Guided tours resume at Hegeler Carus Mansion

National Historic Landmark reopens for tours

By Ryan SearlJan. 21, 2021

As museums and restaurants begin to reopen, we will highlight some of the best socially distant winter road trip destinations in the Starved Rock Country region. Today, we'll be catching up with La Salle's famed Hegeler Carus Mansion, a jaw-dropping estate that just reopened for tours, with brand new safety protocols in place.

Located just a few miles from Starved Rock State Park, conveniently near I-80 and I-39, the Hegeler Carus Mansion is a towering, 56-room Second Empire-style home, set on a palatial property overlooking a quaint riverfront downtown.
Designed by W.W. Boyington, the famed Chicago Water Tower architect, La Salle's Hegeler Carus Mansion has remained virtually unaltered since its completion in 1876, earning National Historic Landmark status in 2007. — Located just a few miles from Starved Rock State Park, conveniently near I-80 and I-39, the Hegeler Carus Mansion is a towering, 56-room Second Empire-style home, set on a palatial property overlooking a quaint riverfront downtown.

Designed by W.W. Boyington, the famed Chicago Water Tower architect, La Salle's Hegeler Carus Mansion has remained virtually unaltered since its completion in 1876, earning National Historic Landmark status in 2007.

The interior of the massive, 16,000-square-foot structure is just as striking as the Second Empire-inspired exterior. On your one-hour tour of the seven-level home, you'll be shown intricate parquet floors, hand-painted ceilings and rooms filled with vast collections amassed by the mansion's former globe-trotting residents.
Along your guided tour, knowledgeable docents will provided you with fascinating history about zinc magnate Edward C. Hegeler, who originally owned the home, his immediate family and other notable occupants who spent time at the sprawling estate. — The interior of the massive, 16,000-square-foot structure is just as striking as the Second Empire-inspired exterior. On your one-hour tour of the seven-level home, you'll be shown intricate parquet floors, hand-painted ceilings and rooms filled with vast collections amassed by the mansion's former globe-trotting residents.

Along your guided tour, knowledgeable docents will provided you with fascinating history about zinc magnate Edward C. Hegeler, who originally owned the home, his immediate family and other notable occupants who spent time at the sprawling estate.

If you're a true history hound or architecture�aficionado, consider booking one of the Whole House or Upper House tours offered by the Hegeler Carus Mansion.
These rare opportunities to venture off the usual tour route will give you guided access to every nook and cranny of the impressive home, as well as an inside look at the historical restoration projects underway. Whole House Tours run between three and 3.5 hours in length, with Upper House tours taking about half that time. Space for these rare tours is extremely limited. — If you're a true history hound or architecture�aficionado, consider booking one of the Whole House or Upper House tours offered by the Hegeler Carus Mansion.

These rare opportunities to venture off the usual tour route will give you guided access to every nook and cranny of the impressive home, as well as an inside look at the historical restoration projects underway. Whole House Tours run between three and 3.5 hours in length, with Upper House tours taking about half that time. Space for these rare tours is extremely limited.

The Hegeler Carus Foundation is taking extra precautions to help ensure that tours are safe for all guests. Tours currently are limited to six people; the wearing of masks will be required; and safe distancing guidelines must be adhered to. No-touch temperatures will be taken upon arrival, along with basic health information.
The Hegeler Carus Mansion, 1307 Seventh St., is taking reservations for tours on its website, so be sure to book your spot before they start filling up. Pre-registration online or over the phone at 815-224-6543 is required. Visit hegelercarus.org/our-tours. — The Hegeler Carus Foundation is taking extra precautions to help ensure that tours are safe for all guests. Tours currently are limited to six people; the wearing of masks will be required; and safe distancing guidelines must be adhered to. No-touch temperatures will be taken upon arrival, along with basic health information.

The Hegeler Carus Mansion, 1307 Seventh St., is taking reservations for tours on its website, so be sure to book your spot before they start filling up. Pre-registration online or over the phone at 815-224-6543 is required. Visit hegelercarus.org/our-tours.