Depot Museum

BATAVIA DEPOT MUSEUM & GUSTAFSON RESEARCH CENTER

155 Houston St. | 630-406-5274

Museum Hours:

M, W, F 2-4 p.m.

Sa, Su 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Closed Tuesday and Thursday

Holiday Hours | December-January

The Museum will close on December 17 and resume regular hours on March 1, 2024. Shopping, research, and tours are always available by appointment. Email museum@bataviaparks.org or call 630-406-5274 for bookings.

Research Center Hours:

Closed: Nov. 20-24 for exhibit installation.

Find us on: @BataviaDepotMuseum @bataviadepot

The Batavia Depot Museum, a cooperative effort between the Batavia Park District and the Batavia Historical Society, houses the rich history of the city’s past. The museum is in a restored Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad station, which was built in 1854 and recognized in 1979 for its uniqueness by the National Register of Historic Places. There are two floors of exhibits on local history to explore, as well as a 1907 caboose!

The Gustafson Research Center, in the lower level of the Depot Museum, houses our archives. Researchers have access to Kane County Census records, Tri-City directories, cemetery records, obituary indexes, local church records, probate and court records, historical books, photograph files, local business catalogs and more.

For additional information on the history of Batavia and the Historical Society’s collections, visit the Batavia Historical Society web page at www.bataviahistoricalsociety.org.

Check Out the Batavia Museum Gift Shop

Support your local museum with every purchase of Batavia apparel, housewares, toys, and collectibles at the Batavia Depot Museum Gift Shop. We have a number of new items for sale!

Stop in to shop at the Museum during open hours, or buy online and schedule a pick up at your convenience.

Fall Exhibit | August-November 2023

What’s in a Name?

Batavia Schools Edition

How do you get a school named after you in Batavia? From East Side/ West Side Batavia, Bee Aitch Ess, Vikings and Bulldogs, Memorial Field, to today’s neighborhood grade schools, the names we use in our school system reflect Batavia’s values. Stop by the Museum this fall for the origin stories of the names we use in Batavia schools, including Louise White, J.B. Nelson, Sam Rotolo, and more. This new exhibit features artifacts and photographs from the Batavia Historical Society’s collection.

Fall Opening Reception

What’s in a Name? Batavia Schools Edition

All Ages

Aug. 4, 6-8 P

Free admission

Get your first look at the Batavia Depot Museum’s new temporary exhibit that looks at the early education system in Batavia, following the individuals who would eventually give their names to 2023’s school buildings. Light refreshments and a cash bar will be provided.

Batavia History Trolley Tour

All Ages

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 are weather dependent.

Private Trolley Tours

Looking for a tour on the trolley, but want to choose the day and time? Book a personal tour of Batavia’s History for you and up to 12 participants. Tours last 45-60 minutes, depending on traffic and are weather dependent. Call the Museum to schedule, 630-406-5274.