caboose

Connect with us!

For current happenings at the Depot, please check out our events calendar and follow us on social media!

stories we tell

Hometown holidays
hometown holidays

December 1-15
All Ages

Free

Messages of goodwill to all people abound at the Batavia Depot Museum during the Hometown Holidays exhibit. Learn how Batavia's unique holiday traditions bind a community together across generations.

Upcoming stories

Museum Move

the museum a community built: batavia depot msueum celebrates 50 years

March 1 - July 20, 2025
All Ages

Free

Happy Birthday to the Batavia Depot Museum! Throwback with us to the groovy days of 8-tracks, corduroy and the Bee Gees with a new exhibit celebrating 50 years of Batavia's landmark home for history. Inspired by Walter Kauth's home video "The Museum a Community Built: October 10, 1973," this new exhibit shows the incredible impact a community can have when people work together. From the first conversations about the need for a local history museum, to cutting the ribbon on opening day, many Batavians had a hand in making the museum a reality. This exhibit will tell their stories through photographs, recollections, original video and even some tools used in the restoration of the old depot.

legacy STORIES

History Garden - Celebrating the horticultural history of Batavia, this outdoor garden landscape adds to the beautiful open space of our museum's campus on the Riverwalk. This is a wonderful exhibit to spot buzzing pollinators and learn about Batavia's gardening history from native plants to marketplace gardens.

Gunzenhauser-Smith Gazebo - Formerly located at 605 N. Batavia Ave., the Gunsenhauser-Smith Gazebo is an architectural feature donated to the Batavia Park District in 1989 by William Y. Tien.

1907 Caboose - The 1907 Chicago Burlington and Quincy Caboose has been outfitted to look as it did back when it was in service. Discover why cabooses were necessary to early trains and about the men who worked them!

Coffin Bank - William Coffin used this small shed in the backyard of his grand home for the very first bank in Batavia, opened 1856. Learn more about Batavia's banking history inside!

Batavia's Railroads - Batavia was the home to many railroads, and each has an important place in the civic and industrial life of the community. This exhibit chronicles the early railroads in Batavia and the Depot's early days.

Mary Todd Lincoln and Bellevue Place - After she was legally declared insane, Mary Todd Lincoln was sent to Bellevue Place in Batavia and put in the care of Dr. Richard Patterson. Here you can learn more about the sanitarium, Mary Todd Lincoln, and see the bed she slept in while being treated.

The VanNortwick Room - The VanNortwicks had a strong hand in shaping early Batavia into the town it is today. Take a glimpse into the family's life and discover their many contributions to settling Batavia and bringing prominent industries to town, such as the railroad and several windmill manufacturers.

Little Town in a Big Woods - Based on the synonymous book by Marilyn Robinson, this exhibit chronicles the early days of Batavia, focusing on settlement and industrial growth of the area.

museum programs

The Batavia Depot Museum offers a variety of programming for all ages throughout the year. We look forward to you taking part and learning more about Batavia history.

programs & special events

The museum hosts various special programs and events throughout the year. Check out the current and upcoming offerings in the Fun Guide or follow us on social media. Registration is required for certain programs and events. Click on links to register.

Mark your calendars:

Lives in Code - November 3
1:30 p.m. Free Event (thanks to Illinois Humanities)
Lodge at Laurelwood-800 N. River Street
Batavia is proud of its history as a welcoming community as early as the 1850's, but Illinois was often a dangerous place for African Americans under the Black Codes. Educator Caroline Kisiel helps illuminate the forgotten yet important history of slavery, indentured servitude and race-based legislation in our state, as well as the important period when Illinois was on the brink of becoming a slave state.
RSVP Here
Holiday Story Time with the Batavia Public Library - December 1
5:45-6:30 p.m. Free Event!
Gustafson Research Center-155 Houston Street
Stop in to hear a story or two and share the magic of the holidays with the Batavia Public Library at the Gustafson Research Center. Celebrity readers from the Batavia community entertain with their favorite festive tales, new and old.

Kate Field Trip

school tours

Did you know the Museum's "Little Town in a Big Woods," permanent exhibit is based on the Batavia Public School District's 3rd grade social studies reader by the same name? Bring your class to the Batavia Depot Museum and be immersed in local history! Museum staff offer education programs for school groups both at the Museum and in the classroom. Local history field trips or classroom visits are available for any age group Mondays-Fridays.
For more information, contact museum staff at museum@bataviaparks.org or call 630-406-5274.


