Aurora is home to many historic buildings and residences. A self-guided walking tour of the architecture of the downtown area is available, with historic facts sent to your cell phone, at the Aurora Area Visitor and Convention Bureau. The Stolp Island National Register Historic District in the middle of the Fox River has buildings dating from the 1850s, and has many fine examples of architectural terra cotta. The William Tanner House, an Italianate mansion, is open for tours May through December and is part of the Aurora History Center. The Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple of Greater Chicago is a beautiful Hindu Temple blending ancient design and modern architectural technology. The oldest limestone railroad roundhouse in the country has been restored and converted into Walter Payton's Roundhouse, a brew pub, museum, and live entertainment venue.
The Red Oak Nature Center, on the banks of the Fox River, is in North Aurora. It has many trails to explore, a cave (a rarity in Illinois), and a natural history museum, with an observation deck and picnic areas. The Phillips Park Zoo is free of charge and features animals from the Americas. The African American Heritage Museum and Black Veterans Archives is an amazing display of sculpture created by a self-taught artist, Dr. Charles Smith. Memorials and hundreds of figures from African American history are displayed outdoors in the yard of Dr. Smith's former home.
The riverboat Hollywood Casino Aurora has a 53,000 square foot casino with more than a thousand slot machines and table games, three restaurants, and a theater with live entertainment.
The Art Deco Paramount Theater originally opened in 1931 and was the first air-conditioned theater outside of Chicago. Magnificently restored in 1978, it now presents touring musicians, theatrical performances, improvisation, comedians, and a free film series in the summer. The Riverfront Playhouse has been producing plays since 1978, and also provides a theater series for children. The Borealis Theater Company is the professional theater in residence at Aurora University.
Music venues include Fermilab, which plays host to an eclectic range of concerts, and Walter Payton's Roundhouse, host to music and comedy performers. The Fox Valley Concert Band performs free in Aurora and surrounding communities year round. Aurora University has its Music by the Lake concert series in the summer months at the Allyn Pavilion for the Performing Arts.
The David L. Pierce Art and History Center has rotating art exhibits, as well as displays of military memorabilia from the Grand Army of the Republic. At Aurora University, the Downstairs Dunham Gallery features shows by students and local artists. Gallery 44 is a gallery for local artists showcasing many different media.
The museums and attractions of the Aurora area show great diversity in subject matter, ranging from cutting-edge science to appreciation for its prairie and frontier roots. Blackberry Farms Pioneer Village, run by the Fox Valley Park District, is a living history museum featuring the Farm Museum and its collection of nineteenth century farm implements, a Streets Museum with 11 turn-of-the-century stores, a Discovery Barn, a carousel, pony rides, and a miniature train. Pioneer craft demonstrations, a one-room schoolhouse, and buildings from the 1840s delight school groups and families May through October. The Aurora Historical Society has a collection of artifacts from Aurora's past, including three mastodon skulls unearthed in the 1930s. The Aurora Regional Fire Museum has fire fighting vehicles dating back to 1850, along with thousands of photos and artifacts. The Schingoethe Center for Native American Cultures at Aurora University contains archaeological exhibits, examples of historical and contemporary Native American art, and a research library.
Sci-Tech Hands-On Museum has dozens of exhibits exploring electricity, magnetism, chemistry, life sciences, light, and physics, which make scientific concepts understandable and fun for visitors. Traveling exhibits and an outdoor science park make the museum a destination for families, schools, and scouting groups. In nearby Batavia is the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab), a high energy physics lab conducting research into the mysteries of matter and energy. Visitors are welcome for tours of the facility and to enjoy the recreational and nature activities on its restored prairie land, including visiting the lab's own herd of bison. The Air Classics Museum of Aviation located at Aurora Municipal Airport has a collection of military jets, prop aircraft, and helicopters from World War II through the 1990s. Visitors are able to sit in some of the aircraft's cockpits, and view aviation uniforms and memorabilia.
