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

Mrs. Ellwood’s Museum

Photographed by Matthew Stevens, September 10, 2026

1. Mrs. Ellwood’s Museum Marker

Inscription.
This building was constructed in 1905 as a private museum for Harriet Miller Ellwood. Designed by architect William S. Ralph, it is an interesting combination of two architectural styles popular at the turn of the 20th century. The exterior was designed in the Colonial Revival style, which looked back at the 18th century Colonial and Federal era architecture and blended will with the mansion's appearance after 1899, while the interior features of the building were designed in the new, avant-garde Arts and Crafts style. Several rooms and halls were lined with built-in oak display cases used to display Harriet's extensive collections.

According to her obituary in the DeKalb Review (July 21, 1910): "...she took greatest delight in collecting the curious. Her accumulations have won more than local fame. They include heirlooms of the family, rare and highly prized books and manuscripts, historic and scientific novelties, old pewter, early patterns of china, war relics, geological specimens, minerals, gem rarities, souvenirs of travel from every continent, mounted specimens of butterflies and polished shells."

An inventory

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of the collections made before her death lists nearly 500 objects, including a petrified snake, a piece of silk stocking worn by President Buchanan, a section of the first Atlantic cable, and the jaw of a shark killed by her husband, Isaac Ellwood. Most of this material was dispersed and lost over the years.

Erected by the Ellwood House Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Education • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1905.

Location. 41° 56.1′ N, 88° 45.179′ W. Marker is in DeKalb, Illinois, in DeKalb County. It is on North 1st Street north of Augusta Avenue, on the left when traveling north. This marker is located to the north of the Museum House at the Ellwood House Museum park in DeKalb. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 509 N 1st Street, Dekalb IL 60115, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Illinois.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically,

Mrs. Ellwood’s Museum Marker & Museum House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Matthew Stevens, September 10, 2026

2. Mrs. Ellwood’s Museum Marker & Museum House

it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Major General Johann De Kalb White Oak (within shouting distance of this marker); Ellwood Green (within shouting distance of this marker); The Little House (within shouting distance of this marker); Jacob Haish (approx. ¼ mile away); DeKalb War Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); DeKalb World War I Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Annie Laurie Garden (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Winged Ear Logo (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in DeKalb.

Museum House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Matthew Stevens, September 10, 2026

3. Museum House

Nearby Broken Sundial image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Matthew Stevens, September 10, 2026

4. Nearby Broken Sundial

Credits. This page was last revised on September 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 10, 2026, by Matthew Stevens of Washington, Illinois. This page has been viewed 9 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 10, 2026, by Matthew Stevens of Washington, Illinois. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.