The Ellwood House Museum and our Visitor Center are open: Wednesday to Sunday from 12:30 to 4:30 PM
Discover nearly 150 years of local history at the beautifully preserved Ellwood House Museum in DeKalb, Illinois. Guided tours take you through the grand Victorian-era mansion, or stunning Tudor Revival home where original furnishings, art, and architecture tell the story of the influential Ellwood family, who helped shape the region and the nation.
Led by knowledgeable docents, tours offer a closer look at life in the late 1800s and early 1900s, with fascinating insights into the home’s design, decorative details, and the innovations that made it a modern marvel of its time. Expect a rich, engaging experience filled with stories that connect the past to the present.
Walk-in admissions are welcome. All historic house tours last approximately 60-90 minutes and start in the Visitor Center. The Patience Ellwood Towle Visitor Center contains four exhibit galleries that detail the story of the Ellwood family and their role in the early history of DeKalb. The Visitor Center is always free to visit.
Please arrive at least 10 minutes before your tour.
To schedule a tour for a group of ten or more, please visit our Group and Private Tours page for details on how to plan and book your visit.
Built in 1879 for barbed wire entrepreneur Isaac Ellwood. Docent led tour of all four floors of the mansion. Visitors learn about the three generations of Ellwood family who called this mansion home, and details about the architecture and furnishings.
Offered at 1PM and 3PM Wednesday to Sunday.
Ellwood House
Also known as the Ellwood-Nehring House. Built for Perry Ellwood, youngest son of Isaac. Docent led tour of the first floor. Visitors learn about the Perry and Will Ellwood families, and the Nehring family who purchased the home.
Offered at 2PM Wednesday to Sunday.
Ellcourt
Pre-registration is required. Docent led tour of both historic properties. Tour lasts approximately two hours.
Offered at 10AM on the 4th Saturday of each month.
In-Depth Tour
$10 adults
$8 Students and Seniors, AAA, Military
$8 National Trust Members
$5 Northern Illinois University Honors Students
$5 Youth (Ages 6-17)
Free for Ellwood House Members and Children Under 6
Admission Fees
Free Admission Opportunities
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.
The museum is a member of Blue Star Museums. We offer free admission for active military and their families from Armed Forces Day to Labor Day.
The Patience Ellwood Towle Visitor Center is free and open to the public.
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.
Accessibility
Photo Policy
Photography on the grounds and in the buildings is allowed. No flash photography is allowed inside the historic homes. 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.
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.