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Local News | Cuneo Mansion self-guided tours resume most…

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Local News | Cuneo Mansion self-guided tours resume most Fridays, Saturdays

The corner of Routes 21 and 60 might be one of the busiest intersections in Lake County. But Lisa Cushing Davis says the public can find a quiet retreat just north of Route 60 on 21 when visiting the former 100-acre estate of the Cuneo family in Vernon Hills.

“You are so close to congestion and chaos, but you feel as if you are miles and miles removed from that when you’re on the grounds,” said Davis, associate director of the Cuneo Mansion and Gardens.

The public can take self-guided tours of the mansion and gardens most Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 21. Second Saturdays are free, and summer is a popular time to visit because of the blooms proliferating outdoors, Davis said.

Among the highlights are the formal gardens and reflecting pool outside the Italian villa-style home built for General Electric Company founder Samuel Insull in 1916. The landscape was designed by world-renowned landscape architect Jens Jensen, she said. Chicago architect Benjamin Marshall designed the home.

“The mansion is really ornately decorated. Insull wanted the house to look like an Italian villa that stood in the Tuscan countryside 100 years ago,” she said. The design included molded ceilings and marble and terra cotta throughout, she said.

Insull lived there until 1932 when he lost the house and grounds after the Great Depression. John Cuneo, Sr. purchased the estate in 1937, where he lived with his wife and two children.

The Cuneo Foundation donated the grounds and home to Loyola University in 2009. The university closed the mansion and gardens in 2014 for major improvements, and reopened to the public for self-guided tours in April 2018, closing for three months in winter, Davis said.

Restoration projects included updating electrical and heating systems, replace gutters, roof systems, and historic windows, among others, and there’s more work to be done, Davis said.

Visitors are particularly entranced with the gardens, she said. “As guests drive onto property, they go over a cobblestone bridge. There’s a pond on either side, that’s part of the Jensen design.”

She added the Cuneos made some changes when they bought the home, and the grounds are considerably more formal than they were during the Insull era.

Today visitors can view formal gardens bursting with annual plantings such as fountain grass, cannas and marigolds in a geometric pattern, she said.

Because Insull’s wife was a stage actress, Jensen included an outdoor stage in the gardens, she said. “There’s a beautiful reflecting pond at one end of the mansion, and at the other end is the stage with Greek and Roman style pillars. It’s very classical looking,” Davis said, adding she hopes to introduce outdoor programs next summer on the stage.

The interior looks like it did when the Cuneos lived there, she said. Visitors will note stained glass and painted ceiling murals including one panel depicting the Cuneo children with a guardian angel.

“There are two pianos, one of which is particularly impressive,” Davis said. “It’s a 1904 Steinway art case piano. It is gilded, it is all hand painted. It still has its original ivory keys. It is absolutely gorgeous. These pianos were made to order and this particular one was made for Mrs. Cuneo’s mother when they lived in an apartment on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago.”

The Cuneos were also avid collectors of Renaissance and baroque art. The mansion’s interior features paintings from that era as well as a collection of cassones, Renaissance-era marriage dowry chests, which were intricately carved and hand-painted. “At one time, the Cuneos had the largest collection of cassones in North America,” Davis said.

The gardens and mansions are open for free self-guided tours July 13, Aug. 10, Sept. 14, Oct. 12, Nov. 9 and Dec. 14. Other Fridays and Saturdays, the cost is $9-$10. The mansion will be closed Aug. 30 and 31. Check the website to make sure a special event isn’t being held the day you want to visit. brochures pointing out the garden and mansion highlights are available.

Cuneo Mansion Tours

When: 11 a.m-4 p.m., most Fridays and Saturdays, through Dec. 21

Where: Cuneo Mansion, 1350 N. Milwaukee Ave., Vernon Hills

Tickets: $9-$10; children under 12 are free; free second Saturdays of month

Information: 847-362-3042; www.luc.edu/cuneo/toursevents

Sheryl DeVore is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.

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Visiting Cuneo Mansion and Gardens in Vernon Hills, Illinois

Tuesday, december 18, 2018.

