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About The Adlai E. Stevenson I Home

Discover history just one block from the Metamora square at our Civil War-era museum.

Our Vision

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 and the Central Illinois Landmark Foundation in 2001, our vision is for the Stevenson House to serve as a museum for Metamora memorabilia.

Museum exhibits will be changed periodically and serve to educate local students, tourists, and those passionate about our history.

One area of the museum is a library for researching Metamora and Woodford County history.

The Stevenson House will also be a great addition to the other two historic homes in Central Illinois that tell about the life of Adlai E. Stevenson I—the Matthew T. Scott Home in Chenoa, IL, and the Stevenson Family Home and Library in Bloomington, IL.

Want A Tour? Check Out Our Open House Dates!

The Home’s Construction

The Stevenson House is an austere two-story Federal-style structure built before the Civil War.

It’s located just one block south of the southwest corner of the Village Square and faces north on a corner lot.

The home is approximately 35 feet wide and 30 feet deep and is set back from both front and side streets.

It is constructed of “faded pink” brick made locally.

The interior of the home contains eight rooms, four on the upper level and four on the lower, with room sizes and arrangements identical on the two levels.

Excavations in the late 1970s uncovered the foundation of a small building that sat directly behind the house—this was either a servants’ quarters or a separate kitchen, and was most likely connected to the main house by a porch or walkway.

The Home’s Most Famous Resident

In 1858, Adlai E. Stevenson I began practicing law at the Metamora Courthouse.

After his marriage to Letitia Green on Dec. 20, 1866, they moved into this home on Walnut Street in Metamora, Illinois.

In 1868, they moved to Bloomington, where he opened his own law practice.

About a decade later, Stevenson served as a Democratic U.S. Representative for Illinois.

Finally, in 1893, he was elected vice president of the United States alongside President Grover Cleveland—he served his term through 1897.

Photo via Library of Congress

Learn More About Adlai E. Stevenson I

Renovation Phases

Stabilization phase

Following our purchase of the home in 2001, we completed the stabilization phase—structural repair and reinforcement—of the first floor in the spring of 2002.

The first floor framing was in poor condition and some of the floor joists were currently being supported with shoring.

Other floor joists had experienced rot at the ends that bear on the brick masonry walls.

Several joists supporting the southeast room had failed and the floor was severely distorted.

We are now in compliance with the 100 pounds per square foot loading requirement for buildings open to the public.

01

Heating and cooling phase

In the fall of 2002, we completed the installation of the new heating and cooling systems.

After consulting with several local restoration specialists, we decided on separate heating and cooling systems for the first and second floors.

One unit was placed in the attic and the other in the basement.

We also planned for humidity control for our museum.

02

Accessibility phase

In the fall of 2004, we installed a handicap-accessible restroom.

03

Masonry stabilization phase

During this phase, we repointed open and deep joints, replaced deep spalled and missing bricks, sealed movement and deep cracks, reset or anchored loose exterior layer to masonry back-up, and consolidated or face sealed spalled brick to limit further deterioration.

04