Tours of Mettawa estate mark Adlai Stevenson Day on Feb. 5

I've lived down St. Mary's Road from the Adlai Stevenson home most of my life and still haven't had a chance to take a tour - the looks like a great opportunity! This is a story out of today's News-Sun.


METTAWA -- Guided tours of the Adlai E. Stevenson Historic Home will be part of the first celebration of Adlai Stevenson Day on Feb. 5.

Tours of the home on St. Mary's Road, a mile south of Route 60, in Mettawa will be offered at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. by the Lake County Forest Preserve District.

The one-hour tours will focus on information about Adlai E. Stevenson II and anecdotes about his family's use of the home. Tour visitors will see the home itself, including the study where Stevenson met with dignitaries such as John F. Kennedy and Eleanor Roosevelt, and the service building and grounds.

Visitors will learn more about the influential American statesman known as "the man from Libertyville" as they take in the setting where he wrote speeches, reflected on world events and found solace in the landscape.

Stevenson served as governor of Illinois from 1949 to 1953 and ambassador to the United Nations from 1961 until his death in 1965. He also ran unsuccessfully for president against Dwight Eisenhower in 1952 and 1956.

A bill was signed into law in August designating Feb. 5 of every year as Adlai Stevenson Day.

The Adlai E. Stevenson Historic Home was built in 1938. The property is a designated Illinois Historic Site and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Tours are open to visitors ages eight and up. They are free, but registration is required and can be made at www.LCFPD.org or by calling (847) 968-3321.

Parking is available on site. The grounds are open to visitors daily, 6:30 a.m. to sunset. A self-directed walking tour of the grounds is available, featuring exhibit panels on the history of the property and Adlai Stevenson II.

For more information on the home, call (847) 968-3400.