• We had to be buzzed in at the gate to enter.
• No photography is permitted in the home.
• Tours are self guided.
• Tours will resume later in 2019 after renovations in January and February.
• You will enter through the Pavilion which was added by Loyola University.
• Be prepared to explore!

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Cuneo Mansion and Gardens

1350 N. Milwaukee Ave., Vernon Hills, IL 60061

Historic Mediterranean-style mansion.

The opulent Cuneo Museum and Gardens, located on 75 acres and dotted with formal gardens and statuary was the perfect setting for the wedding scenes in "My Best Friend's Wedding." The gazebo where the best friends were caught kissing was built specifically for the film, but Cuneo's owners liked it so much they decided to keep it permanently. Take a guided tour through the historic Mediterranean-style Cuneo mansion to see Renaissance artworks and lavish European furnishings.

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Cuneo Museum & Gardens - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Tickets & prices Cuneo Mansion & Gardens - Loyola University Chicago

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The following overview lists the admission prices and various discounts and discount codes for a visit to Cuneo Mansion & Gardens - Loyola University Chicago in Vernon Hills . All prices are displayed per age group or reduced rate group. You can also directly book your discounted online ticket for the Cuneo Mansion & Gardens - Loyola University Chicago here, if available, or make a reservation to reserve a timeslot if applicable.

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Arts & Entertainment

Holiday guide: a winter wonderland at cuneo mansion, enjoy spectacular lights, theatre, art, tours and santa claus at the historic estate this holiday season., angela morrey , neighbor.

Once again, Loyola University Chicago’s Cuneo Mansion and Gardens, 1350 N. Milwaukee Ave., opens its doors to the community this holiday season.

In addition to the estate’s annual light show Cuneo will present a performance of the classic The Velveteen Rabbit , an exhibition of crèches from around the world, and host its second annual Open House with Santa on December 14.

The always popular Winter Wonderland Holiday Light Show at Cuneo returns from November 23 through December 31, inviting the community to take a drive-through tour of the estate’s 97 acres decorated in brightly lit holiday figures. The show runs from 6–10 p.m., Monday through Sunday.

Find out what's happening in Vernon Hills with free, real-time updates from Patch.

Visitors can enhance their experience by tuning into the local radio station 107.1 FM for a dual music and visual experience.

Cuneo will also host a staged adaption of the family classic The Velveteen Rabbit . This Kirk Players’ rendition of the beloved children’s book by Margery Williams is filled with enchantment, song, and audience participation.

The Velveteen Rabbit will premiere at Cuneo on December 1, with performances scheduled throughout the month of December.

On December 14, from 6:30–9 p.m., the Cuneo Mansion and Gardens invites the local community to its second annual Open House with Santa .

Visitors are welcome to enjoy self-guided tours of the mansion, a craft station and coloring contest for children, a homemade wreath contest, a visit with Santa Claus and his elves in the Great Hall, a raffle drawing, cookies and hot chocolate, beer/wine for purchase, and more.

“We are so pleased to share another holiday season with the public,” said Kevin Ginty, general manager at Cuneo Mansion and Gardens. “It is one of our favorite times of the year, and we are thrilled to host the Open House with Santa for a second year. It brings such joy!”

Adding to the holiday spirit this year will be 15 unique crèches from around the world, which will be displayed throughout the Cuneo Mansion from November 1 through December 31, 2012.

These crèches are on loan from the Loyola University Museum of Art’s (LUMA) annual holiday exhibition, Art and Faith of the Crèche: The Collection of James and Emilia Govan.

The full exhibition will be shown at LUMA, located at 820 N. Michigan Avenue on Loyola’s Water Tower Campus, from November 20, 2012 through January 13, 2013.

-Information provided by Cuneo Mansion and Gardens

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7 MOST extravagant houses of 19th century Moscow

1. The Levenson House, Trekhprudnyi Lane, 9

The lantern above the Levenson House

This house, designed by architect Fyodor Shekhtel, was built for Alexander Levenson, the proprietor of a famous Moscow typography, in 1900. The house had space for printing machines, as well as living premises. The highlight of the house is a fascinating roof lantern. Recently, the house was scientifically restored and is now for sale. The 1,000-sq.m. building’s price tag is 1.1 billion rubles (approx. $14.4 mln).

