77 stories, landmarks & places within ~20 miles — the same local lore RoadyGoat plays as you drive through.
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Stacy's Tavern
· 2.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pulling up near Stacy's Tavern, you're driving through a place that once offered respite to weary travelers on the long journey west. Built around 1846, Stacy's Tavern served as a stagecoach inn. It was strategically…
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Naperville, IL
· 6.6 mi · Local history
Naperville, Illinois, though now a bustling suburb, carries echoes of its 19th-century roots, a time when German immigrants heavily shaped its identity. Drawn by the promise of fertile farmland along the DuPage River,…
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Naper Settlement
· 7.0 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Step back in time at Naper Settlement, a living history museum that lets you experience pioneer life in Illinois. Founded in 1969, Naper Settlement is a 12-acre outdoor museum. It's made up of thirty historical…
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Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory
· 7.7 mi · Historical Marker
America's premier particle physics laboratory, home to the Tevatron accelerator that discovered the top quark in 1995, located on 6,800 acres of restored Illinois prairie.
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F.B. Henderson House
· 9.1 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pull over for a sec. This unassuming house is actually a Frank Lloyd Wright original! Built in 1901 for F.B. Henderson, it's a prime example of Wright's Prairie School style. Henderson was a lawyer, and he and his wife,…
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Graue Mill
· 9.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Step back in time at one of Illinois' two operating water-powered gristmills, dating back to 1852. Frederick Graue, a German immigrant, built this gristmill on Salt Creek in 1852. It quickly became a vital part of the…
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Louise White School
· 10.0 mi · Scraped Hmdb
This unassuming schoolhouse was once a hub for more than just kids learning their ABCs. For 85 years, the Louise White School also hosted the Chautauqua movement, a popular adult education movement in the early 1900s.…
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Central Geneva Historic District
· 10.3 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Step back in time as we explore the Central Geneva Historic District, a treasure trove of architectural styles! This area represents the heart of southern Geneva. The district is made up of over 100 buildings, with the…
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Fabyan Villa
· 10.4 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Prepare to glimpse a unique piece of architectural history! The Fabyan Villa showcases an early remodeling project by none other than Frank Lloyd Wright. Around 1907, George and Nelle Fabyan commissioned Wright to…
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William and Helen Coffeen House
· 10.4 mi · Scraped Hmdb
This seemingly simple house marks an early turning point in American architecture. The William and Helen Coffeen House, right here in Hinsdale, showcases the budding Prairie School style. Built between 1899 and 1900,…
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Francis Stuyvesant Peabody House
· 10.4 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Drive by this house and you're passing a piece of coal baron history. Francis Stuyvesant Peabody, head of Peabody Coal, lived here from 1911 to 1921.The Francis Stuyvesant Peabody House is a Queen Anne-style residence…
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Campana Factory
· 10.6 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Get ready to learn about the hand lotion that soothed a nation's cracked hands, and the factory where it all began. The Campana Company built this streamlined factory in 1936 to produce Italian Balm, their flagship…
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Hotel Baker
· 11.1 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wonder what it's like to step back into the roaring twenties? This is the Hotel Baker, a jewel of St. Charles, Illinois, and it's got stories to tell. Built by Edward J. Baker, it opened in 1928 after he made a…
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Two Brothers Roundhouse
· 12.5 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Get ready to step back in time! This isn't just any building; it's the Two Brothers Roundhouse, a piece of railway history right here in Aurora. Built in 1856, it started life as a roundhouse for the Chicago & Aurora…
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Paramount Theatre (Aurora, Illinois)
· 12.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Prepare to be dazzled! This is the Paramount Theatre, a stunning example of Art Deco design that has been entertaining Aurora for nearly a century. Designed by the renowned architectural firm Rapp and Rapp, the…
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Stolp Island
· 12.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb
This little island in the Fox River, Stolp Island, was once the heart of a bustling industrial center, changing Aurora forever. In 1834, Joseph Stolp, the island's namesake, arrived and quickly recognized its potential…
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Leland Tower
· 12.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Once the tallest building in Illinois outside of Chicago, the Leland Tower offers a glimpse into the state's architectural ambition. Conceived in 1926, the Leland Hotel project aimed to create a landmark in Aurora. It…
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Sunderlage Farm Smokehouse
