BN Life

Tour the Funk Prairie Home

The Funk Prairie Home Museum has re-opened their doors for public tours! Come enjoy and learn more about the history of the Funk family and all of their political and agricultural accomplishments in McLean County. What began as a wedding gift from LaFayette Funk to his wife Elizabeth in 1864 has grown into one of the most amazing museums in the county. The home is fully furnished as it was in the 1860’s presenting a replica of how the Funk Family lived.

The restored residence of the Illinois State Senator, co-founder and director of Chicago’s Union Stockyards, and cattle-king of Illinois, Lafayette Funk, includes historic memorabilia and antiques of the family. Visitors to the Museum will hear an original working Victrola and see the first ever electric kitchen island. On the same site as the Prairie Home, the Gem & Mineral Museum features a dazzling display of many rare and beautiful minerals from every corner of the world. Tours of horse-drawn farm equipment, barns and farm animals are also available.

The Funk Prairie Home and Gem and Mineral Museum is open for tours Tuesdays-Saturdays from 9am-4pm. Reservations are currently required to tour. You can make a reservation by calling 309.827.6792.

Safety Protocols:

Note: Museum staff reserve the right to update these plans based on a shift in health guidelines and/or based on experience.

• If you are exhibiting any symptoms or have a temperature over 100.4 degrees, please do not visit the museum.
• Temperatures of all guests will be taken before tours begin.
• Masks are required for all guests over the age of 2 while inside.
• Maximum of 10 guests per group.
• We will clean high-touch surfaces after each tour.
• Hand sanitizer will be available.
• Our main tour guide is not vaccinated but, guides will be masked and practicing social distancing as space permits.

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