Cuneo Mansion

I went with 15 coworkers to tour the Cuneo Mansion in Vernon Hills, Illinois. The Mansion was built in 1916 by millionaire Samuel Insull, who made his money in utilities. He designed the home in the Italianate style, with a central courtyard with a retractable roof that could be opened to the sky in pleasant weather.

Insull lost his fortune in the Great Depression. The mansion was sold to John F. Cuneo, a millionaire in the publishing business. He also owned Hawthorn Melody Farm, where my parents frequently took me when I was young.

Cuneo closed the roof over the courtyard permanently and filled the home with antiques. He died in 1977. His wife lived in the home until her death in 1990. It’s been a museum ever since. If you want to know more, here’s a history of the property.

The back of the house. (I didn’t get a good photo of the front because our bus was parked there.)

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The side of the house as seen from the sculpture Garden.

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The central courtyard.

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The “oldest working elevator in Lake County” can be seen across the courtyard.

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The dining room(s). When all the leaves are in the table, it can seat 75. The Cuneos sat at either end and communicated by phone. The candelabra in the corner is one of four, once owned by Napoleon in his palace in Corsica. All the ceilings are hand painted by John Mallin.

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The object on the left is a ceramic furnace from Germany.

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The chapel. They had to get permission from the Pope to build and use it.

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The salon

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The ladies’ powder room. The “facilities” are in a smaller room to the right where the walls are decorated with gold leaf (which also backs the mirrors).

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The ship’s room. It was designed to look like the captain’s cabin of a 17th century sailing ship. Our guide said it was an actual cabin removed from a ship, but the official page on the Internet uses the qualifier “presumably.”

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An upstairs walkway overlooking the courtyard

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Mrs. Cuneo’s bath

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Mr. Cuneo’s bath

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Looking out on the backyard

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The bars on this sleeping porch were put up in the early 1930’s. We were told that this was done shortly after the Lindbergh baby was kidnapped because the Cuneos were concerned for the safety of their son, John Jr. We were also told that no steps were taken to protect the daughter, Consuela. Again, the official guide hedges quite a bit. I suspect it may have been as much to keep the boy in as to keep other people out.

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This is one of several cassoni in the house. These elaborate chests were built as hope chests for wealthy Italian women. At the time of a wedding, the chest would be carried to the bride’s new home.

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