The Kennicott House
In 1856, Dr. John Kennicott built this majestic Gothic Revival House, visible from Milwaukee Ave. to house his growing family. The exterior of the house has been fully restored with careful attention paid to each historical detail from the sharply peaked roof line to the rain barrels on the back porch. The interior of the house has been restored with 19th century furniture, including many pieces that actually belonged to the Kennicotts. The house is open to the public February-September on Sundays from 1-4 pm and also on selected days during the summer. Specially arranged tours are available by calling (847) 299-6096.

The Redfield Estate
Built in 1929, the Tudor-style house known as the Redfield Estate, located at 1421 Milwaukee Ave. in Glenview, Illinois was the home of Kennicott descendents and acclaimed authors Louise Redfield Peattie (American Acres) and Donald Culross Peattie (A Prairie Grove). The Redfield Estate faces a wide, grassy clearing where wedding receptions take place year-round and deer gather at twilight. George C. Elmslie, a follower of the Louis Sullivan School of Chicago Architecture, designed the house. A large main room provides a gracious setting for parties and reunions. Above the main room is a loft area that provides a perfect location for musicians to perform. A stained glass circle on the large leaded glass window in the main room-the moon appears encircled here on the vernal equinox in the spring and autumnal equinox in the fall. The wooded environment surrounding Redfield Estate includes two gazebos, a reflecting pool, and tranquil gardens that are ideal for special events or introspective pursuits. The Redfield Estate is available for rental to the public.

The Interpretive Center
The nature center at The Grove, the Interpretive Center, is the ideal place to begin a visit to The Grove. Here you will find knowledgeable staff and volunteers to acquaint you with all The Grove has to offer. Built in 1989, this 5,000 square foot building was constructed of rough-hewn logs to blend in with the woodland setting. It houses a collection of live birds, turtles, snakes and fish as well as specimens for educational purposes, environmental exhibits, and historical resources. In addition to bathrooms and offices, the building contains two classrooms, including the Natural Science classroom, which offers a place for visitors to learn and explore. Grove staff and volunteers are available to interpret and offer assistance in the Natural Science Classroom on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am to 5 pm.

Different themes, with crafts, displays and hands-on activities are presented on weekends as follows:

The Grove Store
Open 10 am-4 pm Daily
Located in the Interpretive Center, The Grove Store features a variety of items for children and the nature enthusiast including books, candles, sun catchers, Grove t-shirts and seasonal items.

Wetland Greenhouse
To the west of the Interpretive Center, a greenhouse has been erected to provide wetland education. This unique building houses exhibits focusing on the importance and diversity of wetland areas. Frogs, turtles and crayfish, as well as irises and carnivorous plants are among the wildlife featured here. A rain chamber and large aquaria of native fish and plants run the length of the antique-inspired greenhouse. Other exhibits include moss terrariums, vintage fish tanks and colossal ferns. A recreated wetland surrounds the building, while prairie wildflowers and grasses line its brick pathway. Beautiful mosaics and other decorative details give the Wetland Greenhouse a wonderfully artistic appeal. The greenhouse is open to the public whenever The Grove is open.

Log Cabin
As you follow the trail from the Interpretive Center, a Log Cabin and a Native American Village, including a Longhouse and a Tipi, recreate the scene of an early Illinois settlement. Originally built as a one-room structure in Michigan, the Log Cabin was moved to the Grove and reassembled in 1986. A second room was added in 2000.

Native American Village

The Native American Longhouse, completed in 1998, features a weatherproof manmade bark-covered exterior and a cozy interior lined with bunk beds covered in fur and blankets, with antlers on the walls and a fire pit in the center. The woodsy ambiance of the communal longhouse serves as a popular retreat for The Grove's special overnight programs. The Log Cabin and Tipi serve as the setting for other Glenview Park District programs that highlight both pioneer life and Native American traditions.

The Grove Schoolhouse
Toward the western edge of The Grove property is a one-room schoolhouse. The small, Gothic-style structure is a replica of a schoolhouse that originally existed on the opposite side of Milwaukee Ave. The schoolhouse was designed by Dr. John Kennicott, as were the rows of desks that line the interior. The recreated school, complete with period-costumed schoolmarms, provides children with the opportunity to experience what their 19th century counterparts did during a typical school day. The tall windows admitted sunlight to illuminate the students' schoolbooks and could be opened during warm days. A wood stove provided heat for the single large room.