Woodstock Opera House — The Woodstock Opera House is a historical venue for performing arts and receptions located in Woodstock, Illinois. It was designed as a multi-use facility including City Hall, and the police and fire departments by architect Smith Hoag and built by contractor Simon Brink in 1889 for a cost of $25,000. Artists who have performed there include Orson Welles, to whom the stage was dedicated in 2013. The construction materials are mostly of local origin including lime-stone, terra cotta, fieldstone, white brick and sandstone. Its architectural style is a mixture of late Victorian-era tastes combined with Early American, Midwestern, Gothic and even Moorish elements. The interior is modeled after the showboats of the time, with dimensions and decorations that imitate many of those grand floating theatres. Today, the Opera House is a fully modernized theatre while retaining its historical character. It features contemporary sound, lighting, stage rigging, heating, air-conditioning and other amenities and is owned and operated by the City of Woodstock
Location
Woodstock Opera House
119 Van Buren St., Woodstock, Illinois
Woodstock Square Historic District — The Woodstock Square Historic District is located in the county seat of McHenry County, Illinois, which is Woodstock. The district is located in downtown Woodstock and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1982.Within the district two of Woodstock's other Registered Places can be found, Woodstock Opera House and the Old McHenry County Courthouse. The square consists of historic buildings and is anchored by two key structures, the Old McHenry County Courthouse and the Woodstock Opera House. Most of the other buildings on the square are privately owned and kept up, housing numerous small businesses, including restaurants and shops. The streets of the square are one way and paved with brick, they square off a large public park which features two gazeebos and war memorials. During the winter the square and its buildings and trees are adorned with lights. The Woodstock Square is host to a number of festivals and events throughout the year. Some the events include Harvestdays, Old Time Fiddlers Competition and Groundhog Days, celebrating the city of Woodstock's role in the 1993 film Groundhog Day. Groundhog Day was filmed on location in Woodstock, Illinois, the city portrayed Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania in the film.
Location
Woodstock Square Historic District
Roughly bounded by Calhoun, Throop, Cass, Main, C and NW RR Tracks, and Jefferson Sts., Woodstock, Illinois