Pleasant Home, Fox Valley Travel Guide

4.7 (134)

Explore Pleasant Home: An opulent Oak Park mansion, a Prairie School masterpiece, and a National Historic Landmark, designed by George W. Maher in 1897.

Pleasant Home, also known as the John Farson House, is a National Historic Landmark in Oak Park, Illinois. Designed by architect George Washington Maher in 1897, this 30-room mansion exemplifies Prairie School architecture with its intricate woodwork, art glass windows, and nature-inspired motifs. Today, visitors can explore this architectural marvel and learn about its rich history through guided and self-guided tours.

A brief summary to Pleasant Home

217 Home Ave, Oak Park, Illinois, 60302, US
Click to display
Click to display

Thursday 11 am-4 pm

From Eve

Know before you go

Hi, I'm Eve. Here are a few practical things to know before exploring Pleasant Home.

Visit on Thursdays or select Sundays for guided and self-guided tours. Check the Pleasant Home website for specific dates and times.
Explore Mills Park, the grounds surrounding Pleasant Home, which features walking paths and a children's discovery area.
Look for the Mills Violano-Virtuoso, a unique musical machine, on display inside Pleasant Home.

Do you manage this location?

Take control to get all the benefits, like improved information, better appearance, and stronger visibility across AI-powered discovery. Learn more

Activate your presence

Other nearby places you may find interesting

The closest places of the same kind, if this one is not quite what you had in mind.

Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley

Blackberry Farm

Cantigny

Fabyan Windmill

Naper Settlement

Explore Pleasant Home on the Map

A handpicked selection of must-see spots near Pleasant Home, mapped for you.

Getting There

Public Transport

From downtown Chicago, take the CTA Green Line or Metra UP-W line to the Harlem Avenue station. From there, walk one block east to Home Avenue, then one block south to Pleasant Street. Pleasant Home is located at the corner of Pleasant and Home. A single fare on the CTA is $2.50. A Metra ride from downtown Chicago to Harlem/Lake is around $4.00 - $6.00.
Walking

Pleasant Home is conveniently located near downtown Oak Park, a short walk from other attractions like Frank Lloyd Wright's Home & Studio and Unity Temple. From the intersection of Oak Park Avenue and Lake Street in downtown Oak Park, walk west on Lake Street, then turn left onto Home Avenue. Walk south for several blocks to Pleasant Street. The walk is approximately 10-15 minutes. Street parking is available but limited.
Driving

From the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290), take the Harlem Avenue exit. Drive north on Harlem Avenue to Pleasant Street, then turn right. Drive east to Home Avenue. Pleasant Home will be on your left. Street parking is available around Pleasant Home, but it can be limited. Consider the Lake Street Parking Garage in downtown Oak Park as an alternative. Parking fees in the garage typically range from $0.10 to a couple of dollars.

Discover more about Pleasant Home

Pleasant Home, situated at the corner of Pleasant Street and Home Avenue in Oak Park, Illinois, stands as a testament to the Prairie School architectural movement. Designed by George Washington Maher in 1897 for John Farson, a prominent investment banker, the mansion broke from traditional styles with its emphasis on craftsmanship and integration with the local environment.The 30-room home boasts intricate woodwork, leaded glass windows, and unique decorative elements that reflect Maher's 'motif rhythm' theory, where recurring motifs like lions' heads and geometric shapes create a sense of unity throughout the interior. The house also features a grand foyer, a library with a glass-domed light fixture, and a Great Hall with a fireplace.Over the years, Pleasant Home has served various purposes. After the Farson family, Herbert S. Mills, inventor and owner of the Mills Novelty Company, purchased the home. Later, the Park District of Oak Park acquired the property in 1939. During World War II, the Red Cross even utilized part of the home. Today, Pleasant Home operates as a museum, offering guided and self-guided tours, and hosts performances, workshops, and classes. The surrounding grounds, known as Mills Park, provide a lovely community space with walking paths and a children's discovery area.