Cuneo Museum facts for kids
The Cuneo Mansion and Gardens is a really cool old house, full of amazing art and beautiful gardens, located in Vernon Hills, Illinois. It was built in 1914 and designed by a famous architect named Benjamin Marshall. The first owner was Samuel Insull, who helped start the General Electric Company. Later, in 1937, John Cuneo, Sr. bought the mansion after Insull had some financial problems. John Cuneo was famous for starting the Cuneo Press and Hawthorn Mellody Dairy. He even had artists paint murals inside the mansion! In 2009, the house was given to Loyola University Chicago.
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What is the Cuneo Mansion Today?
The Cuneo Mansion stayed a family home until John Cuneo's wife passed away in 1990. Now, it's an art gallery and a historic house museum, which means you can visit it and see how people lived long ago! It first opened to the public in 1991. The mansion is filled with paintings, tapestries, and furniture that the Cuneo family collected throughout their lives. Besides the amazing house and art, the Cuneo Gardens are also very special. They were designed by a famous landscape architect named Jens Jensen.
The Winter Wonderland Light Show
For many years, starting in 1994, the Cuneo family let the Village of Vernon Hills decorate the gardens with beautiful holiday lights. People loved to drive through this "Winter Wonderland" light show every year! The show was a big tradition, but it ended in 2014. This was because Loyola University decided to use the land for other things. Don't worry though, you can still see many of those holiday decorations around the Village during the holiday season!
What Can You See Inside?
When you visit the Cuneo Mansion, museum guides will take you on tours to show you all the cool things inside. The mansion has a special Mediterranean style. It features a grand central hall with arches, a fancy dining room, and even a private chapel. The collections include old furniture, amazing Renaissance paintings, woven tapestries, shiny silver, and delicate porcelain. It's like stepping back in time!
Cuneo Museum in Movies
The Cuneo Museum has been used as a filming location for several movies! It's a popular spot because it looks so grand and beautiful.
Movies Filmed at Cuneo
Many outdoor wedding scenes and party shots for the 1997 romantic comedy My Best Friend's Wedding were filmed at the Cuneo Museum. This movie starred famous actors like Julia Roberts and Cameron Diaz. The museum was also used as a setting for the movie Witless Protection, which came out in 2008.
