Mission
Sustain and promote the legacy of Robert Allerton Park and engage and enrich the University of Illinois community and the citizens of Illinois in nature, arts, and landscape ecology.
Vision
To inspire the community to utilize and value nature, history, and the arts through accessible and sustainable programming, research, and facilities.
Created in the early 1900s by artist and philanthropist Robert Allerton and his partner John Gregg, Allerton Park and Retreat Center in Monticello, IL is one of the Midwest’s most culturally significant sites. The 1,500 acre estate was donated to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 1946 to be used for education, research, and as a public park. It was one of the first properties of its kind to be gifted for public use.
Today, visitors can explore formal sculpture gardens, hike over 15 miles of trails, stay overnight in historic lodging facilities, attend a variety of events, and dine (seasonally) at the Greenhouse Café.
Year-round programs and events include classes at Illinois’ first folk school (The Farms), outdoor concerts, youth summer camps, themed culinary events, nature hikes, and tours.
Allerton’s secluded setting provides time and space for meaningful connection, creative thinking, and community building. The Mansion and gardens have become a destination for weddings, retreats, conferences, and events for people from all over the world.
