Chicago and Northwestern Depot, railway station in Wilmette, the United States of America
The Chicago and Northwestern Depot is a Renaissance Revival railway station in Wilmette built in 1873 with brick walls, decorative columns, and a sloped roof. It replaced an earlier wooden structure destroyed by fire and served passengers and freight for many decades before passenger service ended in the mid-1900s.
The first depot was built around 1870 as a simple wooden structure but burned down a few years later. The present brick building was constructed in 1873 as a fireproof replacement and remained in use until freight service moved to Evanston in 1946.
The station served as a community gathering place where people voted and met, reflecting its importance beyond just train travel. Today, the building stands as a symbol of how transportation shaped Wilmette's growth and connected residents to the wider region.
The building is located near Wilmette Avenue and is easily accessible on foot. Since it operates as a restaurant today, visitors can walk past during business hours to view the exterior architecture or step inside to explore the historic space.
In 1974, the abandoned building was carefully lifted onto a flatbed truck and moved through Wilmette's streets while thousands of residents watched. This dramatic rescue operation prevented demolition and marked the beginning of local efforts to preserve the town's history.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
