Frances Willard House Museum, Illinois, United States
4.5 (9 reviews) Spent < 1 hour Ranking #14 in Evanston History Museums
Informative and Interesting!
The Frances Willard House is the 1865 Gothic Revival home of the famed 19th century reformer and women's rights advocate. A museum since 1900, the collection of Frances Willard's furniture and belongings is largely intact. Head of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, Willard organized and led the largest mass movement of women in the country.
Address
1730 Chicago Ave, Evanston, IL 60201-4502
Mobile
Website
http://franceswillardhouse.org
Current local date and time now
Sunday, May 12, 2024, 12:05
User Ratings
4.5 based on (9 reviews)
Excellent
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Satisfactory
22%
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Reviews
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5Taylor B 5:00 PM Nov 14, 2022
Longtime headquarters of the WCTU
The Frances Willard House Museum at 1730 Chicago Avenue in Evanston, Illinois, the longtime home of the founder of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and headquarters of the WCTU, was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. It was surveyed by the Historic American Buildings Survey in 1967. Tours are offered to the public on the first and third Sundays of each month. Built by Willard's father in 1865, the original house was an L-shaped building with vertical board and batten siding. In 1878, an addition greatly expanded the house but it remained consistent with its architectural form. Proceeds from the sale of Willard's autobiography were used to add large bay windows on the main facade in 1890. Another addition was completed in 1893. The two-story house has 17 rooms, most with oak and walnut flooring, and is designed in the Carpenter Gothic style. Painted pearl grey with white trim, the front of the house has two columned porches. Three small porches lead to other entrances. The second floor has a balcony on the rear. Willard referred to the house as "Rest Cottage" because it became a place for her to rest in between her tours and WCTU activities. After her death in 1898, the house was willed to the WCTU, which made the house into a museum.
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5T. Anderson 5:00 PM Aug 10, 2022
Insights into 19th century American History
Excellent tour that provides insights into 19th century American history. Not only do visitors learn about Frances Willard the the Women's Christian Temperance Union but also architecture and material culture. Highly recommend!
