Lasalle in LaSalle County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Hegeler Carus Mansion

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 31, 2021

1. Hegeler Carus Mansion Marker

Inscription.
has been designated a
National Historic Landmark
This home possesses national significance because
of its architect, W. W. Boyington; its interior designer,
August Fiedler; and as the birthplace of Open Court
Publishing Company, an American center of
philosophical, scientific, and religious dialogue.
2007
National Park Service
United States Department of the Interior

Erected by National Park Service.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Communications • Industry & Commerce • Women. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1876.

Location. 41° 20.133′ N, 89° 5.222′ W. Marker is in Lasalle, Illinois, in LaSalle County. Marker is at the intersection of 7th Street and Sterling Street, on the left when traveling east on 7th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1307 7th St, La Salle IL 61301, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Dr. Paul Carus / Dr. Daisetz Teitaru Suzuki (a few steps from this marker); Julius W. Hegeler I Home (a few steps from this marker); La Salle-Peru, Illinois

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(approx. 0.3 miles away); St. Roch's Bells (approx. half a mile away); LaSalle City Hall-1906 (approx. 0.6 miles away); Fort Wilbourn (approx. 1.7 miles away); Maud Powell (approx. 2.2 miles away); Casimir Pulaski Memorial (approx. 2.8 miles away).

Regarding Hegeler Carus Mansion. Excerpt from the National Landmark nomination:

… The life of its first owner, Edward C. Hegeler (1835-1910), exemplifies the contributions to American industry and culture made by immigrants who have arrived with university degrees in hand attracted by the opportunities in this country for people with good educations and a willingness to work hard. So too does the life of Paul Carus (1852-1919), the man Hegeler eventually chose to head his publishing enterprise, Open Court Publishing Company. Mary Hegeler Carus (1861-1936), Hegeler's eldest offspring and Carns's wife, led a life of special interest because of the extraordinarily rare opportunities she as a woman enjoyed and upon which she capitalized. She was raised and educated in the first wave of American women university graduates — in her case studying sciences and engineering — to the level that she could competently run the family's
Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, October 31, 2021

2. Hegeler Carus Mansion Marker
Featured marker is on the bench back.
zinc smelting company when two of her brothers left the enterprise and later took on leadership of the publishing company. …

Also see . . .
1. Hegeler-Carus Mansion. Wikipedia entry on the 57-room manse and the history within its walls. (Submitted on November 4, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. Open Court Publishing Company. Wikipedia entry on the publisher, one of the first academic presses in the country with titles such as Open Court and the Popular Culture & Philosophy series. It is still in business, publishing The Monist and other titles. (Submitted on November 4, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

3. Mary Hegeler Carus. Brief biography by the "Stories from the Big House" blog by the Hegeler Carus Foundation. (Submitted on November 4, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

4. William W. Boyington. Wikipedia entry on the architect who designed several notable buildings in the Chicago region and was mayor of one of its suburbs. (Submitted on November 4, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

5. William August Fiedler. Find A Grave website entry (Submitted on November 5, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Hegeler Carus Mansion image. Click for more information.

via NPS, unknown

3. Hegeler Carus Mansion

National Register of Historic Places website entry
Click for more information.

Edward C. Hegeler image. Click for full size.

Unknown/public domain

4. Edward C. Hegeler

Illustration from The Cyclopædia of American Biography (1918).

Paul Carus (1852-1919) image. Click for full size.

Unknown / Public domain

5. Paul Carus (1852-1919)

The first managing editor of Open Court Publishing Co., he wrote 75 books and more than 1,500 articles on history, politics, philosophy, religion, anthropology, science and social issues.

William W. Boyington (1818-1898) image. Click for full size.

Unknown artist / Public domain

6. William W. Boyington (1818-1898)

William August Fiedler (1842-1903) image. Click for full size.

Burnhamandroot via WikiMedia Commons

7. William August Fiedler (1842-1903)

Among this German architect-designer's notable works are the 1889 Germania Club, the 1879 Nickerson Mansion, and 58 schools in Chicago.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 5, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 3, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 376 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 3, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3. submitted on November 5, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on November 4, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.