Waukegan Harbor Light

The Waukegan River, a small river in Lake County, Illinois, is a member of the very small class of Illinois rivers that flow into Lake Michigan. It drains part of the city of Waukegan, Illinois, including the city's historic downtown area. The river's drainage area comprises 7,785.63 acres. The drainage is managed by the city of Waukegan.Geological features associated with the end of the Wisconsin glaciation ensured that most of that portion of Illinois that drains into the St. Lawrence River is covered in water. Only a thin strip of land on the extreme northeastern coast of Illinois naturally drains into Lake Michigan and from thence to Canada. The Waukegan River, a river of less than three miles in length, drains part of this ribbon-like strip. Only a short distance away, the western neighborhoods of Waukegan drain into the Des Plaines River, which flows in a completely different direction.The mouth of the river is marked by Waukegan Harbor Light.

Waukegan is a railroad station in Waukegan, Illinois, served by Metra's Union Pacific North Line. It is officially located on 95 North Spring Street, is 36.0 miles (57.9 km) away from Ogilvie Transportation Center, the inbound terminus of the Union Pacific North Line, and also serves commuters who travel north to Kenosha, Wisconsin. In Metra's zone-based fare system, Waukegan is in zone H. As of 2018, Waukegan is the 67th busiest of Metra's 236 non-downtown stations, with an average of 764 weekday boardings.As of April 25, 2022, Waukegan is served by 23 trains in each direction on weekdays, by all 13 trains in each direction on Saturdays, and by all nine trains in each direction on Sundays. A total of 18 outbound trains terminate at Waukegan, along with 17 inbound trains originating here, on weekdays. On Saturdays, six outbound trains terminate at Waukegan while eight inbound trains originate here. On Sundays, six outbound trains terminate at Waukegan and six inbound trains originate here. Although Waukegan Station is not the terminus of the Union Pacific North Line, most trains along the line end at Waukegan. The station not only contains storage tracks for Metra trains, but is also located near freight lines for the Union Pacific Railroad as well as the former Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway. There is also a Union Pacific freight yard adjacent to the station and freight trains are often parked and sorted here. In addition, the station serves as a stop for the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. Passengers who wish to travel to the Zion Metra station can use Pace's route 571, which provides daily service between the two stations. Waukegan Station is located very near to downtown Waukegan, home to attractions such as the Genesee Theatre. Located at the bottom of the bluff that overlooks Lake Michigan, the station is immediately downhill from the historic Carnegie Library building. Other historic buildings in the area include the old houses of the Shimer College Historic District, site of that school's campus until 2006. Buses connect the station to attractions further inland, such as Six Flags Great America in Gurnee.

The Hotel Waukegan is a historic hotel building located at 102 Washington Street in Waukegan, Illinois. At an original height of 12 stories and 132 feet (40 m), the hotel is the tallest building in the city. Its architecture is primarily Renaissance Revival but incorporates a variety of styles; its decorative elements include elaborate terra cotta details on the upper and lower stories and quoin-like terra cotta at its corners. The hotel opened in 1927 during a population and economic boom in Waukegan; it is the better-preserved of the city's two surviving hotels from this period. While the hotel struggled financially in its early years, it stabilized in the 1930s; from then on, it served as both a modern hotel for travelers and laborers and a meeting place for community events.The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 28, 1994.

Genesee Theatre is a concert hall and movie palace in Waukegan, Illinois. Today, the venue has seats for 2,403 people and opened in 1927. It's both used as a vaudeville theater and cinema and hosts musical artists and shows.

The Near North Historic District is a national historic district in Waukegan, Illinois. The district consists of a residential area that grew northward from Waukegan's downtown in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The oldest building in the district is from the 1840s, shortly after the city was incorporated, while the newest contributing building is from 1928. Nearly every popular architectural style of the period is included within the district, with older styles such as Greek Revival and Italianate being especially prevalent. While Waukegan expanded considerably and became an industrial port city in the twentieth century, the district is largely undisturbed by both industry and modern construction.The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 3, 1978.

