Kennicott Grove

Kennicott Grove is an estate spanning roughly 120 acres in Glenview, Illinois, containing two historic residences set within prairie lands and connected by nature trails. The property also includes an interpretive center with educational exhibits about the local environment and the buildings themselves.

A physician and horticulturist named John Kennicott established this homestead in 1836 after relocating his family from New Orleans to Illinois. The property grew into a family estate whose interests in plants and collecting shaped how the site evolved over many decades.

The site reflects how a prominent family shaped their surroundings and left behind traces of their values through the buildings and collections that remain. Visitors can observe the way estate life once functioned and what role this place held in the broader community.

The best way to explore the grounds is on foot using the marked trails that wind through the natural landscape and connect the buildings. Starting your visit at the interpretive center helps you understand the site's layout and main features before heading outdoors.

The grounds feature a replica Potawatomi Longhouse that shows how Native American peoples lived in this region before European settlement. This structure provides context about the land's earlier inhabitants and offers a different perspective on the area's past.

Location: Illinois

GPS coordinates: 42.08694,-87.87000

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:51