The First Railroad Service to Rockford
Sunday, July 31st, 2022
2-4 PM
Ethnic Heritage Museum | Lockwood Room
2-4 PM
Ethnic Heritage Museum | Lockwood Room
Celebrate the 170th Anniversary of the First Railroad Service to Rockford.
Come to the Ethnic Heritage Museum on Sunday, July 31, 2022 to celebrate the 170th anniversary of the
first railroad service to Rockford. The museum opens at 2 p.m. and at 2:15 p.m. Lynell Cannell will
present the story of the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad, which was the first railroad in Chicago and
which began service to Rockford on August 2, 1852. (In 1864-65 this railroad merged with the newer and
smaller Chicago & North Western Railway and took its name.)
When the presentation is finished you will know what route this first railroad took across Northern
Illinois and through Rockford and where its depots were. You will receive directions so you can
experience the actual locations yourself.
This special presentation is free; donations are greatly appreciated.
Come to the Ethnic Heritage Museum on Sunday, July 31, 2022 to celebrate the 170th anniversary of the
first railroad service to Rockford. The museum opens at 2 p.m. and at 2:15 p.m. Lynell Cannell will
present the story of the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad, which was the first railroad in Chicago and
which began service to Rockford on August 2, 1852. (In 1864-65 this railroad merged with the newer and
smaller Chicago & North Western Railway and took its name.)
When the presentation is finished you will know what route this first railroad took across Northern
Illinois and through Rockford and where its depots were. You will receive directions so you can
experience the actual locations yourself.
This special presentation is free; donations are greatly appreciated.
In 1852, the Galena & Chicago Railroad afforded the Rockford Community the ability to hop a train to Chicago. For those who could afford commuter tickets, the train ride into Chicago would take over 5 Hours, with the return trip taking an additional 5 1/2 Hours. Cheaper tickets could place you on a Freight Train, with roundtrip travel taking 16+ Hours.