Foxy Lady No. 9 image

Batavia History Trolley Tours

Take a ride on the Park District's historic, open-air trolley for a guided tour of Batavia's history. Tours last 45-60 minutes, depending on traffic.

Tours resume April 2025

Private Trolley Tours

Want to celebrate a special occasion next year? Private tours are available April-October depending on staff availability, and are the perfect way to experience Batavia with family and friends. Call Batavia Depot Museum staff at 630-406-5274 to schedule your 2025 private trolley tour, with the personal touch! Private trolley tours can take up to 12 participants and last 45-60 minutes depending on traffic and weather.

the "gus"

The Gustafson Research Center (The 'Gus") houses an extensive archive of Batavia history, including over 10,000 photographs, family biographies, Batavia publications, and more. The public is invited to visit during museum's open hours, make an appointment outside these hours, or email research requests directly to museum@bataviaparks.org.

The Gus shares the museum's hours. Appointments are highly encouraged if you would like help with your research, or are new to The Gus. Research Assistants are usually available Mondays and Fridays from 2-4 p.m. Please call 630-406-5274 or email museum@bataviaparks.org to schedule an appointment.

There is no charge to use the facility.

What is available at The Gus?

Check out our most up-to-date inventory here

  • Manufacturer's catalogs
  • Personal letters and diaries
  • Scrapbooks
  • Local directories
  • Previous research material and notes
  • Yearbooks and school publications
  • Fox Valley Mirror
  • Maps
  • Probate records
  • Copies of books available in the Gift Shop
  • Photographs
  • Obituaries and genealogies
  • Books by Batavia authors
  • Other items available on a case-by-case basis. please call 630-406-5274 or email museum@bataviaparks.org to schedule an appointment
Can I make copies or take photographs?
Researchers are welcome to take photographs of material for personal use. Image use is restricted in all other circumstances. Please call 630-406-5274 or email museum@bataviaparks.org to speak with a museum representative about image use.

about the museum

The Batavia Depot Museum opened in 1975 as a cooperative effort between the Batavia Park District and the Batavia Historical Society. The Chicago Burlington and Quincy Railroad Depot was the first of its kind built in 1854 and is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. Inside, the city's past comes alive through exhibits detailing the history of rail transportation, manufacture of windmills, agriculture, banking, commerce and a brief stay by Mary Todd Lincoln at Bellevue Place.

Saving the Depot in the early 1970s was an effort that involved all Batavians. Though contributions and generous matching funds from Furnas, $31,000 was raised to move the historic structure from its original location at the corner of Van Buren and Webster street to its current location on Houston Street, a total of 9 blocks, one hill, and one bridge! Moving day, October 11, 1973, was such an event, even school children were let out of class to see the Depot traveling to its new home. Over the years, the Depot has increased the number of exhibits and even space with the addition of the Gustafson Research Center in 2000.

VIRTUAL TOUR

OUR MISSION

Through collecting, preserving, interpreting and exhibiting the history of Batavia, the Batavia Depot Museum forever captures and preserves the accomplishments of Batavians, while enriching public knowledge and creating leisure and educational opportunities for the community.

OUR COLLECTION

Our museum is home to historical objects related to the history of Batavia from industry to daily life. Museum staff interpret these artifacts through exhibits and programs to tell the stories of our town and the greater history of the Fox Valley. These objects can be industry tools, company memorabilia, clothing and accessories, school artifacts, military gear, personal letters and diaries, and much more.
Want to learn more about some of our artifacts? Check out our "Unlocking the Vault" video series! The videos go into depth about the objects and provide fun facts about the history behind them. Make sure to check out these videos on The Batavia Park District YouTube page to gain some knowledge about Batavia's rich history!

Interested in donating something to the collection? We highly recommend sending an email to the curator at museum@bataviaparks.org with pictures to consider artifact.

about the Batavia historical society

The Batavia Historical Society and the Batavia Park District have been community partners in the Batavia Depot Museum in 1975.
Founded in 1969, the Society has cared for Batavia history for generations of community residents. Along with supporting the Museum, the society holds membership meetings, publishes the Historian and other books on Batavia history, and advocates for the preservation of history.
learn more about the batavia historical society