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Book a Tour
Book your visit today and learn about the significance of the Ellwood family and their importance to barbed wire. We offer tours of two historic properties Wednesday through Sunday.
Rentals
We offer a variety of spaces for all of your special moments. From historic spaces to beautiful gardens we have the perfect space for your event.
Strategic Plan Update
We are in the process of drafting our next Stratgic Plan. Learn about the next steps for the museum and offer your feedback.
About the Ellwood House
The Ellwood House Museum is a historic site situated on ten acres of parkland in the heart of DeKalb, Illinois.
The museum campus consists of seven historic structures, including the 1879 Ellwood Mansion and 1900 Ellcourt House, four gardens, and 6,000 square feet of exhibit space in the Patience Ellwood Towle Visitor Center, a converted and expanded 1912 multi-car garage.
Originally built for barbed wire entrepreneur Isaac Ellwood, the Mansion was home to three generations of the Ellwood family from 1879 to 1965. In 1965, the Ellwood Mansion was given to the DeKalb Park District by Mrs. May Ellwood and her three children. In 2011, Mrs. Shirley Nehring donated the Ellcourt House to the non-profit Ellwood House Association, Inc.
Today the Ellwood House Association and the DeKalb Park District operate the entire site as a museum.