Aurora celebrates the cold winters every February during the Phillips Park Winterfest, with dog sled rides, ice carving, skating, sledding, snowshoeing, nature hikes, and a snowman building contest. Spring brings not only flowers, but myriad events to the Fox River Valley. The Fox River Valley Park District holds an Easter Egg Hunt in April at the Prisco Community Center. In May comes the Taste of Downtown Aurora, featuring booths from area restaurants; the North Aurora Pet Parade; the Memorial Day Parade, and the Aurora Pow-Wow, with dancing, crafts and food from many different Native American tribes. In summer time, Downtown Alive! events include themed dance parties and lunchtime concerts. Blues on the Fox in June is a festival that brings national blues acts to Aurora's downtown. Fourth of July celebrations include a parade, a concert, and fireworks. Also in July is Chase the Moon, a midnight bike ride looping from Aurora to Batavia, the Puerto Rican Cultural Festival, and the Kane County Fair. In August, Soul Fest, featuring home cooked food, games, music, and the Black Business Expo, comes to May Street Park. The Midwest Literary Festival is in September, as is the Fall Harvest Festival at Blackberry Farm's Pioneer Village, and the Downtown Arts Festival. A Veterans Day parade and ceremony runs through downtown Aurora in November. Holiday Magic at the end of November welcomes Santa and Mrs. Claus with the Parade of Lights, fireworks, and a tree lighting ceremony. Through December, the paths at Phillips Park Zoo are lit with holiday lights for strolling at night.
Since 1991, The Kane County Cougars baseball team plays in Philip B. Elfstrom Field in nearby Geneva, Illinois. Currently a single A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, the Cougars are part of the Midwest League. Extremely popular in the area, they routinely have more than 500,000 attendees each season. Aurora's sports fans also root for teams in Chicago, like baseball's Cubs and White Sox, football's Bears, basketball's Bulls, hockey's Blackhawks and Wolves, and soccer's Fire.
Aurora's parks are run by the Fox Valley Park District, which has 110 parks in all the communities it serves. The Eola Community Center and Fitness Club has gymnasiums, a track, dance studios, an indoor playground, baseball fields and two sand volleyball courts. The Prisco Community Center is in Aurora's McCullough Park, and was renovated in 2003. The Vaughn Athletic Center features a huge field house for team sports, a 10,000 square foot fitness center, nine tennis courts and two swimming pools. For bicyclists and runners, there are more than 30 miles on four paved trails, two of which run through Aurora. The Aurora Tennis Club is an indoor facility with year-round court times and lessons for kids and adults. The district runs two 18-hole golf courses, Fox Bend and Orchard Valley, which was rated four-stars by Golf Digest magazine. The Aurora City Golf Course, the Aurora Country Club, and six other courses are in the immediate vicinity. The Fox Valley Trail runs along the Fox River from Aurora north to Crystal Lake. The district runs Splash Country Water Park, containing a zero-depth pool, water slides, a kid's water play area, and a 1,100 foot long lazy river. The Phillips Park Aquatic Center also offers several water slides, a zero-depth pool, and kid-friendly areas.
The Sport Zone Park is a multi-sport center for the whole family. Outdoors, it features mini-golf, batting cages, and a go-cart track. The main feature is its 72,000 square foot dome, which is a driving range during the day and is converted to soccer, baseball, or softball fields in the evening. The Aurora Archery Range hosts the annual National Field Archery Association Tournament.
Three large shopping centers are big draws to Aurora. The recently completed Chicago Premium Outlet center has 120 stores, including Ann Taylor, Brooks Brothers, Giorgio Armani, and Kate Spade, and offers discount shopping every day. Westfield Shoppingtown Fox Valley is anchored by four large department stores and has 180 other shops. North-gate Shopping Center has several big-box retailers and other smaller stores. The Route 59 Corridor and the Randall/Orchard Road corridor are main shopping districts for Aurora, North Aurora, and Batavia. The Aurora Farmer's Market is held on Saturday mornings June through October, and is one of several in surrounding communities.
Aurora has a wide variety of family, ethnic and fine dining choices. Steak houses, Italian, Mexican, and Chinese restaurants abound. Notable is Savannah's, at the Fox Valley Mall, featuring Southern Cuisine and afternoon teas.
Visitor Information: Aurora Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, 44 W. Downer Place, Aurora, IL 60506; telephone (630)897-5581; toll-free (800)477-4369; fax (630)897-5589. City of Aurora, 44 East Downer Place, Aurora, IL 60507; telephone (630)264-4636; fax (630)892-0741