Gilded Age Grandeur Restored: Hegeler Carus Mansion Secures First-Ever State Grant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 19, 2026

Media Contact: Laura Walker | laura.walker@hegelercarus.org

Gilded Age Grandeur Restored: Hegeler Carus Mansion Secures First-Ever State Grant for Major Restoration

‘Generous donations paired with grant award move restoration efforts to the Second Level’

LA SALLE, IL — The Hegeler Carus Mansion is officially unveiling its next grand chapter. For the first time in its history, the National Historic Landmark has been awarded a prestigious tourism grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).

Combined with major private gifts from Noreen Hynes, Seth Carus, and Blouke Carus, , this funding will restore the entire Second Level flooring to its 19th-century glory.

This is no ordinary repair project. Beginning this August and September, master craftsmen of Kech’s Flooring Design Center, Morton, IL will undertake a meticulous restoration of the mansion's intricate custom parquet floors on the Second Level. The floors of the Mansion feature more than nine distinct species of wood.

The project will wrap up just in time for the 2026 holiday festivities, finalizing two full stories of jaw-dropping historic flooring.

“The 2025 transformation of our Main Level floors was absolutely spectacular,” says Laura Walker, Executive Director. “We cannot wait to see the transformation of the Second Level.”

Business as Usual

Tours and events will continue during the restoration. Visitors can still experience Main Story tours, workshops, and signature programming while Kelch’s Flooring Design team work their magic on the Second Level.

Preserving a 57-room architectural marvel requires a community. To join the legacy or support future sustainability efforts, contact info@hegelercarus.org.