Mainstreet Libertyville hosts 15th Annual Historic Home Tour

The 15th Annual Historic Home Tour, scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 9, will open four unique homes, along with their gardens, to the public.

Visitors will experience the charm of a 1945 ranch nestled in the woods, with the feel of the country, but close to everything downtown Libertyville has to offer. Another home open for the tour was built in 2016; a modern American Tudor, destined to be a classic. It too sits on a wooded lot with a backyard path that leads to the Des Plaines River trail. Built by a builder's family, it has all the amenities.

Anyone who has passed by the large white house on St. Mary's Road that was boarded up for years and wondered what its story was will have their curiosity satisfied. This 15,000-square-foot home will be open to tour. Built in 1897, it has now been thoughtfully outfitted with antiques curated from all over the United States, stained-glass by a Midwest artisan, a saloon that was originally a chapel, and many more custom features.

Just added to the tour is a 2002 European country house, described as "built on marshland and transformed into an architectural wonder."

Traditionally homes on the tour have been located primarily in the downtown historic area, making it ideal for a walking tour. This year the tour steps out of downtown with homes on East Rockland, St. Mary's Road, and Oak Spring Road.

Register in advance for $15 per person at mainstreetlibertyville.org, or at the MainStreet office at 158 Cook St. Tickets will also be available to purchase for $20 in Cook Park on the day of the event. The keepsake tour booklet and wristband for entry into the homes will be distributed in the park beginning at 9:15 a.m. on June 9. After the tour, stop by O'Toole's for $4 Mimosas to talk about your favorite things from each home.