While you're exploring upcoming events, don’t forget to check our Hours and Admission page for hours, ticket prices, and general visitor information.
Upcoming Events and Programs
Harriet Ellwood's Birthday!
Join us in celebrating Harriet's birthday by creating small bouquets with flowers available in the Ellwood House Visitor Center! Bouquets can be created in exchange for a donation of your choosing. All donations will go towards repairing the framed portrait of Harriet that hung in the Ellwood Mansion Dining Room.
This event will be hosted during our Visitor Center hours (12:30-4:30pm) from July 23-26, or while supplies last.
Reschedule: Music at the Mansion
Grab your friends and family, bring your blankets and chairs and gather your dancing shoes for some amazing FREE music set against the backdrop of the Ellwood Mansion. On select Wednesday evenings this summer, the pre-show starts at 6:30 Ppm and the headline show is from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. A select menu of beer, wine, beverages, and food/snacks will be available each week for purchase on-site.
Headliner: Feel Good Party Band
Brown Bag Lunch Lecture: "Abraham Lincoln in Song"
This lecture will be held at the DeKalb County History Center in their new corn crib stage.
“Abraham Lincoln in Song” is a one man show created by award-winning folksinger and folklorist, Chris Vallillo to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth and connects to the 250th Anniversary of the United States. Extensively researched and historically accurate, the program uses period music to look at our 16th President from a whole new angle.
Reschedule: Music at the Mansion
This edition of Music at the Mansion will take place on Thursday, August 6.
Grab your friends and family, bring your blankets and chairs and gather your dancing shoes for some amazing FREE music set against the backdrop of the Ellwood Mansion. On select Wednesday evenings this summer, the pre-show starts at 6:30 Ppm and the headline show is from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. A select menu of beer, wine, beverages, and food/snacks will be available each week for purchase on-site.
Headliner: Abby Kay Band
Reschedule: Music at the Mansion
Grab your friends and family, bring your blankets and chairs and gather your dancing shoes for some amazing FREE music set against the backdrop of the Ellwood Mansion. On select Wednesday evenings this summer, the pre-show starts at 6:30 Pm and the headline show is from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. A select menu of beer, wine, beverages, and food/snacks will be available each week for purchase on-site.
Headliner: The Beaux Band
In-Depth Tour
The In-Depth Tour provides guests with the unique experience of viewing both the 1900 Ellcourt House and the 1879 Ellwood Mansion on this docent led tour. Tour lasts approximately two hours. Pre-registration is required.
Offered at 10AM on the 4th Saturday of each month.
Wine on the Terrace
Wine on the Terrace is the Ellwood House Museum’s signature fundraising event, an elegant and relaxed evening that directly supports our mission to preserve this historic site and connect our community to local history. Proceeds from this event help fund year-round preservation work, school field trips, public programs, and free admission days that keep history accessible for all.
In-Depth Tour
The In-Depth Tour provides guests with the unique experience of viewing both the 1900 Ellcourt House and the 1879 Ellwood Mansion on this docent led tour. Tour lasts approximately two hours. Pre-registration is required.
Offered at 10AM on the 4th Saturday of each month.
In-Depth Tour
The In-Depth Tour provides guests with the unique experience of viewing both the 1900 Ellcourt House and the 1879 Ellwood Mansion on this docent led tour. Tour lasts approximately two hours. Pre-registration is required.
Offered at 10AM on the 4th Saturday of each month.
In-Depth Tour
The In-Depth Tour provides guests with the unique experience of viewing both the 1900 Ellcourt House and the 1879 Ellwood Mansion on this docent led tour. Tour lasts approximately two hours. Pre-registration is required.
Typically offered at 10AM on the 4th Saturday of each month.
In-Depth Tour
The In-Depth Tour provides guests with the unique experience of viewing both the 1900 Ellcourt House and the 1879 Ellwood Mansion on this docent led tour. Tour lasts approximately two hours. Pre-registration is required.
Offered at 10AM on the 4th Saturday of each month.
Music at the Mansion
Grab your friends and family, bring your blankets and chairs and gather your dancing shoes for some amazing FREE music set against the backdrop of the Ellwood Mansion. On select Wednesday evenings this summer, the pre-show starts at 6:30 Ppm and the headline show is from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. A select menu of beer, wine, beverages, and food/snacks will be available each week for purchase on-site.
Headliner: Classical Blast
Mansion Art Tour
Crafted by one of our amazing docents, this tour focused on the pieces of art owned by the Ellwood's and their origins. This tour has limited capacity and must be booked prior to attending. Make sure you reserve your spot today!
