Skip to content
BusinessesGrow
Edith Farnsworth House, Plano, IL

Photo: Victor Grigas, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingHistory BuffDate Night

Edith Farnsworth House

14520 River Rd · Plano, IL

Why you should go…

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe designed this glass and steel house for physician Edith Farnsworth, completing it in 1951. It sits about five feet above the floodplain on eight steel columns, with a travertine terrace and an open-air veranda at its western end. Guided tours leave from the visitor center and include a half-mile walk to the house, so dress for the weather. The National Trust for Historic Preservation owns and operates the site.

  • #modern architecture
  • #mies van der rohe
  • #historic house
  • #guided tour
  • #fox river

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Edith Farnsworth House, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Aurora, Illinois

    Free

    Fox River city west of Chicago with a historic Paramount Theatre, outlet shopping, and a large waterpark.

    19 mi awayMore like this

  • Museums
    Family Favorite

    Naper Settlement

    Under $25

    A 13-acre outdoor living-history village in Naperville with restored 19th-century buildings.

    22 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    St. Charles, Illinois

    Free

    A historic Fox River town west of Chicago known for its walkable downtown and riverside dining.

    24 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Joliet, Illinois

    Free

    A historic Route 66 and canal town on the Des Plaines River, anchor of Illinois' Heritage Corridor.

    25 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Family Favorite

    Villa Olivia

    $25–$50

    Family ski, tubing and golf destination in Bartlett with a quad chairlift, six rope tows and an 18-hole golf course.

    31 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Santa's Village Azoosment Park

    $25–$50

    A combination amusement park and small zoo in East Dundee dating to 1959, with 19 rides and 200-plus animals.

    35 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions