Cuneo Museum facts for kids
The Cuneo Mansion and Gardens is a historic estate located in Vernon Hills, Illinois. It includes a grand house, a large art collection, and beautiful gardens. The mansion was built in 1914. It was designed by a famous architect named Benjamin Marshall.
The first owner of the mansion was Samuel Insull. He was one of the people who started the General Electric Company. Later, in 1937, John Cuneo, Sr. bought the mansion. John Cuneo was well-known for starting the Cuneo Press and Hawthorn Mellody Dairy. He also had amazing murals painted inside the mansion by artist John Mallin. In 2009, the Cuneo family gave the house to Loyola University Chicago.
Contents
About the Cuneo Mansion
The Cuneo Mansion remained a family home until 1990. After that, it became an art gallery and a museum. It first opened to the public in 1991. The mansion is filled with paintings, tapestries, and furniture collected by the Cuneo family over many years.
The Gardens and Past Events
Besides its architecture and art, the Cuneo estate is famous for its lovely gardens. These gardens were designed by a well-known landscape architect, Jens Jensen.
From 1994 to 2014, the Cuneo family allowed the Village of Vernon Hills to decorate the gardens with holiday lights. People could drive through this "Winter Wonderland" light show. The annual show ended in 2014. This was because Loyola University decided to develop the land. Many of the old decorations are still used around the Village during the holidays.
In the past, visitors could take guided tours of the mansion. These tours helped people learn about the house and its collections. The mansion is also used for special events. These include business meetings and wedding parties.
Inside the Mansion
The mansion is built in a Mediterranean style. It has a central hall with arches. There is also a fancy dining room and a private chapel. The collections inside include old furniture, Renaissance paintings, and beautiful tapestries. You can also see silver and porcelain items.
Cuneo Museum in Movies
The Cuneo Museum has been a setting for several Hollywood movies. These films were often set in Chicago.
Famous Movie Scenes
Many outdoor wedding scenes for the 1997 romantic comedy My Best Friend's Wedding were filmed at Cuneo Museum. This movie starred Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz. The museum was also used as a setting for the movie Witless Protection. That film, starring Larry the Cable Guy, came out in 2008.
