Durant House and Sholes School

Durant House and Sholes School Schedule a school tour today!
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The 1843 Durant-Peterson House is recognized as Kane County’s own “Little House on the Prairie.” The 1872 Sholes School is one of the few remaining one-room schoolhouses in Kane County.

Go back to school for a traditional youth Christmas Pageant at the Sholes School Museum. Performances are at 3:30, 4:15,...
12/05/2024

Go back to school for a traditional youth Christmas Pageant at the Sholes School Museum. Performances are at 3:30, 4:15, 5:30, or 6:15.

Tickets also include a tour of the Durant-Peterson House Museum.

See our website for tickets and more information!

12/02/2024
2000: Candlelight Extended to 2 Nights.The holiday tradition of Candlelight at the Durant-Peterson House has existed lon...
12/02/2024

2000: Candlelight Extended to 2 Nights.

The holiday tradition of Candlelight at the Durant-Peterson House has existed longer than Preservation Partners. In 1972, the Questers, an antiques appreciation group, who were working to rehabilitate the house, hosted a "Christmas Open House" for their members and families. The house was lit by candlelight, visitors dressed in period clothing, and the house was decorated as it might have been in the 1840s. In 2000, the event was extended to two nights and has remained one of the most beloved holiday events in St. Charles. Many families return annually- a few for decades- as it has become a family holiday tradition.

This year Candlelight will be on Saturday, December 7, and Sunday, December 8 from 3 to 7 PM. Tickets are $5 per adult and $1 per child and entry times are at half-hour intervals to ease congestion. Before or after the scheduled entry to the Durant-Peterson House, ticket holders can enjoy a traditional Christmas Pageant at the Schools School Museum at 3:30 PM, 4:15 PM, 5:30 PM, or 6:15 PM.

SOURCES: "Kerosene Lamps, Log Fire Light Durant House for Christmas," St. Charles Chronicle, December 20, 1972; "Christmas in 1840 Can Be Seen Sun. at Durant House," St. Charles Chronicle, December 5, 1974; "Calendar of Events: Fall 1999," Advocate (Fall 1999): 7; "Calendar of Events: Fall 2000," Advocate (Fall 2000): 7.



Forest Preserve District of Kane County

www.ppfv.org/candlelight
11/30/2024

www.ppfv.org/candlelight

Enjoy holiday music, the smell of fresh-cut evergreens, the crackle of fire, and the flicker of candlelight as you stroll through the home.

A family tradition since 1972!
11/29/2024

A family tradition since 1972!

Thank you, Nick and Eli, for repairing the dead keys on our old pump organ. It is ready now to perform at Candlelight!  ...
11/29/2024

Thank you, Nick and Eli, for repairing the dead keys on our old pump organ. It is ready now to perform at Candlelight! Volunteers, like Nick and Eli, are the foundation of our program. Their love of
"old things", that connect us to our past, is so special. It was fun to watch the organ get dismantled, repaired, and put back together. We appreciate you and the time you give.

Christmas Pageant performances at the 1872 Sholes School will be on Saturday, December 7, and Sunday, December 8 at 3:30...
11/27/2024

Christmas Pageant performances at the 1872 Sholes School will be on Saturday, December 7, and Sunday, December 8 at 3:30 PM, 4:15 PM, 5:30 PM, or 6:15 PM. Each show is about 20 minutes and seating is limited.

For tickets and more information, visit our website.

REPAIR NEEDED ON OUR PUMP ORGAN! We have a wonderful old pump organ in the Durant House Parlor.  During our annual Candl...
11/26/2024

REPAIR NEEDED ON OUR PUMP ORGAN!
We have a wonderful old pump organ in the Durant House Parlor. During our annual Candlelight Open House, our docents play Christmas music on it. The sound of the organ adds a special touch to a special event. But there are two keys on the keyboard that don’t work anymore! The dead keys really impact the music.
We are looking for someone to help us repair these two keys before our event on December 7 and 8. If you can help, please contact us via messenger or email the Museum Director at: [email protected]

NEW ROOF!Thank you to Forest Preserve District of Kane County for replacing the roof on the 1843 Durant-Peterson House.
11/25/2024

NEW ROOF!

Thank you to Forest Preserve District of Kane County for replacing the roof on the 1843 Durant-Peterson House.

Cherish the sounds of holiday music, the scent of fresh-cut evergreens, the warmth of a glowing fire, the flicker of can...
11/24/2024

Cherish the sounds of holiday music, the scent of fresh-cut evergreens, the warmth of a glowing fire, the flicker of candlelight, and the flavor of old-fashioned treats as your family strolls through the home and meets adult and junior docents dressed in period clothing in the 1843 Durant-Peterson House.

Also visit the 1872 Sholes School for a traditional Christmas Pageant at 3:30 PM, 4:15 PM, 5:30 PM, or 6:15 PM. Each show is about 20 minutes and seating is limited.

For tickets and more information, visit our website.

Spend a whole evening at holiday celebrations from the 1840s!Candlelight at the Durant-Peterson House and Sholes School ...
11/23/2024

Spend a whole evening at holiday celebrations from the 1840s!

Candlelight at the Durant-Peterson House and Sholes School Museums AND Garfield Farm Museum, Sunday, December 8, 3-7 PM.

Visit www.ppfv.org/candlelight and www.garfieldfarm.org for tickets and more information.

Bring your family to a traditional Christmas Pageant at Candlelight!
11/22/2024

Bring your family to a traditional Christmas Pageant at Candlelight!

TICKETS NOW ON SALE!
11/20/2024

TICKETS NOW ON SALE!

Saturday, December 7 or Sunday, December 8, 2024, 3-7 PM at the 1843 Durant-Peterson House and 1872 Sholes School Museums.

In 2003 we won an award for our "Prairie Children Program" which is now our Junior Docent program! Having these very kno...
11/18/2024

In 2003 we won an award for our "Prairie Children Program" which is now our Junior Docent program! Having these very knowledgeable children at every event at the Durant-Peterson House Museum adds so much to the experience for visitors.

Thank you to all our outstanding Junior Docents!

2003: Prairie Children program at the Durant-Peterson House Museum wins award.

"In February of 1996, a charming letter from a fourth-grade girl who had recently visited the Durant-Peterson House Museum inspired us to begin the volunteer program for youngsters which evolved into the Prairie Children corps [now Junior Docent program]. Seven years later, that nine-year-old is a junior at St. Charles East High School--and still a committed volunteer at our historic site... Linda Saxer, director of the Durant-Peterson House Museum deserves all the credit for starting this program, training youngsters to serve as competent guides, and offering them such perks as candlelight hearth dinners every November.

An extra perk for us: these children are much better than our adult docents at steering visitors to the Donation box!

We feel extra proud about [this award from the Illinois Association of Museums] because we are up against the 'big boys' in the Museum world when these awards are handed out. It's nice to know that when it comes to excellence, we are every bit the equal of the Field Museum and the Chicago Historical Society."

If you are interested in volunteering with this award-winning program, please visit our website at https://www.ppfv.org/durant-volunteers.

SOURCE: "Younger Generation Earns Kudos Too," Advocate (Winter/Spring 2003): 2.

Address

37W700 Dean Street
Saint Charles, IL
60175

Telephone

+16303776424

Website

http://ppfv.org/sholes-school

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