· 12.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb
This unassuming brick building is all that's left of a once-thriving farm, a window into the rural past of what's now suburban Hoffman Estates. Back in the 1860s, the Sunderlage family built this smokehouse as part of…
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International Harvester Showroom and Warehouse
· 12.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Imagine farmers from all over Illinois coming to this very spot, browsing the latest technology that would feed the nation. This is the former International Harvester Showroom and Warehouse. Around 1905, International…
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LaSalle Street Auto Row Historic District
· 12.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wonder how car dealerships came to be? This stretch of LaSalle Street in Aurora offers a glimpse into the early days of automobile retail. Between about 1910 and 1930, fifteen buildings sprung up here, all…
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Aurora Elks Lodge No. 705
· 13.0 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Prepare to be amazed! Right here in Aurora stands a Mayan-style building that looks like it belongs in Central America, not Illinois. This unique structure is the Aurora Elks Lodge No. 705. Construction finished in…
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Stolp Woolen Mill Store
· 13.0 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Built in 1860, this store was part of a once-thriving woolen mill industry. The Stolp Woolen Mill Store was constructed on Stolp Island in Aurora, Illinois. The mill contributed to the local economy and provided jobs…
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Middle Avenue Historic District
· 13.3 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wonder how Aurora became a manufacturing powerhouse? This unassuming area, the Middle Avenue Historic District, holds the key. In the early 1900s, this area sprang to life alongside a Chicago, Burlington and Quincy…
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Masonic Temple Building (Maywood, Illinois)
· 14.0 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pull over for a second and check out this building; it's a piece of architectural history right here in Maywood. This is the Masonic Temple, built in 1917. Designed by Eben Ezra Roberts, the building stands out because…
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Elgin National Watch Company Observatory
· 14.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Peer into the past at this observatory, built to ensure the precision of Elgin watches, once a symbol of American ingenuity. Built in 1910, the Elgin National Watch Company Observatory served the nearby Elgin National…
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Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal
· 14.3 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Imagine Chicago drowning in its own waste – that's what led to this incredible feat of engineering. In the late 1800s, Chicago was growing rapidly, and its sewage was contaminating Lake Michigan, the city's drinking…
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Lemont Downtown Historic District
· 14.3 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pull over and step back in time! This 14-block area is the heart of Lemont, a downtown that’s been buzzing since the mid-1800s. The opening of the Illinois & Michigan Canal in the 1850s kicked off a boom here. Suddenly,…
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Richard Cluever House
· 14.4 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wonder what it was like to apprentice with Frank Lloyd Wright? You're practically standing in his shadow right now. This is the Richard Cluever House, built between 1913 and 1914. It was designed by John S. Van…
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Winslow House (River Forest, Illinois)
· 14.6 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Right here, you're near a landmark that launched a legend: the Winslow House, Frank Lloyd Wright's first major independent commission. William Winslow, a manufacturer of decorative ironwork, hired Wright to design this…
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First Universalist Church (Elgin, Illinois)
· 14.7 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Look to your left! You're passing a church designed to resemble a pocket watch. The First Universalist Church was built in Elgin in 1892. George Hunter designed it in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, which emphasizes…
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William E. Drummond House
· 14.7 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Here stands a testament to architectural ingenuity, a house that took Frank Lloyd Wright's ideas and arguably improved upon them. This is the William E. Drummond House, designed in 1909 by William Eugene Drummond. He…
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Isabel Roberts House
· 14.7 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wonder what a Frank Lloyd Wright house looks like when it's designed for two women living alone? This is it.The Isabel Roberts House was built in 1908 for Isabel Roberts, who was single, and her widowed mother,…
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Coonley House
· 14.8 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Feast your eyes on the Avery Coonley House, one of Frank Lloyd Wright's most impressive Prairie School masterpieces! Its sprawling design and integration with the landscape are truly remarkable. Avery and Queene Coonley…
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Portillo's Hot Dogs
· 14.9 mi · Things to Do
Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian beef since 1963. Drag it through the garden — never ketchup.
