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The Hegeler Carus Mansion, a masterpiece of Second Empire architecture, was once home to Edward and Camilla Hegeler along with their eight children. Their oldest, Mary, learned the zinc business at an early age, mostly from helping her father at the zinc plant he took over as a young man. Mary continued her interest in zinc by being the first woman to graduate in engineering from the University of Michigan. She also was the first woman to graduate from the School of Mines in Freiberg, Germany. She eventually married Paul Carus, who worked for her father. [1]

Completed in 1876, this gorgeous 16,000-square-foot mansion remains unaltered to this day. This National Historic Landmark property is treasured for its intact 19th century exterior, interior, furnishings and possessions. When the mansion in La Salle, Illinois, recently was left to be owned and operated by the Hegeler Carus Foundation, it was with one stipulation: that nothing in it be sold. Thanks to the Hegeler and Carus family, we now possess a time capsule from the 19th century. [2]

Today you can visit the Hegeler Carus Mansion and experience the impressive architecture and the story of a fascinating family whose history is woven tightly with that of Illinois.

[1] “The Hegeler and Carus Families,” Hegeler Carus Foundation, accessed August 12, 2020, https://hegelercarus.org/the-hegeler-and-carus-families/.
[2] Anne Moore, “Like the Driehaus Mansion? Check This Out,” Crain’s Chicago Business, April 28, 2017, https://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20170428/ISSUE03/170429875/a-tour-of-the-hegeler-carus-mansion-in-la-salle-ill.

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