Joliet, Illinois

Art, Historic House

Calmer House Gallery is established within Joliet's East Side National Register Historic District in a late 19th century structure where contemporary artistic visions can be seen in a traditional aesthetic setting. Our goal is to provide a venue for both established and emerging members of the photographic arts community. Four directors of the artist-run cooperative each present one show a year; visiting fine art photographers are selected by the board from recommendations by the gallery director.

Chicago, Illinois

History, Historic House, Historical Society

Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright are major figures in American architecture. Sullivan, Wright's architectural mentor, hired the younger man in 1887 to assist with the design of the Auditorium Building (1887-1889) in Chicago. As a junior draftsman, Wright also assisted with residential commissions such as the James Charnley House (1891-1892). The Charnley House, which has long been recognized internationally as a pivotal work of modern architecture, stands as evidence of the extraordinary power of Sullivan and Wright's creativity in collaboration.

Chicago, Illinois

Art, Culture, General, History, Historic House

Built in 1836 for Henry B. Clarke, the Clarke House Museum is Chicago’s oldest house. The house shows what life was like for a middle-class family in Chicago during the city’s formative years before the Civil War. Its fascinating history began at a time when family members could see the campfires of Native Americans in the distance.

Vernon Hills, Illinois

Botanical Garden, Historic House

Wheaton, Illinois

Arboretum, Art, Botanical Garden, Children's, Culture, General, History, Historic House, Library, Military

Located in Wheaton, Ill., this sprawling, 500-acre park is where families wander through nature, get lost in history, play golf at an award-winning course, attend a big band concert, tag monarch butterflies, make a snow globe, take classes, introduce children to the age-old custom of afternoon tea, attend a wide variety of special programs and events --in short, spend quality time together.

In addition to vast formal gardens and picnic and camping grounds, Cantigny offers two history-rich museums: the Robert R. McCormick Museum and the Cantigny First Division Museum, fascinating for children and researchers alike.

Taylorville, Illinois

Culture, History, Historic House, Historical Society, Library, Military, Specialized

Come tour Christian County’s first courthouse where Abraham Lincoln walked and where he argued cases with Stephen A. Douglas, walk through the Woodall Building which includes the jail and showcases military memorabilia including uniforms, weapons, a Civil War diary and other artifacts. Tour the Log House built in the 1830’s, the Bee Castle which is thought to be the only one of its kind in the state of Illinois, the Buckeye School which served as a schoolhouse from 1866-1948, the Depot which was originally located in Buckhart Towhship and the Morrison House. Each building is full of interesting artifacts from around Christian County.

Rock Island, Illinois

Historic House