Cantigny Park

Travel Date:

Friday, 3rd July 2015

Cantigny is a public park situated in Wheaton, Illinois (30 miles west of Chicago) and it's a 45 minute drive from my brother's place. This 500 acre park was used to be an estate of Joseph Medill formerly called Red Oaks in late 1800s. When the owner died, he inherited the land to his grandson Colonel McCormick. After he experienced the battle of Cantigny during World War I, Colonel McCormick returned home and named his estate to Cantigny. He used to be the editor/publisher of Chicago Tribune. Colonel McCormick died on 1955 and had no kids so left his fortune to charity which was called McCormick Charitable Trust and it's now called the McCormick Foundation. His will was to convert the Cantigny estate into a park for everyone to use. The McCormick Foundation used the funds given by Colonel McCormick to operate and run the park.

When we arrived at the park, we only paid $5.00 per car which I think it will be used as funds to help pay the operating expense of this public facility. My brother and kids stayed at the playground area while me, my Mama and Ate Venn walked around the park. We explored the different gardens while we headed our way to the Robert R. McCormick Musuem. Before it was converted into a museum, the building was the home of Colonel McCormick. It was built on 1896 by his grandfather Joseph Medill for his mother Katherine. There's a guided tour with a fee if you want to get inside the Musuem.

Other areas or gardens that we visited were: Rose Garden, Reflection Point, Idea Garden and a lot more. I went to their gift shop but unfortunately, I didn't find a fridge magnet or snow ball for my collection but it was a fine afternoon spent with my family.