Cantigny ( kan-TEE-nee) is a 500-acre (200 ha) park in Wheaton, Illinois, 30 miles (48 km) west of Chicago. It is the former estate of Joseph Medill and his grandson, Colonel Robert R. McCormick, publishers of the Chicago Tribune. Open to the public from February through December, Cantigny comprises expansive formal and informal gardens, a historic Georgian-style brick house, a military museum, a visitor center with cafe, a picnic grove with pavilion, an outdoor playground, hiking paths and a 27-hole golf course with driving range, pro-shop and restaurant.
Localisation
Cantigny attracts more than 330,000 people per year. Visitors may watch a short welcome and orientation film inside the visitor center to learn about the park's origin, history, people and present-day features. The visitor center also includes an interpretive wall exhibit, an in-ground scaled model of the 500-acre property, the Medill cafe, and Le Jardin, a caterer-ready facility for lectures, events and rentals. Concerts, lectures, workshops, festivals, and other events are held at Cantigny throughout the year. Among the site's signature events are a summertime Jazz and Wine Festival, Fall Fest in late September, and Christmas at Cantigny from late November to early January. Cantigny is a common place for weddings, outdoor photography, and banquets. School field trip excursions and youth group camping are also offered.