Early Summer Garden Stroll
This annual early summer program will take place in the gardens of a beautiful Lake Forest house. Background on the house and gardens will be provided and refreshments will be served. Please note that the event will take place rain or shine - but regardless of the weather, the Garden Strolls are always a favorite!
Please register below. Participants will be sent an email providing the address and details closer to the date of the event.
Annual Crab Tree Farm Tours
The Lake Forest Preservation Foundation is excited to host its annual summer tours of Crab Tree Farm. Crab Tree Farm is the last operating farm on Lake Michigan, in the state of Illinois. Originally a dairy farm, founded in 1905 in Lake Bluff by Scott & Grace Garrett Durand, it was converted to a pig farm in 1950 by the second owner, William McCormick & Helen Bowen Blair. The Blairs were the first farm in America to import Yorkshire pigs.
The docent-led tour will bring you through 5 of the restored farm buildings that now showcase this collection of art. You will see works mostly by Gustav Stickley, Grueby Pottery, and Roycroft on the American side and Charles Voysey, William Morris and Christopher Dresser on the British side. There are many, many, many more individuals, guilds, and artisans represented in the collection that you will see as well.
A peek into the craft of today at Crab Tree Farm will be shown in the workshop of Mike Jarvi. His manipulation of wood through steam bending is something to see!
Reservations are limited! To purchase tickets, use the button below and select the time (10 a.m. or 1 p.m.) you would like to tour. The tour lasts about an hour and a half and will take place regardless of the weather. We look forward to seeing you!
Annual Meeting and Presentation of the 2024 Historic Preservation Awards
Lake Forest Preservation Foundation Award Winner from 2001
Tradition Meets Modernity: The Chicago-Area Interiors of Frances Adler Elkins
This event is SOLD OUT! The program will be recorded and the link will be posted on our website.
"A Night at the Library" Celebrating 125 Years
Celebrate with the Lake Forest Library 125 years while supporting an important preservation project!
Join us in the historic and beautiful Lake Forest Library for hors d'oeuvres and wine with music. Register soon by scanning the above QR code or link https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-night-at-the-library-tickets-713882861857?aff=oddtdtcreator. Space is limited. Proceeds benefit the restoration of the historic Remisoff murals in the Rotunda of the library.
"Sculptor and Author Sylvia Shaw Judson Haskins and Her Ragdale"
Local historian Arthur Miller will speak on a small group of representative sculptures by Sylvia Shaw Judson and “The Quiet Eye” 1954 book to show the range of her work, along with sources found in the book and in others’ sculptures, including ancient ones.
The program is free of charge but reservations are required.
The Value of Sensitive Development in Lake Forest
Featuring Steven W. Semes, Professor of Architecture and Founding Director of the Center for Historic Preservation at The University of Notre Dame.
Join us for an engaging program focusing on promoting harmonious new development in historic settings, allowing for change and growth without sacrificing historic character.
Steven is the author of “The Future of the Past” and other books on conservation, urbanism and historic preservation.
The program is free but registration is required.
SOLD OUT-Late Summer Garden Stroll
Join the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation for a leisurely stroll through a beautiful garden on a historic property on Friday, August 25 at 5:30 PM.
Crab Tree Farm Tour
BOTH TOURS ARE SOLD OUT.
Please join us next year.
The Lake Forest Preservation Foundation is proud to present 2 opportunities to take a self-guided tour of Crab Tree Farm on Saturday, July 15, at 10 AM & 1 PM. Enjoy the sunshine and fresh air while exploring the gardens, architecture, and history.
Early Summer Garden Stroll
Summer Garden Strolls
Friday, June 23 , 5:30 - 7:30 PM
Friday - August 25, 5:30-7:30 PM
Tour de Historic Plaques
All ages of new residents as well as old-timers are invited to join us in Market Square for an afternoon of fun and learning.
