Gilded Age Grandeur Restored: Hegeler Carus Mansion Secures First-Ever State Grant for Major Restoration
‘Generous donations paired with grant award move restoration efforts to the Second Level’
LA SALLE, IL — The Hegeler Carus Mansion is officially unveiling its next grand chapter. For the first time in its history, the National Historic Landmark has been awarded a prestigious tourism grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).
Combined with major private gifts from Noreen Hynes, Seth Carus, and Blouke Carus, , this funding will restore the entire Second Level flooring to its 19th-century glory.
This is no ordinary repair project. Beginning this August and September, master craftsmen of Kech’s Flooring Design Center, Morton, IL will undertake a meticulous restoration of the mansion's intricate custom parquet floors on the Second Level. The floors of the Mansion feature more than nine distinct species of wood.
The project will wrap up just in time for the 2026 holiday festivities, finalizing two full stories of jaw-dropping historic flooring.
“The 2025 transformation of our Main Level floors was absolutely spectacular,” says Laura Walker, Executive Director. “We cannot wait to see the transformation of the Second Level.”
Business as Usual
Tours and events will continue during the restoration. Visitors can still experience Main Story tours, workshops, and signature programming while Kelch’s Flooring Design team work their magic on the Second Level.
Preserving a 57-room architectural marvel requires a community. To join the legacy or support future sustainability efforts, contact info@hegelercarus.org.
About the Hegeler Carus Mansion
The Hegeler Carus Mansion, a National Historic Landmark, is located at 1307 Seventh Street in LaSalle, IL. The Mansion has 57 rooms, intricate one-of-a-kind parquet floors, embellished ceilings and a fascinating history of the gilded age. For information and to register for events and tours, visit our website at www.hegelercarus.org or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/hegelercarus/
