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Aurora earned its nickname the City of Lights in 1881, when it became the first city in the United States to illuminate its streets with electric lights. Located along the Fox River roughly 40 miles west of Chicago, Aurora is the second-largest city in Illinois and a dynamic blend of industrial heritage, cultural diversity, and modern entertainment. The arrival of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad in the mid-19th century transformed Aurora from a modest mill town into a manufacturing powerhouse, drawing waves of immigrants from Germany, Ireland, Mexico, and Eastern Europe whose traditions still shape the city today. Visitors discover a community where historic architecture, a thriving arts scene, and abundant outdoor recreation converge along the banks of a revitalized riverfront.
The Potawatomi people inhabited the Fox River Valley before the first permanent settlers, the McCarty brothers, built a sawmill here in 1834. Aurora incorporated as a city in 1857, and its strategic position on the Fox River and the railroad spurred rapid industrial growth that included railroad car manufacturing, foundries, and textile mills. The city achieved national recognition in 1881 when it installed the world’s first fully electric streetlight system, powered by 2,000-candlepower arc lamps atop 150-foot towers. Aurora’s downtown flourished during the early 20th century, with department stores, movie palaces, and manufacturing plants employing tens of thousands of workers. Immigration from Mexico beginning in the 1910s and continuing through the 20th century made Aurora one of Illinois’s most culturally rich communities, with a vibrant Latino heritage evident in its festivals, restaurants, and public art.
Catch a Broadway-caliber show at the Paramount Theatre, a lavishly restored 1931 Art Deco movie palace that features a year-round season of musicals, concerts, and comedy performances in a 1,888-seat auditorium. Explore the Aurora Regional Fire Museum, housed in the city’s 1894 Central Fire Station, where vintage apparatus, interactive exhibits, and a collection of more than 5,000 firefighting artifacts tell the story of fire service history. Sample craft beer and wood-fired pizza at Two Brothers Roundhouse, a nationally registered historic landmark that once served as a railroad repair facility and now operates as a restaurant, brewery, and live music venue. Browse the galleries and exhibitions at the David L. Pierce Art and History Center, which showcases rotating art shows alongside permanent displays documenting Aurora’s industrial and cultural heritage. Spend an evening trying your luck at Hollywood Casino Aurora, a riverboat casino downtown on the Fox River offering table games, slots, and riverside dining.
The Fox River Trail extends more than 40 miles along the river’s edge, providing a paved path for walking, running, cycling, and inline skating with scenic views of the waterway and access to downtown shops and restaurants. Paddle a kayak or canoe along the Fox River through Howling Wolfe Canoe and Kayak, where calm waters and abundant wildlife including herons, turtles, and otters create a peaceful escape within the city limits. Phillips Park offers a 325-acre green space with a free zoo featuring bald eagles, elk, and river otters, plus the Mastodon Lake fossil site where prehistoric mammoth bones were discovered in the 1930s. The Fermilab Natural Areas, located just east of Aurora, protect more than 1,000 acres of restored tallgrass prairie with hiking trails, bison herds, and exceptional opportunities for birdwatching and wildlife photography. Golfers enjoy the challenge of Orchard Valley Golf Course, an 18-hole championship layout winding through wooded terrain with bent-grass fairways and a full-service clubhouse.
Step back in time at Blackberry Farm, a 54-acre living history museum where costumed interpreters demonstrate 19th-century skills including blacksmithing, spinning, and farming, plus a vintage carousel, train rides, and extensive picnic grounds. Visit the Aurora Historical Society at the Pierce Art and History Center to view permanent exhibits on Aurora’s railroad heritage, the electric streetlight system, and the cultural communities that built the city. The Edith Farnsworth House, a masterpiece of modernist architecture designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, sits along the Fox River just south of Aurora and features glass-walled living spaces that blend seamlessly with the surrounding landscape. Shop at the Chicago Premium Outlets, an open-air retail destination with more than 120 designer and name-brand stores offering significant discounts throughout the year. The Paramount School of the Arts offers classes, workshops, and community theater productions for visitors interested in hands-on cultural experiences during their stay.
Late spring from April through June offers comfortable temperatures in the 60s and 70s, ideal for exploring the Fox River Trail, Phillips Park Zoo, and Blackberry Farm before the summer crowds arrive. Summer brings the busiest festival season with outdoor concerts at RiverEdge Park, the annual Puerto Rican Heritage Festival in July, and the Downtown Aurora Farmers Market on Saturday mornings. Autumn from September through October delivers crisp weather, brilliant foliage along the riverfront, and seasonal events including the Aurora Oktoberfest and Halloween-themed activities at Blackberry Farm. Winter transforms the city into a quieter destination with holiday performances at the Paramount Theatre, ice skating at the Fox Valley Park District rinks, and lower hotel rates throughout the Fox River Valley. Weekday visits provide lighter crowds at museums and attractions, while weekends feature the fullest schedule of performances, farmers markets, and special events.
Here are some of our favorite things to do while visiting Aurora. Pick your favorite!
History and Culture