We have planned a scavenger hunt to find the recently installed Historic Building Plaques. The plaques, with informational QR codes, are located in Market Square and nearby in the Central Business District. Each participant will be given a checklist with the names and locations of 15+ plaques. The participants will check-off as they locate, read about and admire each historic building. Completed check lists will be entered in a drawing for prizes.
Spring style snacks will be served.
This event is geared toward all ages who are interested in learning more about the history, architecture and importance of our Central Business District.
Best of all- this is a FREE EVENT!
Don’t forget your phone to read the QR codes.
Your RSVP is not required, but it is appreciated.
Traditional Building Conference
Traditional Building Conference, Deer Path Inn, May 10-11
This series of conferences by the publishers of Traditional Building, Old House Journal, and Arts & Crafts Homes, will be visiting Lake Forest, headquartered at the Deerpath inn, with afternoon tours both days. These conferences occur three times a year in notable centers of traditional building, with the last one in Newport, RI, and the two after this in 2023 in Oyster Bay, NY, the location of Theodore Roosevelt’s Sagamore Hill estate, and in Savannah, Georgia. As most recently highlighted in the 2022 local guide Architectural Lake Forest, Lake Forest fits tidily into this group of towns for its outstanding classic and historically styled residences and buildings. Fitting well into a cohort of eastern towns, Lake Forest leads in this architectural field in Chicago and much of the northwestern Midwest region.
With 150 attendees expected, the tours of downtown and the adjacent mostly residential west end of the 1970s Lake Forest National Register Historic District, these architects, restorers, and craftspeople will be highly visible those days. The LFPF welcomes these experts to our ensemble of worthy traditionally built and rehabbed houses and buildings.
For more information, about attending and joining tours including for AIA continuing education credit, go to www.traditionalbuildingshow.com
Annual Meeting and Presentation of the 2023 Historic Preservation Awards
Annual Meeting and Presentation of 2023 Historic Preservation Awards. Member Reception to follow at an historic residence.
Lake Forest's Historic National Garden Leadership Role
Noted historian Art Miller and the History Center’s executive director, Carol Summerfield, will be presenting a brief history of landscape design in Lake Forest. The Preservation Foundation's new guidebook gives a good overview of styles, along its index that includes landscape designers--books will be available for sale. Compared to traditional east coast estates, the local estates balanced the scale of residences with landscape design features. The History Center's current garden initiative for its grounds, being presented integrally to the talk, will feature the five styles of the planned gardens that will reflect this heritage.
The lecture will cover some significant estates, designers, clients (often members of local garden clubs) and styles of the past century. The presenters will talk about the influence of Lake Forest on design styles nationally, and why the design styles here evolved over time away from the formal gardens to native restoration, with a swing back toward them also in recent decades. The speakers will highlight the work of some classic landscape designers such as Jens Jensen, Warren Manning, Ralph R. Root, Ellen Shipman, Rose Nichols, Annette Hoyt Flanders, Ferruccio Vitale, Ossian C. Simonds, and the Olmsted Brothers.
This program will take place at Lake Forest Place, located at 1100 Pembridge Drive.
ARCHITECTURAL LAKE FOREST WITH ARTHUR MILLER
This program is a joint collaboration between the History Center and Lake Forest Preservation Foundation.
Lake Forest, Illinois, is a community known for remarkable architecture. Within this city’s 16 square miles are hundreds of significant properties, many designed by architects and landscape designers famous in the Chicago area and internationally as well.
Join us on Thursday, February 23 for a presentation on the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation’s new publication Architectural Lake Forest: A Guide to National Register Historic Districts and Properties in Lake Forest, Illinois with author Arthur H. Miller. With this new book, Lake Forest Preservation Foundation seeks to continue the effort to protect and pay forward the historic visual architecture and landscaped character of these unique neighborhoods for future generations. Copies of Architectural Lake Forest will be available for purchase at the evening event for $25.00 per copy.
