Durant House Museum, Corn Belt Travel Guide

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Experience 1840s prairie life at the Durant House Museum in St. Charles, IL: a journey into the past for all ages.

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Durant House Museum

Step back in time at the Durant House Museum, an 1843 brick farmhouse in St. Charles, Illinois, offering a glimpse into 19th-century prairie life. Costumed docents guide visitors through the authentically restored home, showcasing the routines and challenges of a pioneer family.

A brief summary to Durant House Museum

37W700 Dean St, St. Charles, Illinois, 60175, US
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From Eve

Know before you go

Hi, I'm Eve. Here are a few practical things to know before exploring Durant House Museum.

Check the Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley website for the most up-to-date information on opening hours and special events.
Wear comfortable shoes for walking, as the parking area is about 3/4 mile from the museum.
Consider visiting during one of the special hands-on history programs for a more interactive experience.

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Explore Durant House Museum on the Map

A handpicked selection of must-see spots near Durant House Museum, mapped for you.

Getting There

Driving

The Durant House Museum is located within LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve. From Randall Road, go north on Dean Street for approximately 0.25 miles. Turn west (left) into LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve and follow the road for about 0.75 miles. Parking is available inside the preserve. From the parking area, it is a 3/4 mile walk to the museum. Parking is free.
Walking

If already within LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve, follow the marked trails towards the Durant House Museum. The museum is located about 3/4 of a mile from the parking lot. Follow the paved trail past the big red barn; the Durant House Museum will be on the right.

Discover more about Durant House Museum

The Durant House Museum, nestled within LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve in St. Charles, Illinois, provides an immersive journey into the world of an 1840s prairie family. Built in 1843 by Bryant Durant, a bricklayer who came to northern Illinois in 1837, the house stands as a testament to the simple Greek Revival architecture of the time. Durant and his wife, Jerusha Shurtleff, raised six children in this home, which was later purchased by Godfrey and Christina Peterson in the 1880s. The Petersons added a Victorian-style kitchen to the original structure.Today, the Durant House is recognized as Kane County's own "Little House on the Prairie". The house was rescued in the early 1970s and is operated by the Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley. Costumed docents lead visitors through the authentically restored and furnished home, engaging them in hands-on experiences of mid-19th-century farm life. Smell savory dishes cooking over the hearth, hear the laughter of children playing parlor games, and even taste heirloom recipes from the Durant and Peterson families' cookbooks.The museum offers special programs throughout the year, highlighting the routines of work and play for a prairie family. The grounds are surrounded by prairie and forest with paths for hiking, with Ferson Creek running through the property. The Creek Bend Nature Center and two old red barns are also located within the forest preserve.