Our Service Area

The Blackhawk Chapter is actively interested in the railroad history of Chicago and the American Midwest with a special focus on the railroads and the communities they served in Will Country, south suburban Cook County, Chicago's south side, and Northwest Indiana.
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Our Meeting Place

The Blackhawk Chapter holds regular meetings every month (except July and August) at 7:30 PM on the first Friday of the month at the Gladys Fox Museum (also known as the “Old Congregational Church”) The museum is at 231 East 9th Street, on the southwest corner of 9th Street (Illinois Route 7) and Washington Street in the historic downtown district of Lockport, Illinois. Doors open at 7 PM and there is FREE parking on Washington Street. If there is no wake scheduled, parking is also available in the lot of the adjacent Goodale Memorial Chapel.

Getting There By Rail Lockport is served by Metra's Heritage Corridor between Joliet and Chicago. The town's original 1860-era limestone depot, on 13th Street just west of State Street, still serves passengers. Service on this former Alton/GM&O/ICG line is rush-hour only on weekdays -- three trains to Chicago in the morning and three trains from Chicago at night.

Five miles south of Lockport, Joliet Union Station has frequent service from Metra's Rock Island District and Amtrak's Chicago-St. Louis trains. Taxi service is available to and from Joliet Union Station. Last Chicago-bound train from Joliet is scheduled to depart at 10:24 PM.

Getting There By Bus

Pace Route 832 between downtown Joliet and Orland Park has a stop at the front door of the Gladys Fox Museum. Consult their website for exact route and hours of operation.

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Getting There By Auto

From the North: Take I-355 to Illinois Route 7 and head west into Lockport. Stay on 159th Street (Illinois Route 7) as it turns into 9th Street. The Gladys Fox Museum is right at the corner of 9th Street and Washington Street.

From the East or West: Take I-80 to I-355 and head north to the exit for Illinois Route 7. After exiting I-355, head west into Lockport. Stay on 159th Street (Illinois Route 7) as it turns into 9th Street. The Gladys Fox Museum is right at the corner of 9th Street and Washington Street.

From the South: Take I-57 or I-55 north to I-80. Take I-80 to I-355 and head north to the exit for Illinois Route 7. After exiting I-355, head west into Lockport. Stay on 159th Street (Illinois Route 7) as it turns into 9th Street. The Gladys Fox Museum is right at the corner of 9th Street and Washington Street.