Wheaton, Illinois
Founded by brothers Jesse and Warren Wheaton, Wheaton is the home of Wheaton College, established in 1860. The college, railroad right-of-way and courthouse were given to the town by the founding fathers. About 24 religious publishers and organizations are headquartered in Wheaton. Such celebrated citizens a Billy Graham, Elbert Gary, Colonel R.R. McCormick, and Red Grange are the subjects of exhibits, mural displays and films at the Du Page Heritage Gallery/Red Grange Archives, 421 N. County Farm RD. Phone 630.682.7000.
The Greater Wheaton Chamber of Commerce is located at 108 E. Wesley ST, Wheaton, IL 60187. Phone 630.668.6464.
You can find the Billy Graham Center, on the Wheaton College campus at 500 E. College AVE, has a museum, a library, and archives devoted to Christian evangelism. The museum exhibits a visual history of the growth of evangelism in the United States from Colonial times to the present. Also featured are temporary exhibits about religious history and contemporary Christian art. Allow 1 hour 30 minutes minimum. MON-SAT, 9:30-5:30, SUN 1-5. Donations are welcome. Phone 630.752.5909.
The Cantigny War Memorial Museum of the First Division is 3 miles north on I-88, then 1.5 blocks south on Winfield RD. The 500-acre grounds were formerly the property of Colonel Robert R. McCormick who was an editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune and also a member of the First Infantry Division. The property includes ten acres of formal gardens, wooded walks, and picnic facilities. Outdoor concerts are held on the property at the gazebo Sundays at 3, Memorial Day through Labor Day. Allow 2 hours minimum. There is a fee for parking and entrance is free. Phone 630.668.5161.
The First Division Museum, on 1 S. 151 Winfield RD, honors the US Army's First Infantry Division with units dating from 1776 as well as the men and women who have served in World War I, World War II, Vietnam, and Desert Storm. Designed to allow visitors to experience what it was like to walk through war-torn France or land on Omaha Beach on D-Day, the museum also contains archives and an outdoor tank park. Phone 630.668.5185.
The Robert R. McCormick Museum is located at 1 S. 151 Winfield RD and is the restored Georgian residence of Colonel McCormick and his grandfather, Joseph Medill. The museum contains antique furnishings, carpets, and paintings; sword and miniature cannon collections; and an Art Deco bar and theater. A slide show is included in the tour. Phone 630.668.5161.
The Cosley Animal Farm and Museum, located at 1356 Gary AVE at Jewell RD, has a small zoo with domestic and wild animals. Allow 1 hour minimum for touring the farm. Donations are welcome if you enjoy your visit. Phone 630.665.5534.
The Du Page County Historical Museum is a 102 E. Wesley ST. The 1891 Richardsonian Romanesque building contains exhibits that emphasizes county history from the 1830s to the present. Displays include changing costume exhibits, period settings, and a model railroad. Visitor participation is featured in "Inside History." Allow 30 minimum to tour the museum. Free. Phone 630.682.7343.
