About the Warren Township Historical Society
Our Mission
The Mother Rudd Home
The two-story frame house was built in 1844 as a stage coach stop and acted as the town hall of the area, serving as voting place, post office and dance hall. Rooms on display in the house include a 1930s kitchen and a 1900 bedroom. Displays in the interior of the Mother Rudd House include historic photographs of Gurnee.
Artifacts from the Gurnee and
Warren area are displayed in two rooms of the house. The
recently re-mortared barn foundation behind the house is
believed to have been a station of the Underground
Railroad. Through a donation by Sears, plaques within the
barn foundationšs garden tell the story of the underground
railroad.
Links of Interest
- "The Underground Railroad in Illinois" by Glennette Tilley Turner.
- The U.S. National Park Service's "About the Underground Railroad" pages.
- "Illinois Trails" transcription of a 1901 history of the Underground Railroad (using 1901 terminology).
- A Guide to Researching the History of
a House (by HomeAdvisor)
Our Location
The Mother Rudd House is located at 4690 Old Grand Avenue in Gurnee.
Access is off of Kilbourn Road, north of Grand Avenue (Illinois Highway 132).
Click for Map & Directions
From the Tri-State Tollway (I-94): Exit Grand Avenue (Illinois Highway 132), eastbound. Continue past Six Flags Great America to Kilbourn Road, and turn left.
From US-41 northbound: Exit Grand Avenue (Illinois Highway 132), turn left (west) onto Grand. Kilbourn Road is approximately one mile west of US-41.
From US-41 southbound: Turn right onto Kilbourn Road (approximately 3/4 mile past Illinois Highway 21). Follow Kilbourn about 1/2 mile to Old Grand.
Our Office Hours
School groups, scout troops, etc., can be accommodated by appointment; please call or email.
Membership
Dues are $10 (individual), $15 (family), $30 (contributor), $50 (patron) per year. Seniors (65+)/Students $7.
Volunteer Opportunities
Contact
Mailing Address:
Mother Rudd Home Museum
P.O. Box 84
Gurnee, IL 60031-0084
Phone: (847) 263-9540
WTHS Board of Directors
Trish Wendt, Vice-President
Nichole Rossi, Secretary
Michael Weiland, Treasurer & webmaster
Ruth Brunke, Director
Cheryl Crebase, Director
Marina Dove, Director