Bryant Cottage State Historic Site

Bryant Cottage is a wood frame residence built in 1856 with four rooms decorated in Renaissance Revival style that showcase middle-class living in 1850s Illinois. The furnishings and architectural details throughout reflect the domestic life and material comfort of this era.

Francis E. Bryant built this cottage in 1856 in Bement, and it soon became the site of significant political negotiations. Two years later, it hosted meetings that established one of the most remembered political debate series in American history.

The home displays how prosperous merchants and bankers lived before the Civil War, with furnishings that reflect their daily routines and family life. The rooms reveal the values and comfort levels of this social class.

The site offers street parking and wheelchair access through ramps to reach the main building and offices. Visitors should allow about one to two hours to tour the cottage and absorb the historical setting.

The parlor preserves the original furniture arrangement from the evening when two major political figures met to plan what became an important historical event. This room remains largely unchanged and offers a direct window into that significant moment.

Location: Illinois

GPS coordinates: 39.92330,-88.57210

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:01