The interior of the Levenson House

2. The Zimins House, Degtyarny Lane, 8/3

The interior of the Zimins' House

What seems an ordinary house from the outside is really one of the poshest mansions of 19th century Moscow, built for Nikolay Zimin, a major Russian tobacco trader. Built in 1896 according to the project by Edmund Yuditsky, it still houses the original interior decoration. Russian cinema buffs might recognize it from the movie ‘Brat-2’, directed by Alexey Balabanov.

The Zimins' House from the outside

Currently, the building houses the Agency for the Management and Use of Historical and Cultural Monuments of the Ministry of Culture of Russia – some of the foremost specialists in heritage preservation in the country.

3. The Igumnov House, Bolshaya Yakimanka Street, 43

The Igumnov House

This house looks like a palace right out of a Russian fairytale, but it was actually built in 1895 (designed by architect Nikolay Pozdneev), at the order of Nikolay Igumnov, a textile tycoon from Yaroslavl.

The door and the porch decoration of the Igumnov House

The bricks were shipped in from the Netherlands, the fascinating porcelain facade tiles made following a special order at the Kuznetsov porcelain factory, the most famous in Russia at the time. The cost of the house was allegedly around 1 million rubles (when 150 rubles was a solid year’s salary). Inside, the 40 rooms of the house were decorated in a variety of styles – from traditional Russian to art nouveau.

The staircase in the Igumnov House

Currently, the Igumnov House is the residence of the French ambassador to Russia.

The interior of the Igumnov House

4. The Morozova House, Spiridonovka Street, 17

Zinaida Morozova's House

Another house by Fyodor Shekhtel, a star of Moscow art nouveau, was commissioned by Zinaida Morozova, the wife of Savva Morozov, a textile tycoon.

The exterior decorations of Zinaida Morozova's House

The interior design was made by a famous painter Mikhail Vrubel, who made several murals inspired by chivalry aesthetics of Medieval Europe, resonating with the neo-gothic style of the house.

The interior of Zinaida Morozova's House

In 1938, the Morozova House became the House of Receptions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which it stays to this day.

5. The Vtorov Mansion (Spaso House), Spasopeskovskaya Square

Spaso-House from the outside

This mansion, commissioned by textile industrialist Nikolay Vtorov, was built in 1913. It takes its English name, Spaso House, from Spasopeskovskaya Square, where it is located. It’s a neo-classical recreation of a classic upper-class city mansion of the 1820s, with palladian windows and a perfectly symmetrical interior plan.

The interior of Spaso-House

Vtorov’s family lived in the house for just 4 years before the Revolution, after which the house was expropriated by the new Soviet government to serve as a reception house for the All-Russia Central Executive Committee.

Spaso-House's inner rooms

In 1933, the house became the residence of William C. Bullitt, the first U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union, and has stayed the residence of the U.S. ambassadors ever since. Presidents Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan all stayed there when they visited Moscow.

The dining room at Spaso-House

6. The Ryabushinsky Mansion, Malaya Nikitskaya Street, 6/2

The Ryabushinski Mansion

This mansion, again built by Fyodor Shekhtel, this time for millionaire Stepan Ryabushinsky in 1900-1902, is probably the architect’s most famous work in Moscow. Apart from all the fascinating art nouveau interior decoration and the famous stairwell with a jellyfish lamp, the mansion also housed a secret chapel – the Ryabushinskis were Old Believers, outlawed in Russia until 1905. “I believe that in the whole of Europe there is no house like this,” Ryabushinski said when examining the newly-built mansion.

The Ryabushinski Mansion's 'jellyfish' staircase

After 1917, when the Ryabushinsky family fled Russia, the house became the state’s property and, in 1931, writer Maxim Gorky and his family started living there. Gorky didn’t like the mansion at all, calling it “awkward, but fit for working at least”. After Gorky’s death, the mansion became Maxim Gorky’s personal museum, which helped preserve the unique interiors of the house to the present day.

A stained glass window in the Ryabushinski Mansion

The dining room inside the Ryabushinski Mansion

7. The Berg City Mansion, Denezhny Lane, 5/1

Berg city mansion

Constructed in 1897 by Pyotr Boytsov, the house was commissioned by a businessman named Sergey Berg. It comprises different styles – gothic, baroque and art nouveau. Berg’s mansion was one of the first Moscow homes to have electricity installed – lighting and an electric doorbell. It was here that the first “electric ball” was held.

The Berg city mansion from the inside

The house, which had preserved all its original interior decoration, was renovated in 2016. It currently houses the Italian Embassy in Russia.

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Loyola lake county, cuneo mansion in vernon hills, driving directions.

Loyola Lake County 1350 N. Milwaukee Ave. Vernon Hills, IL 60061

From O'Hare International Airport in IL (25.7 miles)

• Head Southeast onto Lower Level T3 Street and take the ramp onto I-190 East for 1.8 miles.
• Take exit 1C for I-294 N/Tollway toward Milwaukee for 13.4 miles.
• Continue onto 1-94 West for 5.4 miles.
• Exit on Townline Road/IL-60 and turn left on Townline Rd.
• Take for 2.3 miles and then turn right onto IL-21 N/S Milwaukee Ave.
• Take Milwaukee Avenue for .7 miles and arrive at Cuneo Mansion (on left).

From Midway Airport in IL (44.8 miles)

• Head south on Cicero Avenue toward W. 59th street.
• Make a U-turn at W. 59th Street and merge onto I-55 N/Stevenson Expressway via the ramp to Chicago for 4.8 miles.
• Take exit 292A to merge onto I-90 W/ Interstate 94 W/I-94 W toward West Ryan Expressway/ Wisconsin for 11.1 miles.
• Go slightly right onto Interstate 94 W (Edens Expressway/Milwaukee) for 13.5 miles.
• Continue on US-41 N for 7.9 mile.
• Turn left onto IL-60 W/W Kennedy Rd/ E Townline Rd. for 4.2 miles.
• Turn right onto IL-21 N/S Milwaukee Ave.

From Downtown Chicago, IL (35.6 miles)

• Take I-90 West/Interstate 94 W/ toward Wisconsin for approximately 23 miles.
• Continue onto US-41 North for 7.9 miles.
• Exit on Townline Road/ IL-60 exit.
• Turn left onto IL-60 W/E Townline Road and take for 2.3 miles.

From Milwaukee, WI (57.7 miles)

• Head south on N. Milwaukee Street toward E. Wisconsin Ave.
• Take the 2nd right onto E. Michigan St. Turn left onto N. 2nd Street.
• Take the ramp on left to I-94 E/ US-41 S for .5 miles.
• Take exit 1B on left for Interstate 43 S/Interstate 94/U.S. 41 toward Chicago for .8 miles.
• Merge onto I-94 E/US-41 S and take for 47.7 miles.
• Take the Milwaukee Ave/IL-21 exit for .4 miles.
• Turn right onto IL-21 S/ Milwaukee Avenue and take for 7.7 miles. Arrive at Cuneo Mansion (on right).

From Rockford, IL (69.5 miles)

• Head northwest on W. State Street toward S. Main Street.
• Take the 2nd left onto S. Church Street.
• Turn left onto Cedar Street and take the 1st right onto IL-2 S/S Main Street for 3.5 miles.
• Merge onto US-20 E via the ramp to Belvidere and take for 5.6 miles.
• Continue onto I-39 N for 2.3 miles.
• Take exit 122A to merge onto US-20 E. toward Belvidere for 18.8 miles.
• Turn left onto IL-23 N/S State Street and continue to follow IL-23 N. for .5 miles.
• Turn right onto IL-176 E/ Telegraph St. and follow for 9 miles.
• Turn right onto IL-176 E/ IL-47 S/S Eastwood Drive for .9 miles.
• Turn left onto IL-176 E and take for 26.3 miles.
• Turn right onto IL-21/S Milwaukee Avenue and take for 2.2 miles.
• Arrive at Cuneo Mansion (on right).
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Our Moscow tours are land only meaning that you arrange your own air travel to Russia and our expert staff meets you at the airport and handles everything else from there. Our online Airline Ticket booking system offers some of the most competitive rates to Russia available on the web so if you need tickets, please visit our Russian air ticket center . Rest assured that you will be taken great care of on one of our Moscow tours. Express to Russia has a fully staffed office in Moscow that will help to make your visit fun, informative and unforgettable. Please remember that of all these tours are private and can be adjusted to your taste. You can add, replace or skip some sights; you can add more days to the package or cut the tour short. Our specialists will be glad to help you create the tour of your dreams!

Moscow, a City Like No Other

Moscow is Russia’s largest city with a population of between 12 and 13 million. It is also Europe’s largest city and when you visit Moscow, you can feel it. The layout and architecture of the city is eclectic, ranging from crooked, ancient streets and alleyways to wide, bustling boulevards, from medieval churches to Stalin skyscrapers and to modern, glass buildings towering over everything and of course in the center of it all is the Kremlin and the magnificent Red Square. Moscow is also home to a fantastic, efficient and very beautiful metro system – each station having its own special design. In fact, Express to Russia’s Moscow metro tours and excursions are some of our most popular attractions that we offer. On our Moscow tours, you will see this and more.

Moscow Tours centering on Russian History

Moscow has a long and interesting history and has been the capital of Russia in many of its different iterations – capital of the Grand Duchy of Moscow , the Russian Empire and of course the Soviet Union (who could ever forget the Soviet Union?). Moscow, was founded in the 12th century by Prince Yuri Dolgaruki (Yuri of the long arms – he really did have long arms!). From that time on, it was home to the Russian Tsars until Peter the Great moved the capital to St. Petersburg in 1703. The city has survived invasions and sieges from the Mongols, the Tartars, the Poles, Lithuanians and Napoleon but has always persevered. Our Moscow tours will enlighten you on this great history and give you insights into Muscovites and their unique culture. Our Moscow tours show you what the city is like today but also brings to life the past. Moscow never seems to sleep and is bursting with energy. A Moscow tour with Express to Russia is truly the best way of getting to know Russia’s largest and most vibrant city.

Frequently Asked Questions From Our Travelers

What is the best time to visit moscow.

Any time of year is fine depending on what you plan to do. Summertime is pleasantly warm, ideal for exploring the city and its vibrant atmosphere, but Moscow will be much busier and accommodation is more expensive. Winter can be quite cold but beautiful nonetheless, and this is unproblematic if you intend to spend most of your trip in museums and galleries. There are also various festivals and events organised throughout the year. For more information about the best time to visit, read our guide

How many days are enough in Moscow?

If you plan your itinerary strategically and aren’t averse to a packed schedule, you can cover Moscow’s main sights over a long weekend. Most popular attractions are in the city centre, and the Moscow Metro allows you to cover much ground in a small amount of time. Ensure that your accommodation is fairly central and book tickets in advance, so that you can make the most of your days. For an informative and well-organised day out, check out our Moscow day tours with options to suit all interests.

Do they speak English in Moscow?

As Russia’s capital city, tourists are well accommodated in Moscow. There should be English-speaking staff in restaurants, bars, hotels, shops and attractions in tourist hotspots, and there are also English-speaking tourist police. Transport services have English translations on their maps and English announcements via intercom; alternatively, order taxis from the Yandex Taxi app (Russian Uber), though it’s unlikely that your taxi driver will speak English. If you get stuck and cannot communicate, it’s fine to use Google Translate.

Is it safe to travel to Moscow?

It is no less safe to travel to Moscow than to any European city if you exercise common sense and look after your belongings. As with every city some regions can be more unsavoury than others, but no tourist attractions are located there. The traffic in Moscow is notorious, so exercise caution when crossing roads. Do not take unlicensed taxis; book in advance or take public transport, which is widespread and perfectly safe. If you encounter any problems, look for the special tourist police who can help you. For more information, read our guide about staying safe in Russia .

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