Elgin, Illinois, was founded in 1835. However, the community truly came into its own at the end of the Civil War, when the Elgin National Watch Company moved there and took the city name as its own. The name Elgin became synonymous with quality for over 100 years. Elgin, Illinois: "Wish You Were Here" tells the story of the town of Elgin during the 20th century, featuring vintage postcards of that period.

Special events of historic interest include the tornado of 1920, and the Elgin Road Races, which gained national fame for a brief time around the World War I era. More than 200 pictures, culled from the collection of the Elgin Area Historical Society, and colorful narratives tell of the accomplishments by those first few generations who lived and died in the community.