Owen Lovejoy House

Owen Lovejoy House is a white wooden farmhouse with a two-story frame structure featuring Greek Revival design and a wide front porch across its facade. The home contains period rooms on two floors that show how a 19th-century family lived and how they carried out their station operations.

Owen Lovejoy built his house in 1838 and made it a known stopping point on the network that helped fugitives reach freedom. The site grew in importance over following decades until slavery ended in 1865, bringing an end to such operations.

The house served as a gathering place for people who opposed slavery, and the rooms show how family and guests shared daily life under one roof. Furnishings and objects reveal a household built on welcoming strangers and helping those in desperate need.

The house offers guided tours from April through October, and educational groups can arrange visits throughout the year. The warmer months provide the best time to explore both the interior and the grounds surrounding the property.

Hidden compartments in the attic provided shelter for fugitives and were built with careful attention to remain undetected. These concealed spaces show the practical creativity of those who ran the station while putting themselves at risk.

Location: Illinois

GPS coordinates: 41.37306,-89.45083

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:27