History & Architecture

History

Bourbonnais Grove Historical Society-Letourneau Home/Museum
The museum was the home of Bourbonnais' first mayor George R. Letourneau. Exhibits include history of Mayor Letourneau and centers on the French-Canadian influence in the Bourbonnais area.
Stratford Drive East, Bourbonnais, 815-933-6452
www.bourbonnaishistory.org

Bronte History of Printing Museum
Spanning 550 years of printing history, exhibits showcase materials used in wood engraving, etching, and typesetting.
6172 N. 4180 W. Rd., Bourbonnais, 815-932-5192

Conrad Park Pioneer Cabin
Visit an authentic cabin built during Momence's 150th anniversary to honor the area's first settlers.
Mill Street Island Park, Momence, 815-472-6081

Essex Historical Society Museum
This historical site features a one-room schoolhouse and historical Essex artifacts contained in an adjacent brick building. Learn about area strip mines that date back to the early 1900's.
218 Parls St., Essex, 815-365-4048

Herscher Area Historical Society
The Herscher Area Historical Society was established in 2000 and the Museum opened in 2004. The Museum contains photographs, documents, and artifacts which depict the history of Herscher and many local communities.
272 E. Second Ave., Lower Level, Herscher, 815-949-1555
www.herscher.net

Kankakee County Museum
The Kankakee County Museum is the home of the Kankakee County Historical Society. Founded in 1906, it is the oldest incorporated local historical society in Illinois. The Main Museum Building contains seven permanent and temporary exhibit galleries, the Museum Store, the Museum's Archival Research Library, the Museum's offices, and support facilities. The Museum Complex also encompasses the historic 1855 Dr. A. L. Small House, the 1904 Taylor One-Room Schoolhouse, Column Garden and Outdoor Exhibit Area. The museum boasts more than 85,000 artifacts in addition to 20,000 still images in the photo collection.
801 S. Eighth Ave., Kankakee, 815-932-5279
www.kankakeecountymuseum.com

Kankakee Railroad Museum
See large operating model train displays and railroad memorabilia within Kankakee's restored train depot. The museum also features a scale model replicating the city of Kankakee during the 1950's. A restored rail car and trolley can be rented for special events.
197 S. East Ave., Kankakee, 815-929-9320
www.kankakeerrmuseum.com

Kankakee Valley Genealogical Society
The Kankakee Valley Genealogical Society has been recording Kankakee County's history since 1968. Their records include death records from 1877, birth records from 1878, and marriage records from 1853.
200 E. Court St., 3rd Floor Kankakee, 815-939-4564
www.kvgs.org

Little Red School House
Originally called the Mount Airy School, the building was moved to its present location in 1983. This 1850's schoolhouse has been restored and contains period memorabilia and artifacts.
5th Street-West of Dixie Hwy. at Range School, Momence, 815-472-2924

Manteno Historical Society Museum
The museum features a one-room schoolhouse and restored horse-drawn doctor's buggy.
192 W. Third St., Manteno, 815-468-6629
www.mantenohistoricalsociety.org

Momence Historical House
An 1870's home containing period furnishings and artifact displays recreates the period of history from 1870 to 1900.
117 N. Dixie Hwy., Momence, 815-472-3861
www.momence.net

Momence Railroad Depot Museum
This privately-owned 1890's depot was restored in 2001 and contains photos and artifacts relating to Momence's railroading history.
691 N. Dixie Hwy., Momence, 815-472-2255

Stone Barn
The Lemuel Milk Carriage House, known locally as the Stone Barn, is one of the oldest historical structures in Kankakee County. Built by pioneer farmer Lemuel Milk in 1860, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 4, 1979.
165 N. Indiana Ave., Kankakee, 815-937-0877

Architecture

The B. Harley Bradley House by Frank Lloyd Wright
This Prairie Style house was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright along with its neighboring home. The houses are acknowledged by the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy as Wright's first house designs that ushered in Wright's Prairie Style. The B. Harley Bradley House is open for 1 hour tours.
701 S. Harrison Ave., Kankakee, 815-936-9630
www.wrightinkankakee.org

View the video HERE!

The Kankakee County Courthouse
This 1912 Courthouse features a dome mural depicting scenes of local history. This beautiful architectural gem is a focal point that is positioned in the center of six Historical Churches that were built in the 1800's.
450 E. Court St., Kankakee, 815-937-2915

Asbury United Methodist Church
Asbury Methodist Church began well before the Civil War when a Methodist circuit rider brought Methodism to the early settlers of Kankakee in 1836. In 1866 ground was broken for what is now the first third of Asbury Church. In 1922 the balcony was added to the sanctuary.
196 S. Harrison Ave., Kankakee, 815-933-4408
www.kasburychurch.blogspot.com

First Presbyterian Church
The First Presbyterian Church of Kankakee had its founding on September 28, 1854, when 10 men and women met with two ministers from the Chicago New School Presbytery. It houses some of the finest stained glass in the area.
371 E. Court St., Kankakee, 815-939-3546
www.firstpreskankakee.org

Maternity BVM Catholic Church
Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church was built in 1858 in French- Canadian architectural style, resembling many churches around Quebec, Canada. The most notable feature of the Church is the three crypts located under the sanctuary.
308 S. Marsile St., Bourbonnais, 815-933-8285
www.mbvm.org

St. Anne Catholic Church
This Gothic designed structure was built in 1872 to replace the original log church. The stone church survived a fire in 1893.
230 N. Sixth Ave., St. Anne, 815-427-8265

St. Patrick's Catholic Church
In 1891, St. Patrick's parish started when the Catholic Columbian Association assembled and began construction in 1892 with the first service in the new building being held on March 11, 1894. The beautiful stained glass windows depict the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, as well as the four evangelists - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
428 S. Indiana Ave., Kankakee, 815-932-6716
www.stpatrickkankakee.com

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
St. Paul's Episcopal Church building was dedicated on September 6, 1900. Built primarily of Bedford Stone, St. Paul's Episcopal does not have a steeple; instead it has a Norman style tower, which reflects its English heritage.
298 S. Harrison Ave., Kankakee, 815-932-6886
www.k3stpauls.homestead.com

St. Paul's Lutheran Church
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church was founded by German immigrants in 1859. The first church was built in 1864. After a series of fires, the cornerstone for the third church was laid in 1888. The three large bells in the bell tower were purchased in 1901. Electric lights were added in 1923.
348 E. Merchant St., Kankakee, 815-932-0312