Music at the Mansion
Grab your friends and family, bring your blankets and chairs and gather your dancing shoes for some amazing FREE music set against the backdrop of the Ellwood Mansion. On select Wednesday evenings this summer, the pre-show starts at 6:30 Ppm and the headline show is from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. A select menu of beer, wine, beverages, and food/snacks will be available each week for purchase on-site.
Headliner: Tambora
Music at the Mansion
Grab your friends and family, bring your blankets and chairs and gather your dancing shoes for some amazing FREE music set against the backdrop of the Ellwood Mansion. On select Wednesday evenings this summer, the pre-show starts at 6:30 Ppm and the headline show is from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. A select menu of beer, wine, beverages, and food/snacks will be available each week for purchase on-site.
Headliner: The Rhythm Rockets
Arts in Action Opening Reception
Join us for the 4th Arts in Action exhibit opening at the Ellwood House Museum!
Arts in Action: “The Power of Place,” is a photography exhibit featuring works by Jayla Trenyce, a Chicago-based graduate of Northern Illinois University, and founder of Kindred Noir, an organization which seeks to empower and support Black and underserved artists.
Barb City in Red, White, and Blue Exhibit Opening
Join us for the opening of the Ellwood House’s America 250 Exhibit: Barb City in Red, White, & Blue!
DeKalb residents have commemorated milestones of American history through the preservation of family artifacts, involvement with civic organizations, the performance of patriotic music, and the creation of folk handicrafts and costumes. This exhibit explores the continued celebration of American history through artifacts from the museum’s collection.
The exhibit opening will take place on June 27, from 4pm-6pm at the Ellwood House Museum Visitor Center. Parking is available and on-site. This event is open to the public, and will be a joint exhibit opening with Arts in Action: “The Power of Place.”
In-Depth Tour
The In-Depth Tour provides guests with the unique experience of viewing both the 1900 Ellcourt House and the 1879 Ellwood Mansion on this docent led tour. Tour lasts approximately two hours. Pre-registration is required.
Offered at 10AM on the 4th Saturday of each month.
POSTPONED: Music at the Mansion
This event has been postponed to a later date.
Grab your friends and family, bring your blankets and chairs and gather your dancing shoes for some amazing FREE music set against the backdrop of the Ellwood Mansion. On select Wednesday evenings this summer, the pre-show starts at 6:30 Pm and the headline show is from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. A select menu of beer, wine, beverages, and food/snacks will be available each week for purchase on-site.
Headliner: The Beaux Band
Mansion Art Tour
Crafted by one of our amazing docents, this tour focused on the pieces of art owned by the Ellwood's and their origins. This tour has limited capacity and must be booked prior to attending. Make sure you reserve your spot today!
Postponed: Music at the Mansion
This event has been postponed to a later date.
Grab your friends and family, bring your blankets and chairs and gather your dancing shoes for some amazing FREE music set against the backdrop of the Ellwood Mansion. On select Wednesday evenings this summer, the pre-show starts at 6:30 Ppm and the headline show is from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. A select menu of beer, wine, beverages, and food/snacks will be available each week for purchase on-site.
Brown Bag Lecture: From Inventory to Exhibition - Asian Collections at Ellwood House
Within this presentation, Nancy Leone will discuss her work as the Carpenter Fellow in Asian Collections at the Ellwood House Museum. She will discuss the processes of inventorying, cataloging, and preserving Asian art objects, as well as the research involved in understanding their historical context and provenance. Nancy will also highlight her role in developing an upcoming exhibition, showing how collections work translates into public interpretation and display.
Evening at Ellcourt
We are pleased to announce our 4th annual Evening at Ellcourt celebration. This year, we look forward to hosting a regency-era masquerade at our beautiful Tudor-Revival Ellcourt Home on Saturday, May 30, from 6pm-9pm.
Memorial Day
Join the City of DeKalb and the Ellwood House Museum for a Memorial Day Celebration!
In-Depth Tour
The In-Depth Tour provides guests with the unique experience of viewing both the 1900 Ellcourt House and the 1879 Ellwood Mansion on this docent led tour. Tour lasts approximately two hours. Pre-registration is required.
Offered at 10AM on the 4th Saturday of each month.
Mansion Art Tour
Crafted by one of our amazing docents, this tour focused on the pieces of art owned by the Ellwood's and their origins. This tour has limited capacity and must be booked prior to attending. Make sure you reserve your spot today!
Turn of the Century Tea Party
Join us on Saturday, May 9 from 2-4pm for a "Turn of the Century Tea Party" at Ellcourt, a partnership with DeKalb Public Library!
