Colonel Palmer House

Located at:
660 East Terra Cotta Avenue
Crystal Lake, IL 60014

(815) 477-5873

Open to the Public-please see below for schedule changes during summer hours

Tuesdays 3-7 pm

Thursdays 11 am-4 pm

Fridays 11 am-4 pm

Summer Schedule Adjustments

Friday, May 11th - Open 8am-Noon only

Thurs, June 7- Closed

Thurs, June 14 - Closed

Thurs, June 21 - Closed

Thurs, June 28 - Closed

Week of July 16-20th - Closed

Scout Programs and Group Tours by appointment.

Crystal Lake Historical Archives may be researched by appointment Monday-Thursday.

Call (815) 477-5873 or email to schedule an appointment or tour.

History
Gustavus A. Palmer and his wife Henrietta arrived in McHenry County from Nunda, New York by covered wagon circa 1841.  As early pioneers to the area they purchased land from the Federal Government to start their homestead.  The Colonel, as he was called by his neighbors, would eventually acquire over 300 acres of property.  As a successful farmer he wa able to have Andrew Jackson Simons build this Greek Revival and Federalist style brick home in 1858.

Located on its original site at the corner of Route 176 and Terra Cotta Roads in Crystal Lake, the Palmer House was donated to the City of Crystal Lake in 1979 and for many years maintained by the Colonel Palmer House Restoration Association.  In 1998, the Crystal Lake Park District entered into a 99-year lease for the house and two acres of property.

The building is now open to the public for tours, special events and research of local history. The home contains the office of the Crystal Lake Historical Society who maintains records of Crystal Lake history and collections of local artifacts.

The Landmark Status
In 1985, the Colonel Palmer House was entered in the National Register of Historic Places. It remains the only building on the National Register in Crystal Lake. The house was also granted Landmark Status by the City of Crystal Lake Historic Preservation Commission.

Architectural Distinction
The Colonel Palmer House typifies the design style of homes built during the second quarter of the 19th century and is based on the Neo-Classical Revival style, comprised of elements of both Federal and Greek Revival styles of architecture. The interior has retained many of the original construction elements, including plaster walls, and tongue and groove southern yellow pine floors.