant under Criterion A for its ties to Aurora's commercial and transportation history. It first served as a premier hotel, then from 1915 to 1935 as the traction terminal station and main offices of the Aurora, Elgin, and Chicago Railroad. It later held retail space, a restaurant and professional offices, reflecting downtown Aurora's role as a regional commercial center.
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 04001300, listed March 15, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2-4 N. Broadway, Aurora |
|---|---|
| County | Kane County |
| Listed | March 15, 2005 |
| Reference number | 04001300 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1905-1954 (Commerce); 1915-1935 (Transportation) |
| Architect / builder | Malmer, Eugene |
| Architectural style | Renaissance (Second Renaissance Revival) |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant/not in use; the upper floors have been vacant since the late 1960s, and the ground-floor restaurant interior has remained unchanged since the 1960s. Some plaster walls and the windows need repair. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.75924, -88.31323 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 04001300.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5911200
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.