The Waukegan Building is a historic skyscraper in Waukegan, Illinois, United States. Located in what was the central business district, it was the city's first skyscraper when it opened in March 1925.

The William D. Block Memorial Law Library serves the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, Lake County, Illinois. The Law Library is named after the late William D. Block, who served as a Judge for the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit from February 1, 1975 to June 27, 1996. The Lake County Law Library was renamed in honor of Judge Block on February 10, 1998. A strong leader on and off the bench, the judge was also known for his tireless research in the pursuit of justice. Judge Block's legacy lives on in the Law Library, which is dedicated to serving the legal and research needs of the judges, attorneys, and citizens of Lake County. It is the mission of the William D. Block Memorial Law Library to serve the public. It accomplishes this goal by providing an open and efficient system of access to the Library's collections and services for the judges, attorneys, and citizens of Lake County. The law library is available to all patrons in need of legal information. The library consists of a complete collection of primary and secondary sources for Illinois, Wisconsin, and Federal Law. Primary sources are the statutes, codes, regulations and court opinions that comprise the law. Secondary sources are books, guides, and practice manuals that explain and interpret the law.

The Waukegan Public Library is the public library serving Waukegan, Illinois. It is at the intersection of County and Clayton streets in downtown Waukegan, near the county government complex. The library has approximately 205,000 books as of 2011, and recorded a total of 338,615 library visits in fiscal year 2005. In addition to its main location in downtown Waukegan, the library operates a branch in Hinkston Park, on the city's northwest side.In 2013, the Waukegan Public Library was selected as one of ten recipients of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, "the nation's highest honor conferred on museums and libraries for service to the community and celebrates institutions that make a difference for individuals, families, and communities," awarded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The award was based on the library's successful work in providing literacy and ESL instruction. The library has also received the Public Library Association's Upstart Innovation Award on three occasions.

The Karcher Hotel is a historic hotel building at 405 Washington Street in Waukegan, Illinois. Opened in 1928, the hotel was built during an economic boom in Waukegan; its location near Waukegan's train station and downtown businesses was chosen to attract traveling businesspeople. In addition to renting rooms, the hotel housed commercial and office spaces on its first two floors. Architect B.K. Gibson of Chicago designed the hotel in the Classical Revival style; his design used the tripartite form common to Classical Revival skyscrapers, which included a two-story terra cotta base, a brick shaft, and an upper floor demarcated by terra cotta panels. Other classically inspired elements in the building include its terra cotta frieze, cornice, and parapet along with egg-and-dart and dentil detailing. While the hotel prospered during the Great Depression, it began to suffer economically in the 1960s and would ultimately close in 1981.The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 9, 2002.

Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep, formerly St. Martin de Porres High School, is a private high school in Waukegan, Illinois, established in 2004. It is a member of the Cristo Rey work-study network of high schools, and is in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago.

Marcellis Stinnette, a 19-year-old Black man, was fatally shot by a Hispanic police officer in Waukegan, Illinois, United States shortly before midnight on October 20, 2020. He was the passenger in a vehicle that was stopped by police, who were attempting to arrest him on an outstanding warrant. According to police, the officer opened fire when the vehicle moved in reverse towards the officer. The driver, Tafarra Willams, was also wounded but survived. The officer has been fired, and another officer has been placed on administrative leave. Body camera, dashboard camera, and surveillance video of the incident has been publicly released, and the Illinois State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation have opened investigations. Demonstrations were held in Waukegan in the ensuing days.

Bowen Park is a recreational area in Waukegan, Illinois, along Sheridan Road. It includes an old-growth forest and a ravine. The 60.07-acre (24.31 ha) park was laid out as a residential property in 1843. It was the home of John Charles Haines, a prominent Illinois politician, from 1857 to 1896. In 1911, the Hull House Association renamed it the Joseph T. Bowen Country Club and began using the property as a summer retreat. The land was purchased by the Waukegan Park District in 1963.