Hegeler Carus Mansion

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Visit our Tour Destination: Illinois page to see the entire tour of the state’s
Save America’s Treasures sites.

East side of the Hegeler Carus Mansion at sunrise.
Photo by Joe Balynas, courtesy of the Hegeler Carus Foundation.

Hegeler Carus Mansion

1307 Seventh Street

La Salle, IL 61301

Website:  Hegeler Carus Foundation

The Treasure:   A 19th century architectural gem by architect William W. Boyington, the Hegeler Carus Mansion additionally offers a rare opportunity to see a well-preserved and authentic High Victorian interior.

Accessibility:  The Hegeler Carus Mansion is open year-round, with tours offered Wednesday through Sunday at noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m.

Background:  Virtually unaltered since its completion more than a century ago, the Hegeler Carus Mansion is at once a family home, an example of high artistic achievement in architecture and interior design, and the site of historic accomplishments in industry, philosophy, publishing, and religion. Visitors today experience the grandeur of a bygone era and the heritage of a fascinating family whose history is woven tightly with that of the Illinois Valley and the United States. Operating on the ground floor of the Mansion for many decades, the Open Court Publishing Company—a scholarly press under the leadership of Dr. Paul Carus—published cutting-edge material promoting interfaith dialogue and philosophical discussion for an international audience.

Historic photo of the Hegeler Carus Mansion.
Photo courtesy of the Hegeler Carus Foundation.

Architect William W. Boyington designed the Hegeler Carus Mansion in 1874. It is recognized as an authoritative architectural statement of the Second Empire style, as indicated by the steeply sloped, or mansard roof; dormer windows; molded cornices; decorative brackets; and the tower crowned by a 30-foot cupola. Known for his neo-Gothic style, Boyington arrived in Chicago in 1853 and immediately began designing a wide variety of structures, including homes, opera houses, hotels, and churches in that growing metropolis. Because they survived the Chicago Fire of 1871, the Chicago Water Tower and Pumping Station are the most famous of his Chicago structures.

The Hegeler Carus Mansion is also one of the most intact examples of interior designer August Fiedler’s work. It is rare to have an intact interior in buildings as old as the Mansion. Typically, a building would be built and then decorated. As times and tastes changed, residents would paint over or entirely replace the original décor. Therefore, the work of the interior designer—in terms of colors and decoration—would last only as long as the first decorative scheme. There are few places where home owners have not only recognized the intrinsic quality and value of a home’s original décor, but also possessed the foresight to preserve it for the enjoyment of future generations, as was done with the Hegeler Carus Mansion. The result is a rare glimpse into the original conception of a unity of architecture with interior decoration, created as an ensemble.

The Save America's Treasures grant provided the
opportunity to restore the Mansion's Reception Room to
its former magnificence after suffering water damage,
nearly destroying the west ceiling and flooring.
The west ceiling was plastered and then repainted using
stencils of the intact east ceiling as well as the interior
designer's original drawings.  A local flooring specialist
replaced the west portion of the parquet floor.
Photo by Amanda Whitlock, courtesy of the
Hegeler Carus Foundation. 

In addition, it is exceptionally rare to have the original design renderings of the interiors, including not only ceiling and floor designs but furniture and carpets as well. The interiors of the Mansion do indeed still match the drawings.

A recipient of National Historic Landmark status and on the National Register of Historic Places, the Hegeler Carus Mansion remains a testament to the talent, vision, and skill of both W.W. Boyington and August Fiedler.

Notes from the Editor:  A huge thank you to Heather B.P. Wallace, Executive Secretary at the Hegeler Carus Foundation, for preparing the above background section! The material that she sent me matched the style of Tour America’s History so closely that I simply had to drop it in. That doesn’t happen very often, and it’s truly appreciated!

Other Recommended Sites:  Here’s a useful link to the museums, parks, and historic sites of LaSalle County, Illinois. Naturally, the Hegeler Carus Mansion is at the top of the list, but there’s plenty else to visit in the county, too. There’s the Reddick Mansion, a 22-room Italianate mansion built in 1858; a canal boat tour; the Weber House and Garden; and much more.

Historic photo of the Hegeler Carus Mansion with children playing in the yard.
Photo courtesy of the Hegeler Carus Foundation.

Tour America's History Itinerary

Thursday’s destination:  Chicago Urban League Records

© 2013 Lee Price