John Deere Historic Site - Dixon, Illinois

John Deere Historic Site - Dixon, Illinois - This site tells the story of the beginning of John Deere that we know today. In 1837 a blacksmith, named John Deere, designed a plow that would cut through the sticky Midwest soil and continue to clean itself while being used.

Blacksmith Shop

This exhibit recreates the original blacksmith’s shop and depicts one of the most prestigious trades practiced in the days of old. See how the plow was made, travel back in time to realize how revolutionary this small advancement was for the farmers of the time. The dirt floor, antique equipment and giant forge give a genuine look and feel to this exhibit.

John Deere’s Home

Deere built the home when he arrived in Grand Detour in 1836 and later added sections to accommodate the growing Deere family. The rooms are furnished exactly as the Deere family probably would have furnished them and contain actual household objects showing how pioneers cooked, cleaned, bathed, and spent leisure hours.

Today, the home has four rooms on the main floor and two rooms on the upper level, each with a separate stairway. It’s believed that one of the upper rooms was for John Deere’s apprentice and the other was the children’s bedroom.

Archaeological Site

An archaeological team from the University of Illinois, in 1962, found the actual location of the original blacksmith shop. The discovery allowed the display of actual items that were found during the dig to be added to the visual story of the beginning of John Deere and Co.

Location: 8393 South Main

Phone: (815)652-4551

Admission: $3 for ages 12 and up

Hours
April - November
Daily
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Special group tours can be arranged in the winter months