page_title: Ellwood House
section_title: Museum
hierarchical_section_title: Ellwood House / Museum
caption_attribution_description: Two examples of Joseph Glidden's early barbed wire (1876). Top, Glidden's Coils/4-pt Triangualar line and bottom, Glidden's Coils/Military concertina wire. Barbed Wire History Museum at the Ellwood House Visitor Center in DeKalb, Illinois.
context_page_description: The Ellwood House was built as a private home by barbed wire entrepreneur Isaac Ellwood in 1879. It is located on First Street in DeKalb, Illinois, United States, in DeKalb County. The Victorian style home, designed by George O. Garnsey, underwent remodeling in 1898-1899 and 1911. The house was originally part of 1,000 acres which included a large stable complex known as "Ellwood Green." Isaac Ellwood lived here until 1910 when he passed the estate to his son, Perry Ellwood.
  After Perry Ellwood inherited the home he remodeled the interior and exterior, drastically altering the home's appearance. Thus, the Ellwood House incorporates elements from several architectural styles. In 1964 the home was donated to the city of DeKalb and converted into a museum. The house was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The Ellwood House Museum site contains six structures in addition to the main house. A 50-foot tall water tower dominates the west side of the property while a 14-foot tall miniature Stick style house is located nearer the main house.
context_section_description: Shortly before her death in 1964 May Ellwood donated the house to the DeKalb Park District for use as a historic house museum. The Ellwood House site is about 8.5 acres (34,000 m²) which includes a wooded area to the north of the house; all that remains of the original 1,000 acres (4 km²). The house is now a museum, operated jointly by the Ellwood House Association and the DeKalb Park District and they offer guided tours for a fee. The museum offers tours seasonally beginning in late spring and ending after the annual holiday celebration in December. The Ellwood House Museum has a visitor's center, which includes a barbed wire gallery, carriage gallery, special exhibits gallery, and a gift shop. The museum offers tourists a chance to glimpse what life was like for the Ellwoods. As part of the DeKalb Park District, the grounds are open to the public, and available for rental for use on public and private events. The DeKalb Area Garden Club hosts an annual Flower Show, community members hold weddings in the garden or visitors center, and the Ellwood House Association holds an annual Art Show, Ice Cream Social, and other events.
caption: The museum includes a barbed wire history gallery which contains authentic examples of early barbed wire.
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