John Deere Historic Site Opens Doors for the Season

Gates open daily Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Admission is $5 for ages 12 and older.

The John Deere Historic Site recently celebrated its season opener in May, marking 50 years as a historic and educational attraction. Located in Grand Detour, Ill., the site is the original Illinois homestead of John Deere and is the location where he built his first “self-scouring” steel plow. The home Deere built still stands, and the Historic Site was designated a Registered National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service and a Historic Landmark of Agricultural Engineering by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers.

Tour guides provide an entertaining and educational perspective of life on the prairie in the atmosphere of a friendly 19th century prairie village. John Deere’s home is another of the site’s main attractions. He built this home in 1836 and later added sections to accommodate a growing family. Another highlight of the John Deere Historic Site includes a recreation of Deere’s original blacksmith shop. Entering is like a time warp to early pioneer days as guests see the shop as it would have looked over a century ago. The John Deere Historic Site will host several special events this year including: The June Jam music festival on June 22; the Biennial Hammer In on Aug. 2-3; the Art of Green on Aug. 9-10; and the 66th Annual Grand Detour Arts Festival on Sept. 14. For more information, call (815) 652-4551 or visit JohnDeereAttractions.com.