Place de la Musique, Private music machine museum in Barrington Hills, Illinois.
Place de la Musique is a private music machine museum in Barrington Hills, Illinois, dedicated to mechanical musical instruments. The collection spans multiple buildings and features phonographs, player pianos, fairground organs, and theater pipe organs from different periods.
The museum was founded by the Sanfilippo Foundation and preserves a collection of music machines spanning from the late 1800s through the 20th century. A centerpiece is a Wurlitzer theater organ from 1927 that originally graced the Riviera Theatre in Omaha.
The Sanfilippo Foundation operates this museum, enabling charitable organizations to utilize the estate and its extensive collection of musical instruments for fundraising events.
Access is by appointment through the Foundation, as the museum opens on request rather than maintaining fixed public hours. It is best to contact ahead to arrange a tour and confirm visiting conditions.
The grounds also feature a steam locomotive from 1881 that once operated at Henry Ford's River Rouge Complex. This rare railroad engine stands as an unexpected addition to a museum dedicated primarily to mechanical music.
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