The 10:00 AM Crab Tree Farm Tour is now sold out! There are still a few spots available for the 1:00 PM Tour. Please register below.
The Lake Forest Preservation Foundation (LFPF) is excited to host its annual Summer tour of Crab Tree Farm(CTF). CTF is the last operating farm on Lake Michigan, in the state of Illinois. Originally a dairy farm, founded in 1905 in Lake Bluff by Scott & Grace Garrett Durand, it was converted to a pig farm in 1950 by the second owner, William McCormick & Helen Bowen Blair. The Blair’s were the first farm in America to import Yorkshire pigs.
After a 2 year hiatus of touring the CTF interiors of American & British Arts & Crafts decorative arts, its back!!! The docent led tour will bring you through 5 of the restored farm buildings that now showcase this collection of art. You will see works mostly by Gustav Stickley, Grueby Pottery, and Roycroft on the American side and Charles Voysey, William Morris and Christopher Dresser on the British side. There are many, many, many more individuals, guilds, and artisans represented in the collection that you will see as well.
This summer, an exhibit called ‘Marking Time’ will be toured. The exhibit at CTF accompanies a 2020 book by the same title and is drawn from the Early British items in the Bryan collection which are dated from the years 1500-1800. The book was done in partnership with the Yale Center for British Art at Yale University. CTF is the only venue to see this extraordinary exhibit.
A peek into the craft of today at CTF will be shown in the workshop of Mike Jarvi. His manipulation of wood through steam bending is something to see!
Back by popular demand from last year is an old fashioned hot dog cookout, served for lunch, between the 2 tour times! Purchase either the 10 AM of 1 PM start time for your tour. Tickets are $ 30 each for LFPF members or $40 for nonmembers. Tour capacity is limited in each session and this event usually sells out early. So get your tickets early and enjoy this rare tour of the gem in our community. A world class collection AND lunch, what a way to spend a summer day!!
To purchase tickets, use the button below and select the time you would like to tour.
Please feel free to call or email us with any questions and thank you for supporting preservation in our community!!
