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Scheude An Appointment Garfield Farm Museum
The Garfield Farm Museum and Inn is an educational museum located in the heart of Illinois’ prairie. It features a restored prairie, 45 acres of wetlands and 18 historic structures. They also host several educational and cultural events throughout the year. Visitors can attend lectures, workshops, and special events. These include the annual October Harvest Days and the Rare Breeds Livestock Show.
This historical farm has a rich tradition. A second-generation farmstead and brick tavern have been preserved. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Garfield family was among the first to develop a large-scale agricultural development on the Illinois prairie. The farm and inn was also an important meeting place for the community. Next one here.
A 19th-century hay and grain barn and a cow-calf barn are among the oldest structures at the site. A 1906 dairy barn is 34 by 84 feet and a six-sided chicken house was built in the 1930s. Other buildings include a cistern built in a crawlspace under the western expansion in 1875 and a large wooden windmill replaced by a metal tower in the 1960s.
A number of heirloom gardens are located at the site. There is also a museum of American democracy and the natural environment. Some of the animals on the farm include Merino sheep, Black Java chickens, and rare American Milking Devon oxen.
As the site becomes fully restored, it will be able to offer visitors a variety of hands-on experiences with farming from the 1840s. One such experience will be the Prairie Walks. Each month, visitors will be able to enjoy a walk through the prairie and participate in a barn dance. An antique tool show will also take place. Members will have access to free tours of the site and discounted rates to special events.
The museum is a great way to learn about the heritage of the prairie and the ways of life of Americans during the 1840s. Tour guides will explain how the buildings were built and how groups of animals were housed. You can visit the prairie and the savanna or stay in the 1846 inn. Learn more.
Visitors can also attend the annual Antique Tool Show or the Seed Savers Exchange. Several special events are held at the site, including workshops, seminars, and period dances. At each event, a catered lunch will be served.
Garfield Farm has been added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. The site is owned by Campton Historic Agricultural Lands. The Garfield Heritage Society is a nonprofit organization responsible for the day-to-day interpretation of the site. Several historical structures have been restored, and the group is requesting $3 million to complete the restoration of twenty-four more.
While the Garfield family farm is a working farm today, the history of the land and the farm is a valuable resource to those interested in the history of the region. The museum is a living history farm, which will be used to educate people about the prairie and the future of farming. Check this out.