Brown Bag Lecture: Sneak Preview of New Exhibit “We the People of DeKalb County”
Commemorating the nation’s semi-quincentennial, “We the People of DeKalb County” explores how the local community has engaged with the ideals set forth in the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution.
Give DeKalb County 2026
Give DeKalb County is a philanthropic event featuring multiple ways for donors to support nonprofit organizations located in or serving DeKalb County, Illinois. Donors can give by check or can donate online during the 24-hour giving day at GiveDeKalbCounty.org. Learn more about Ways to Give.
Why give to the Ellwood House Museum?
The Ellwood House Museum is a historic house museum located in DeKalb, Illinois. Donations made during Give DeKalb County help to support building preservation efforts, collection care and help to support free and low cost programming for all ages throughout the community. Some of this programming includes:
Free access to our Visitor Center (Open Wednesday-Sunday, 12:30-4:30)
Free field trips for 2nd graders twice a year
Free adult lunchtime lectures once per month
Free children’s programming once per month in the summer
Opportunities for students to participate in paid career-building internships
Low cost tours and events
Dessert and Dialogue
“Dessert and Dialogue” will be an evening of community-building, storytelling, and racial healing. A continuation of the Arts in Action program, “Dessert and Dialogue” gives DeKalb County residents the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of our shared history. The event aids in shifting the local history narrative to a more inclusive and accurate account.
This free event takes place from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on April 30 at the Sycamore Park District, 480 Airport Rd, Sycamore, IL 60178.
Child care available. *Optional but encouraged * bring a dessert to share!
"The Trouble with My Hair" feat. Dr. Ada Cheng
Join us for an intimate exploration of the artist’s gender, sexual, and racial identities and boundary-making through her evolving relationships with her hair and her stylists.
Brown Bag Lecture: The Miller/Ellwood Cabin: A DeKalb County Historical Treasure
Al Roloff of the DeKalb County Forest Preservation District will share the story of the William (Bill) Miller family, detailing the construction of their cabin and the experiences it has undergone over nearly two centuries.
Brown Bag Lunch: Dr. Letitia Westgate
The second Brown Bag Lunch program for 2026 will offer a free presentation on Dr. Letitia Westgate, the first woman doctor, surgeon, chemist, and architect to design, build, and manage a hospital in the United States. This program will be held at the DeKalb County History Center, 1730 North Main Street, Sycamore, IL.
Public Reopening
Join the Ellwood House as we reopen our Visitor Center and public tours! Guided Tours of the Ellwood Mansion will begin at 1pm and 3pm. Guided Ellcourt tours will be held at 2pm. The Visitor Center and tours will be open Wednesday-Sunday.
We can’t wait to see you!
Member Open House
This open house is reserved for members only, and will allow special access to the Ellwood Mansion and Ellcourt house for self-guided tours prior to our public reopening on March 4. This will be a great opportunity to meet and chat with our new Executive Director Matthew Toland! There will be light refreshments available in the Visitor center, and members are also welcome to explore the galleries. No reservation is required for this event.
Dessert and Dialogue
“Dessert and Dialogue” is an evening of community-building, storytelling, and racial healing. A continuation of the Arts in Action program, this month’s discussion will give DeKalb County residents the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of our shared history. The event aids in shifting the local history narrative to a more inclusive and accurate account.
This event takes place from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on February 19 at the Ellwood House Museum Visitor Center, 420 Linden Place in DeKalb.
Volunteer Training
Love local history and architecture? Interested in joining a volunteer community?
This training program for new and returning volunteers will highlight different volunteer roles, while also sharing tour content, background information on the Ellwood family, the story of barbed wire, and the site’s historic architecture. New volunteers will receive training materials to take home.
Volunteer times are available Wednesday through Sunday each week.
To register for training contact Assistant Director Audrey King: king@ellwoodhouse.org; (815) 756-4609.
Brown Bag Lecture Series: What Are We Celebrating?
In partnership with the DeKalb County History Center, the theme of this year's lecture series focuses on the 250th anniversary of the United States. The series will kick off with our guest lecturer, Bill Nicklas, City Manager for the City of DeKalb and historian. His lecture will focus on his essay centering the question "what are we celebrating?"
Holiday Traditions Open House
Experience the magic of the season at your own pace during our Open House Weekend. Enjoy self-guided tours of both the beautifully decorated Ellwood House and Ellwood-Nehring House and live holiday music. Perfect for families, history lovers, and holiday travelers alike.