[click on the logo above to link to the coalition site]

Glidden Homestead joins coalition
of historic homes

     DeKalb’s Joseph F. Glidden Homestead & Historical Center is part of a new coalition of historic Illinois homes.
     The coalition’s new website www.VisitHistoricIllinois.com features historic homes in Illinois and has 10 suggested tours to lead tourists from one interesting home to the next. 
      The site is sponsored by the newly-formed group, Historic Homes of Illinois.  The coalition has been working since February to enhance tourism in northern and central Illinois. 
     The group was the brainchild of Rolf Achilles, art historian, who is a professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the curator of the Smith Museum of Stained Glass at Navy Pier. The first meeting of the coalition was held in February, 2006, at the Hegeler Carus Mansion in LaSalle.   
     At the first meeting participants began working together by sharing brochures with one another and making plans to develop a website that would include all of the participating homes. Alan Langguth, owner of Homestead B&B in Plano, generously donated the web address to the group.
      Since that first meeting, the group has enjoyed visiting other sites around the state for meetings.They have met at Ellwood House in DeKalb; the David Davis Mansion and Vrooman Mansion in Bloomington; the Lovejoy Homestead in Princeton; and the Zinser House and Doctor’s Office and Ruppman Home in Washington. Participants enjoy visiting each other’s sites, as well as comparing policies and management challenges. 
       The purpose of the Historic Homes of Illinois Coalition is to encourage people to visit the interesting and varied historic homes within Illinois. The group includes museum/homes, B&Bs, and state-owned sites.   
     The coalition determined that working together would benefit all by promoting tourism in Illinois. To that end, all the participating sites work together to send visitors to other historic homes. Suggested tours also have also been developed to help visitors plan trips including as many homes as possible. Other historic homes are encouraged to join in the coalition so visitors will be given even more choices to enhance their travel arrangements.
        Plan a trip to one or more of these fabulous historic homes in Illinois by visiting the Historic Homes of Illinois website at www.VisitHistoricIllinois.com.
          The Joseph F. Glidden Homestead & Historical Center is dedicated to the restoration and development of the site where Glidden invented one of the most widely-used types of barbed wire. He received a patent for “The Winner” in 1874.       The organization is in the process of restoring the barn and house at 921 W. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb, as a living history museum. Its goal is to provide education about the significant contributions of northern Illinois to the history of the West and the entire nation.
     The Glidden Homestead & Historical Center is a landmark of national importance. Both the house and barn on the property are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
      The 15-member Homestead board and its supporters have made great strides in preserving the barn and house for greater public use and enjoyment. Two members of the Glidden family continue to serve on the board—siblings Richard Glidden and Sarah Glidden DeMink. Joseph Glidden was their great grand uncle.