Hegeler Carus Mansion, Second Empire mansion in LaSalle, United States
Hegeler Carus Mansion is a Second Empire residence with 57 rooms spread across seven levels totaling approximately 16,000 square feet. Inside, visitors see original parquet floors and ceilings decorated with hand-painted details.
The mansion was built in 1876 for zinc industrialist Edward Hegeler and designed by William Boyington, who also designed the Chicago Water Tower. It was created during an era when wealthy manufacturers built grand homes as monuments to their success.
The mansion served as home to the Open Court Publishing Company, which brought together scholars from different parts of the world through books about philosophy, science, and religion. The spaces reflect how this intellectual meeting place shaped conversations across cultures and disciplines.
The mansion can be visited on guided tours offered on specific weekdays. Wear comfortable shoes since exploring the multiple levels involves climbing many stairs.
The property contains one of the oldest indoor gymnasiums still standing in the United States, built in the late 1800s in the German turnverein style. This rare structure shows how European athletic traditions were adapted in America.
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