Visit
Tours of the Ellwood House Mansion can be booked below. Tickets may be purchased in advance. Tours last approximately one hour, start in the Visitor Center, and include all four floors of the Ellwood mansion. The Visitor Center contains 4 exhibit galleries that detail the story of the Ellwood family and their role in the early history of DeKalb.
Tours of the Ellwood Mansion are offered Wednesday to Sunday at 1 pm and 3 pm.
Tours of Ellcourt, also known as the Ellwood-Nehring House, are offered Wednesday to Sunday at 2 pm
In-Depth Tours of the Ellwood Mansion and Ellcourt are offered on the 4th Saturday of each month beginning at 10 am
Tour groups will be limited to 15 visitors or fewer.
Historic House Tours
All historic house tours last approximately 60-90 minutes and start inside the Visitor Center.
Our tour season is from March 6 through December 15.
Guided Tour Schedule (March 6 - November 17)
Offered Wednesday through Sunday
1:00 pm - Ellwood Mansion Tour
2:00 pm - Ellcourt Tour
3:00 pm - Ellwood Mansion Tour
Pre-registration is encouraged, though walk-ins will be accepted within the 15-person tour limit.
Regular tour admission prices (March 6 - November 17)
$10: Adults
$8: Students, Seniors (Ages 65+), AAA Members, Military
$8: National Trust Members
$5: Northern Illinois University Honors Students
$5: Youth (Ages 6-17)
Free: Ellwood House Members, Children Under 6
In-Depth Tour Schedule
Offered the 4th Saturday of each month beginning at 10 AM. In-Depth Tours include both Ellcourt and the Ellwood Mansion and last approximately two hours.
Pre-registration is required for In-Depth Tours, and no
walk-ins will be accepted.
In-Depth tour admission prices (March 6 - November 17)
$18: Adults
$15: Students, Seniors (Ages 65+), AAA Members, Military, National Trust Members
$10: Northern Illinois University Honors Students and Youth (Ages 6-17)
Free: Ellwood House Members, Children Under 6
Large Group Tours
Tours for groups of ten or more may be scheduled in advance. Due to the larger group size, tours take approximately 90 minutes. Please call 815-756-4609 or email king@ellwoodhouse.org for reservations.
The museum will be closed the following holidays in 2024:
Saturday and Sunday, March 30 and 31 for Easter Weekend
Sunday, May 12 for Mother's Day
Thursday, July 4 for Independence Day
Monday, September 2 for Labor Day
Monday, October 14 for Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Thursday, November 28 for Thanksgiving
Tuesday, December 24 for Christmas Eve
Wednesday, December 25 for Christmas Day
Tuesday, December 31 for New Year’s Eve
Accessibility
The first floors of the Mansion and Ellcourt are wheelchair accessible. Both levels of the Visitor Center are wheelchair accessible. The first floor of the Ellwood Mansion is accessible by lift, and the basement is accessible by ramp, but the remaining two floors can only be accessed by stairs. First floor and basement-only tours are available at a discounted rate.
Photography & Video Policy
Photography on the grounds and in the buildings is allowed. No permits or fees are required, but large groups are encouraged to call in advance. Professional photography is not currently allowed inside the Ellwood mansion.
Family Tour Passes
Museum family passes, including free admission to a regularly scheduled tour for up to five children and two adults, are available to borrow through the DeKalb Public Library’s Children’s Department. Passes must be used within one week of check-out and are available from March 1 through December 17.
Visitor Center Exhibit Galleries
The Visitor Center galleries are free and open to the public year-round. Exhibits include a variety of long- and short- term displays.
Visitor Center Hours
Beginning March 6 - Tuesday - Saturday: 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM
Gardens & Grounds
Situated on a ten-acre estate, the museum campus features grassy lawns, a wooded area, formal gardens, two native garden areas, and the Berg Garden. The gardens reflect two generations of the Ellwood family and incorporate changing ideas about architecture and the landscape. Influenced by Harriet Ellwood’s passion for Victorian collecting of exotic plant types and May Ellwood’s pursuit of an Arts and Crafts garden, the grounds are a perfect place to explore. The gardens and grounds are open dawn to dusk and can be explored seven days a week without a tour guide.