Living History

LivingHistory

Hegeler CarusMansion

LaSalle County is home to some fascinating historical sites, tours and museums to explore! From larger than life murals to marvelous mansions, here are five locations where history comes alive in the county.

HEGELER CARUS MANSION

1307 7th Street • LaSalle 815-224-6543 • www.hegelercarus.org Designed by W. W. Boyington, the famed Chicago Water Tower architect, LaSalle’s Hegeler Carus Mansion has remained virtually unaltered since it’s completion in 1876. This 16,000sq. foot mansion features 56 rooms spread across 7 levels. The interior is just as inspiring as the exterior, with its intricate parquet floors and hand-painted ceilings. This National Landmark is open for tours, year-round. To see available tours visit their website or call 815-224-6543.

REDDICK MANSION

100 W. Lafayette Street • Ottawa 815-433-6100 • www.reddickmansion.org The Reddick Mansion, a wonderfully unique landmark, stands at the corners of Columbus and Lafayette streets in Ottawa, overlooking the Lincoln Douglas Debate Site. This 150+ year old, 22-room, Italianate mansion has been meticulously restored to the 19th century, after decades of being used as the town’s public library. Now, the mansion is opened year-round for tours, Fri. – Mon.

Weber House and Garden

WEBER HOUSE AND GARDEN

1503 Baker Street • STREATOR 815-672-8327 weberhouseandgarden.com Streator’s Ted Weber, formerly a nationally syndicated radio interviewer, began renovating his historic childhood home in 1983. The house now sports beautifully decorated rooms, each one reflecting a different period of design, and a meticulously manicured English-style garden. This unique blend of architecture, horticulture, interior design and broadcast history is open for tours, April – October.

The beautiful and historic Reddick Mansion anchors Ottawa’s Washington Square, the site of the first Lincoln-Douglas debate.

This ornate 22-room mansion is open for tours Friday through Monday. Call for times and details.

100 W. Lafayette Street | Ottawa 815-433-6100 | ReddickMansion.org

Come learn what made Westclox the largest manufacturer of keywound clocks in the world for nearly a century!

Learn stories of the people who worked here, browse displays of numerous products, learn what caused the final demise of the plant that once employed more than 4,000 people. Free Admission | Donation Based 350 5th Street, Suite 265 | Peru, IL 61354 815.250.0617 | westcloxmuseum.com Open 9am - 3pm MWF 10am - 2pm Saturday