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Elgin Downtown Commercial District
· 14.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pull over for a second and take a look around; you're in the heart of Elgin's history! This downtown commercial district tells the story of Elgin's growth from a small settlement to a bustling city. Development here…
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Haymarket Martyrs' Monument
· 15.0 mi · Scraped Hmdb
You're near a monument that marks a really contentious moment in American labor history. The Haymarket Martyrs' Monument commemorates the men convicted and executed after the Haymarket Affair. On May 4th, 1886, a labor…
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Garfield Farm and Inn Museum
· 15.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Imagine stagecoaches rumbling up to this very spot, weary travelers eager for a hot meal and a soft bed. This is Garfield Farm and Inn, a vital stop for teamsters in the 1840s. Joseph and Lovina Garfield established…
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Arcade Building (Riverside, Illinois)
· 15.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Believe it or not, this spot was once the heart of a brand new, planned community! The Arcade Building, right here in Riverside, was the very first commercial building when the town was founded. Back in 1871, architect…
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F. F. Tomek House
· 15.3 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Prepare to be amazed by the 'Ship House,' a stunning example of Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie School design right here in Riverside. Ferdinand Frederick and Emily Tomek commissioned Wright to design their home in 1904.…
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Riverside Historic District (Riverside, Illinois)
· 15.4 mi · Scraped Hmdb
You're driving through a piece of American history right now, a place that changed how we think about living outside the city. This is Riverside, Illinois, one of the first planned suburbs in the U.S. In 1869,…
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Potter and Barker Grain Elevator
· 15.5 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Imagine the bustling activity at this 1868 grain elevator, a testament to the region's agricultural heritage. Built in 1868 by Lemuel Potter and Henry Barker, it was strategically located next to the La Fox train…
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Larkin Home for Children
· 15.7 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Imagine the laughter and tears echoing from this very spot – this is the former site of the Larkin Home for Children. Founded as the Elgin Children's Home Society in 1898, the home initially operated out of a donated…
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Francis J. Woolley House
· 16.0 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wonder what Frank Lloyd Wright's early work looked like? You're near a great example! The Francis J. Woolley House in Oak Park was designed by Wright in 1893. It's a Queen Anne style home, reflecting his initial…
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Edward R. Hills House
· 16.0 mi · Scraped Hmdb
You're looking at a house that's a fascinating blend of architectural styles, thanks to a famous makeover. Built originally in 1897, the Edward R. Hills House got a major renovation in 1906 by none other than Frank…
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Walter Gale House
· 16.0 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wonder where architectural legends get their start? This unassuming house showcases Frank Lloyd Wright's early genius. In 1893, Walter Gale, a member of a prominent Oak Park family, commissioned a young Frank Lloyd…
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Nathan G. Moore House
· 16.0 mi · Scraped Hmdb
You're passing a fascinating piece of architectural history – a canvas where you can see Frank Lloyd Wright's style evolving before your very eyes. It all started in 1895, when Nathan Moore commissioned a Tudor Revival…
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Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
· 16.1 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wonder where architectural genius takes root? This is it. The Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio in Oak Park is where the legendary architect developed his signature Prairie style.Wright began building this home in…
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Laura Gale House
· 16.1 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Feast your eyes on this beauty – the Laura Gale House, a prime example of Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural genius! Designed by Wright, this house was built in 1909 for Laura Gale in Oak Park, Illinois. It's a stunning…
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Arthur Heurtley House
· 16.1 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Prepare to be amazed by a house that helped define an architectural style! The Arthur Heurtley House isn't just a building; it's a cornerstone of Frank Lloyd Wright's groundbreaking Prairie style. Built in 1902, this…
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Chicago Portage National Historic Site
· 16.1 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Imagine a shortcut that changed the course of a continent. This is the Chicago Portage. For centuries, this small stretch of land was the vital link connecting the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River. French explorers…
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Robert P. Parker House
· 16.1 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Imagine designing a masterpiece while your boss specifically told you not to! This is the story of the Robert P. Parker House.In 1892, a young Frank Lloyd Wright, still working for Adler & Sullivan, secretly designed…
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Arthur J. Dunham House
· 16.1 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pull over for a sec; this house is a gem of early 20th-century design! It's called the Arthur J. Dunham House, and it's a prime example of Prairie School architecture.Arthur J. Dunham commissioned the house around 1907.…
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Wing Park Golf Course
· 16.1 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Get ready to tee off at a true Illinois treasure: Wing Park Golf Course! It's not just a place to play; it's the oldest and best-preserved nine-hole municipal course in the entire state. Back in the early 1900s, golf…
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Peter A. Beachy House
· 16.1 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Check out that house! It's an early example of Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural genius, hiding in plain sight.Originally, this spot held a Gothic cottage. But in 1906, Peter A. Beachy hired a young Frank Lloyd Wright…
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William H. Copeland House
· 16.1 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wonder what a Frank Lloyd Wright starter home looks like? This is it. In 1909, Dr. William H. Copeland hired Wright to remodel his existing Italianate house, built in the 1870s, into something more modern. Wright…
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Frank W. Thomas House
