Built by the Chicago and Alton Railroad in 1891, the structure, designed by Henry Ives Cobb in the Richardson Romanesque style of rusticated masonry, has been on the National Register of Historic Places since December 27, 1982.

[3] The Village Board Finance Committee offered Amtrak to reuse the depot "until a permanent passenger area can be found.

The society moved its museum into the north end of the building; the south end holds both a meeting room for the society and the present office of the Dwight Chamber of Commerce.

[2] In August 2015, construction began on a new 800-square-foot (74 m2) station building dedicated to Amtrak passengers.

[5][6] The new high-speed rail station, built at South Columbia Street a block southwest of the historic depot, opened on October 29, 2016, and the Chicago and Alton depot became a museum and community center.