Joliet originally bore the name "Juliet" which was probably a corruption of the of French Canadian explorer Louis Jolliet's name. Jolliet first explored this area in the fall of 1673, describing the game as abundant and the prairies wide, surrounded by lush forests.
Though the settlement already existed, the official town wasn't laid out until 1834. Attracted to the Des Plaines River and the fertile soil of the area, early settlers found ample reason to stay and the town began to grow.
Work on the famous National Hotel began in 1837, which soon became an important social center for the town, hosting many balls and social gatherings for the burgeoning city. By 1838, Joliet boasted a courthouse with a jail in the basement sunk into solid rock. At times the courthouse also served as a church. A new and better courthouse was built in 1848. The opening of the Illinois & Michigan Canal in the same year welcomed Joliet into an era of aggressive growth in both industry and residential development. Unfortunately this building burned down in 1958.
Soon, mills and factories sprang up and the discovery of rich limestone deposits created a new quarrying industry that flourished. Joliet, like its counterpart, Romeoville down the road, was also called "Stone City."
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