Attractions History & Heritage

Loveland Community House and Museum

Dixon, IL - Lee County
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Address:

  • 513 West Second Street
  • Dixon, IL,
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Details

Love Illinois history?  Check out some interesting items found in this beautiful building. 

  • Dolls & toys from yesteryear, some of which aren’t politically correct, some of which you may remember using yourself
  • Collectibles from the Rock River Assembly, the nation’s 2nd largest Chautauqua
  • Local, Dixon industry & business artifacts & collectibles (for a small farm town, we had a heck of a lot of industry)
  • The “low-tech” display featuring Edison phonographs, phones, the original Nachusa House switchboard, & tiny B&W TVs
  • Artifacts that pioneers used in everyday life-no plug ins or easy to use & clean here
  • The lifeguard chair “Dutch” Reagan used while working as a lifeguard at Lowell Park 
  • Photos of Ronald Reagan growing up in Dixon
  • Local and regional history exhibits

Plus fossils, Civil War weapons, and pioneer tools. Young visitors may ring school bells, operate antique vacuums and washing machines, and listen to a 1900 phonograph.

Donations appreciated, wheelchair accessible. The building is also available for meetings, corporate retreats, receptions and more.

Hours: Thursday & Friday 9am-2pm and Saturday 10am – 3pm

History 

One of the main purposes Mr. and Mrs. George C. Loveland had in mind when making provision for the community house was to perpetuate the name of the family the located in Dixon more than 175 years ago. Otis Loveland, the grandfather of George C. Loveland, came to Dixon with his wife, two sons and three daughters in 1837.

George C. Loveland was born in Dixon in 1847. In 1880, he married Emma Tomlinson in Mt. Carroll, Illinois. Mrs. Loveland was born in Mt. Carroll in 1852 and died in 1937. Both are buried in Oakwood Cemetery.

Mr. & Mrs. Loveland spent their lives in Dixon and vicinity and were vitally interested in the progress of this community. The felt that every normal individual craves and is entitled to a social life. They generously provided the building and equipment for the use of all who cared to participate in its activities.

The facility was built at a cost of $200,000.00 and was dedicated in 1940, which would be over $3,200,000.00 in today’s dollars.

Go to our website for more information.

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AUTUMN ON THE PRAIRIE

Don’t miss Nachusa’s Autumn on the Prairie festival on Saturday, September 16, 2023. The festival is held at the Visitor Center, 2075 Lowden Road, Franklin Grove IL.

There is fun at the festival for the whole family! The day’s activities include wagon rides through the prairie to look for bison, prairie plant exploration hikes, and guided tours that feature scenic photo locations, autumn wildflowers, preserve hideaways, grassland birds, native wildlife, sandstone rock formations, and more. Additional attractions include a Discovery Tent and a live birds of prey display by the Northern Illinois Raptor Rehab & Education. Headons Fine Meat food truck will be on-site to provide drinks & food.

See you there!

	

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