Tour Esta Barrett Manor and Gardens
Guided Tours
$15/Person
Guided tours last approximately 60 minutes
and must be booked in advance.
• Fridays at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm (April – December)
• The fourth Saturday of the month at 11:00 am
and 2:00 pm. (April – December)
Esta Barrett Manor and Gardens
6901 Kishwaukee Rd., Rockford, IL 61109
Contact Brian Reis at brian@estabarrett.com
or 815-964-6464.
How to Find Us
Our location is not a secret, but we are a hidden retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. (Well, almost. We are in the flight pattern for Chicago Rockford International Airport and do get a closeup view of most inbound flights.)
Our address is 6901 Kishwaukee Road, however, our physical entrance is on South Bend Road. Once you enter through our brick entranceway on South Bend, follow the drive toward the manor house. Our parking lot is a permeable paver grass lot near the manor. Follow the signs for Manor Parking.
Groups of 8…
Or more can be scheduled between 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday – Friday, subject to volunteer tour guide and staff availability.
Contact Brian Reis
or 815-964-6464 to
coordinate a group tour.
Groups
Esta Barrett Manor & Gardens is the perfect place to bring your car club, garden club, or other special interest group for an informational visit. Each 90-minute tour can include the manor and gardens, grounds and wooded trails, or the farm. A shorter 45-minute tour of the manor also is offered.
School Visits
Let your student get a glimpse of life through another period of time. The field trip involves activity stations at the manor house, farm, and in the garden. Students will learn about Esta Barrett, her joy of gardening, the “modern” technology in her household, and the running of what was then an active farm, with cattle, horses, pigs, and chickens. Today the barns are empty but continue to tell the story of farming from 100 years ago.
Our Manor & Farm Activity Tour aligns with Illinois Learning Standards for Social Science for students in the second grade. The tour takes two hours and must be booked in advance so that volunteers can be available to assist with your class visit.
Events
We’re proud to host entertaining events and guest lectures on topics related to historic preservation, native plants, and the importance of caring for the cultural landscape.
Make a Day of It
Coming to visit? Great – we can’t wait to share all the manor and gardens has to offer! Once you’re done, we invite you to visit some of the other regional amazing attractions, some just a short drive away!
