Tania Perez

Located in Wheaton, Illinois, Cantigny Park is the 500-acre former estate of Colonel Robert R. McCormick, the longtime editor, and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. Robert R. McCormick died in 1955 at age 74. His will established the Robert R. McCormick Charitable Trust and designated Cantigny as a public space for education and recreation. This extraordinary gift, now part of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, enriches our community every day and is enjoyed by more than 300,000 visitors each year. Cantigny Park opened to the public in 1958. It is home to: The Robert R. McCormick Museum, a historic house museum interpreting the life and legacy of the Colonel. The mansion reveals the public and private sides of one of America’s wealthiest and most philanthropic families. The First Division Museum, dedicated to the history of the Big Red One, the famed 1st Infantry Division of the U.S. Army. Many exhibits are interactive and all of them provide fascinating insights about America’s military, past and present. Cantigny Gardens, created in 1967 by renowned landscape architect Franz Lipp. Nearly 30 acres of formal gardens, theme plantings, and statuary render exceptional beauty in all seasons. Visitors Center, featuring a popular scale model of the estate, 100-seat theater with welcome film, Le Jardin at Cantigny Park (restaurant and banquet hall), Bertie’s Café and the Cantigny Shop. Education Center, a Prairie-style building opened in 2010 that serves as the hub for more than 300 children’s programs, youth group activities, Golden Oak Club meetings (for seniors), fitness classes, horticulture workshops, art classes and more. Walking Trails (nearly 3 miles) and spacious Picnic Area. Cantigny Golf, designed by Roger Packard and opened for play in 1989. The 300-acre complex includes 27 scenic holes, the year-round Cantigny Golf Academy, the 9-hole Cantigny Youth Links and a full-service clubhouse with dining and banquet facilities.