Cantigny Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cantigny |
|
|---|---|
Cantigny, with its non-contiguous Youth Links Golf Course in the bottom right.
|
|
| Nearest city | Wheaton, Illinois |
| Created | 1955 |
| Operated by | McCormick Foundation |
| Open | February–December |
Cantigny (say it: kan-TEE-nee) is a huge park, about 500-acre (2.0 km2), located in Wheaton, Illinois. That's about 30 miles west of Chicago. It used to be the home of Joseph Medill and his grandson, Colonel Robert R. McCormick. They were famous newspaper publishers. Now, Cantigny is a public park for everyone to enjoy.
At Cantigny, you'll find beautiful gardens and a historic house. There's also a military museum and a visitor center with a cafe. You can enjoy picnic areas, a playground, and hiking trails. There's even a big golf course!
Lots of people visit Cantigny every year. More than 330,000 visitors come to explore the park. At the visitor center, you can watch a short film. It tells you all about how the park started and its history. The center also has cool exhibits and a mini-model of the whole park.
Cantigny hosts many fun events all year long. You can find concerts, talks, workshops, and festivals. It's also a popular spot for weddings and taking outdoor photos. Schools often bring students here for field trips. Youth groups can even go camping at the park.
Contents
How Cantigny Park Began
The land for Cantigny was first bought by Joseph Medill. He called his country home Red Oaks. This was in the late 1800s. After he passed away, his grandson, Colonel Robert R. McCormick, took over the estate.
Colonel McCormick fought in World War I. He was part of an important battle in France called the Battle of Cantigny. When he came home, he renamed his estate Cantigny. He did this to honor that battle.
Colonel McCormick did not have any children. When he died in 1955, he left his money to start the McCormick Foundation. He also wanted his home, Cantigny, to become a public park. Since then, the McCormick Foundation has used his money to keep Cantigny open for everyone.
Robert R. McCormick's House
In 1896, Joseph Medill built a huge house on the estate. It had 35 rooms! This house is now called the Robert R. McCormick House. It has been updated and restored.
Today, the house is used for offices and special events. You can visit the mansion on certain dates. These dates are part of Cantigny's special event schedule.
First Division Museum: Military History
Colonel McCormick served in the United States Army during World War I. He was part of the First Division. This group was also known as the "Big Red One." McCormick left money to create the First Division Museum.
The museum has many exhibits and items. They show the history of the First Division. You can learn about their service in World War I and World War II. They also cover later U.S. wars.
Outside the museum, you'll find "Tank Park." This is the biggest collection of tanks and artillery in the area. You can see tanks and armored vehicles from World War I to today. Visitors are even allowed to climb on some of the vehicles!
The museum also has a "Date with History" series. Here, guest speakers talk about military history. These talks are usually free and open to everyone. You might hear from historians, authors, or veterans.
The McCormick Research Center is also at the museum. It's a place for authors, teachers, and students to do research. It has over 10,000 books on military history. You can find records from the First Division's battles there. The center's Reading Room is open to the public.
Beautiful Public Gardens
Cantigny estate has amazing gardens. They cover about 30 acres! You can explore many different areas. There are Rose and White Gardens, and Rock and Gravel Gardens. You'll also find the Fountain Garden and the Idea Garden. The Idea Garden helps home gardeners get new ideas.
Cantigny is famous for its colorful flower displays. These are best from April to October. You'll see beautiful flowers in the Formal Gardens and the Octagon Garden.
Plants at Cantigny start to bloom in late March. In April, you'll see magnolias, viburnums, and tulips. August is when summer flowers are at their brightest. In the fall, from mid-September to Halloween, you'll see cool-season plants like mums. The fall leaves usually change color in October.
Colonel McCormick and his first wife, Amy, are buried at Cantigny. Their special burial site is called the Exedra. It's located near the mansion.
Cantigny Golf Course
Cantigny Golf Club is owned by the McCormick Foundation. It opened in 1989. Golf Digest magazine even called it the "Best New Public Course in America."
The golf complex is 300 acres. It has 27 holes for playing golf. There's also a golf academy that's open all year. Kids can enjoy the 9-hole Cantigny Youth Links. The clubhouse has places to eat and hold events.
Cantigny in Movies
The McCormick House and its nearby lawns have been used in movies! A scene from A League of Their Own (1992) was filmed there. Two other movies, Richie Rich (1994) and Baby's Day Out (1994), also show parts of the mansion's outside.
Where to Find Cantigny
Cantigny is located in Wheaton, Illinois. The main entrance is at 1s151 Winfield Road. This is south of Illinois Route 38 (Roosevelt Road). The entrance for Cantigny Golf is at 27w270 Mack Road, also in Wheaton.
