Cantigny Park

We decided to visit the Robert R. McCormick estate our second day in Wheaton.  I was looking for something inexpensive that could be enjoyed both inside and out, and with only a $5 parking fee and three different museums / buildings to explore, this fit the bill.

We pulled up to the parking lot nearest the War Museum and immediately noticed children climbing on big tanks.  I wasn't sure if they were supposed to be doing this or not, so I cautioned my children until I could read the sign.  It turns out they are meant to be climbed on.  How cool is that?  They had about 10-15 different types of tanks, and children could climb all over them.  Running in and out of all the tanks was a peaceful brook with a duck family - which pretty well kept Songbird occupied.

I decided to try the museum, as the staff said it was not gruesome or inappropriate for children, and I must say that it was extremely well done.  It began with World War I and meandered it's way through World War II, Vietnam, the Cold War and Dessert Storm.  Each display was designed to make you feel like you were walking through the desolation of that particular war (so we started out in a ruined city, then moved to a barbed-wire land mine, then on to a jungle, etc.). It was cool to see how the children made certain connections - like the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe to World War I.

After the museum we went to check out the Visitor's Center, where the kids were impressed by a glass tiled display that showed the entire grounds.  They could actually lay on top of it and find where we were and where we had just come from.  They even found a few places they wanted to discover.

Afterwards we wandered out to the over 30 acres of manicured botanical garden.  In spite of the snowy weather, things were already starting to bloom.  It was the perfect place to learn a bit about the plants - as all the varieties were nicely labeled.  They even had a lovely childrens garden we could explore.

By the time we made it over to the mansion the last tour had already been given.  The curator did let us walk into the basement theatre and look around at the photos and displays.  His home theatre had a gold-leaf ceiling!  I'm sure the rest of the house would have been equally impressive.

When he died, since he didn't have any children of his own, he decided to make a trust of the Estate.  That's why we could enjoy its' beauty for only a $5 parking fee!