Arthur H. Miller is emeritus Archivist and Librarian for Special Collections, Lake Forest College. He is co-author, co-editor and author of many books and articles on Lake Forest history, architecture, and landscape architecture. As two-time President of the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation, Art currently serves as an honorary director.
Special thanks to Baker-McNicholas Real Estate Group for sponsoring this program.
Free of charge with a suggested donation of $10.00
2022 Member Holiday Celebration - Sold Out
A special David Alder home will be a perfect setting for our 2022 Member Holiday Celebration. The LFPF Board of Directors invites you to celebrate the season in this truly beautiful, recently restored home.
Launch Party for Lake Forest: A Guide to National Register Historic Districts and Properties in Lake Forest, Illinois.
The Lake Forest Preservation Foundation is thrilled to announce the November release of the 2022 edition of Architectural Lake Forest: A Guide to National Register Historic Districts and Properties in Lake Forest, Illinois. Join us for the Guidebook launch party!
Learn more about the Dexter-Cummings Estate at 1460 Lake Road
Join us for a presentation on the Dexter Cummings Estate at 1460 Lake Road. The presentation begins with a short documentary from Jeff Zimmerman on the history of the house, providing an exclusive peek inside the Harrie T. Lindeberg designed estate and details from the history of the home. The film will be followed by a conversation with Greg Koester, expert on Lindeberg designs, and Laurie Stein, curator at the History Center.
Late Summer Garden Stroll
As summer comes to a close, the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation invites you to join us for a late summer stroll on the bluff’s edge overlooking Lake Michigan on Friday, August 26 at 5:30 PM.
Crab Tree Farm Tour
The Lake Forest Preservation Foundation is proud to present 2 opportunities to take a self-guided tour of Crab Tree Farm on Saturday, July 16, at 10 AM & 1 PM. Enjoy the sunshine and fresh air while exploring the gardens, architecture, and history.
Summer Garden Stroll
Join the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation for a leisurely stroll through the beautiful gardens on a historic property. Treat your senses to the beautiful garden bursting with color and exquisite detail.
David Adler: Great House Architect
It's time to set your DVRs to record this four-part series on renowned architect David Adler! Produced and hosted by Kristin Noelle Smith, David Adler: Great House Architect highlights Adler's life, clients and classical architecture.
2021 Member Holiday Celebration - SOLD OUT
A special David Alder home will be a perfect setting for our 2021 Member Holiday Celebration. The LFPF Board of Directors invites you to celebrate the season in this truly beautiful, recently restored home.
Frank Lloyd Wright Benefit Home Tour
Tour of a private Frank Lloyd Wright home.
After the Frank L. Wright and the Architects of Steinway Hall lecture, join us for an exclusive private tour of this jewel of a Wright designed home nestled on the edge of a ravine. Built in the 1950s, one of his last residential designs, is outstanding among his works for many reasons.
Frank Lloyd Wright and the Architects of Steinway Hall Lecture
Join us as author, educator and architect, Stuart Cohen reviews his new book Frank L. Wright and the Architects of Steinway Hall and its impact on 20th century architecture
Smith’s Men’s Store Fall 2021 Trunk Show
Shop the Smith’s Men’s Store Fall 2021 Trunk Show and Support the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation!
10% of sales to benefit the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation!
Susan Benjamin lecture on Edward Dart and Mid-Century Modern Architecture
Please join LFC Partners for a lecture and open house at 2345 W. Old Mill Road in Lake Forest on Sunday, October 24th from 2:00-4:00pm.
Midwest Rail Rangers & LFPF present a Virtual Tour of the Historic Lake Forest Train Station - Part 2
Join Kandace & Robert Tabern with the Midwest Rail Rangers as they visit the former Chicago & North Western (current Metra) historic east-side train station for a two-part program guided by Lake Foresters David Matoon & Jim Opsitnik, who were both instrumental in the restoration of the station.
Shop Your Cause at The Lake Forest Shop!
Together with The Lake Forest Shop we invite you to their Annual Shop your Cause Event during the month of October!