· 16.1 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Prepare to see what Frank Lloyd Wright himself considered the first of his Prairie houses! Designed in 1901, the Frank W. Thomas House in Oak Park showcases Wright's revolutionary approach to residential architecture.…
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Unity Temple
· 16.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Frank Lloyd Wright called this Unitarian church his 'little jewel,' and it's considered one of his most important early works. After a fire destroyed their previous building in 1905, the Unity Church congregation in Oak…
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Oscar B. Balch House
· 16.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Prepare to witness a rebellion against architectural norms! The Oscar B. Balch House in Oak Park is an early example of Frank Lloyd Wright's groundbreaking Prairie School style. In 1911, Wright designed this home…
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Harrison P. Young House
· 16.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Stop the car a sec; you're looking at an early glimpse into the mind of a genius. This house, the Harrison P. Young House, was originally built in the 1870s. But in 1895, a young architect named Frank Lloyd Wright got…
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Scoville Square
· 16.3 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Admire the Prairie-style architecture of this building, once a Masonic Temple and a prominent local store. This is Scoville Square. Built between 1906 and 1909, the Masonic Temple Building, as it was originally known,…
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George Furbeck House
· 16.4 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Prepare to witness a pivotal step in architectural history! This quiet Oak Park street holds a gem: the George Furbeck House, a vital link in Frank Lloyd Wright's evolution. In 1897, a young Frank Lloyd Wright, still…
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Charles E. Roberts Stable
· 16.4 mi · Scraped Hmdb
This unassuming building has lived many lives! From a simple barn to a Frank Lloyd Wright project, it's a testament to reinvention. It all started with Charles E. Roberts, a local patron of Frank Lloyd Wright. He…
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Medical Arts Building (Oak Park, Illinois)
· 16.4 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Once the tallest building in Oak Park, this Art Deco masterpiece showcases the architectural styles of the early 20th century. Completed in 1929, the Medical Arts Building at 715 Lake Street quickly became a landmark.…
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Frank Lloyd Wright–Prairie School of Architecture Historic District
· 16.5 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Get ready to feast your eyes on architectural genius! This area is a hotbed of Prairie School design, largely thanks to the influence of Frank Lloyd Wright.Wright lived and worked in Oak Park from 1889 to 1909, and…
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Edwin H. Cheney House
· 16.6 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Pull over for a sec! This house right here is an early example of Frank Lloyd Wright's groundbreaking Prairie School style. In 1903, Wright designed this home for Edwin Cheney, an electrical engineer. The Cheney family…
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Central Berwyn Bungalow Historic District
· 16.6 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wonder where all those classic Chicago brick bungalows went? You're driving through a prime example right now. This is the Central Berwyn Bungalow Historic District, a concentration of over a thousand bungalows…
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Ridgeland–Oak Park Historic District
· 16.6 mi · Scraped Hmdb
You're driving through a living museum of architecture! The Ridgeland–Oak Park Historic District showcases over 1500 buildings that tell the story of this community's growth. In 1983, this area was officially recognized…
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8213 West Summerdale
· 16.7 mi
On an ordinary block in Norwood Park, a quiet northwest suburb of Chicago, John Wayne Gacy lived in a modest ranch house from 1971 to 1978. He worked as a contractor, threw block parties, performed as Pogo the Clown at…
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Rollin Furbeck House
· 16.7 mi · Scraped Hmdb
You're passing a piece of architectural history – the Rollin Furbeck House, designed by none other than Frank Lloyd Wright! In 1897, Rollin and Elizabeth Furbeck commissioned Wright to build this house in Oak Park. It's…
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Corron Farm
· 17.1 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Imagine staking your claim on untouched land. That's exactly what Robert Corron did here, becoming one of Kane County's very first settlers.He arrived in 1835 and began purchasing land from the government throughout the…
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Mr. Robert Silhan House
· 17.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Feast your eyes on a little piece of the future, right here in Berwyn! This is the Mr. Robert Silhan House, a Streamline Moderne gem. It's believed this house was built around 1937. The style? Well, it's straight out of…
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Wheeler-Magnus Round Barn
· 17.2 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wonder why someone would build a round barn? Turns out, it was all about efficiency. This one, the Wheeler-Magnus Round Barn, stands as a reminder of a time when farmers were looking for any edge they could get.…
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Columbus Park (Chicago)
· 17.5 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Step back in time as you enter Columbus Park, a living masterpiece of landscape architecture! Designed by Jens Jensen and completed in 1920, this wasn't just another park. Jensen, a visionary, aimed to recreate the…
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Pickwick Theatre
· 17.6 mi · Scraped Hmdb
This stunning art deco movie palace has been entertaining audiences since the roaring twenties. The Pickwick Theatre opened in 1928 as both a vaudeville stage and a movie theater. It was designed by architects Roscoe…
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Dundee Township Historic District
· 18.6 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Ever wonder how a quiet river valley transformed into a bustling industrial hub? That's the story of the Dundee Township Historic District. From the 1870s to the 1920s, this area along the Fox River, encompassing East…
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Gray–Watkins Mill
· 19.3 mi · Scraped Hmdb
From grinding grain to powering automobiles, this mill has witnessed the evolution of industry on the Fox River. Gray–Watkins Mill, or Gray's Mill, began its life sometime around 1846 to 1848. It was an early turbine…
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Leaning Tower of Niles
· 19.6 mi · Scraped Hmdb
Believe it or not, that's not a mirage! There really is a leaning tower in suburban Chicago. It's the Leaning Tower of Niles, a half-size replica of the famous one in Pisa. Industrialist Robert Ilg commissioned it back…