The story
from WikipediaRead it all ↗Dawson Township was originally named Lee Township, but changed to Padua Township on May 17, 1858, and then to Dawson on an unknown date. Dawson Township was named for John Wells Dawson, a pioneer settler.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Be one of the first
Start Dawson’s collection
The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Dawson’s history is told.
0 of 10 decades since 1900 have photos 📦Share a family photoSign in to add one+10By decade
Dawson, decade by decade
Before
2000
2000
No old photos in the archives yetWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
📷 Add from your albumNational Register of Historic Places
1 historic place in Dawson
1 place in Dawson is on the National Register of Historic Places, the country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving.
#229
In Illinoisby listings · most towns there have none
1place listed1 building
0National Historic LandmarksNone here yet
1historic building protectedcounting each building in a district
1983first listedBenjaminville Friends Meetinghouse and Burial Ground
Where they are
Tap a dot for a photo and link. Districts show at their center.
Buildings
When they were listed
The Register began in 1966.
60s
70s
180s
90s
00s
10s
20s
National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places (05/22/2026) · styles from the National Archives catalog · photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place
Then & now
When neighbors add old photos, retakes from the same spot appear here side by side.