Located less than 60 miles from downtown Chicago in scenic Plano, Illinois, the Homestead 1854 is ideal for a weekend getaway, family get-together, retreat or special event. This unique property is waiting to transport you to a time of simple elegance and class.
Originally built in 1854 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this Chicago boutique bed and breakfast & special event venue is nestled into landscaped grounds and prides itself on maintaining the charm of its original time. At the Homestead 1854, we pride ourselves on our comfortable surroundings, exemplary service and exceptional attention to detail tailored to meet your specific needs.
The Homestead 1854's current owners, Chet and Mary Kay Sergo, purchased the Chicago area bed and breakfast in July 2012. The Sergos are committed to maintaining the integrity of the home as a classic 1850s manor, and to serving their guests with the hospitality, energy, and respect that was so well embodied by the home’s original owner, Lewis Steward.
The Homestead 1854 boasts a rich and varied history. In 1854, Lewis Steward, the founder of the town of Plano, built the Homestead 1854 to be patterned after the picturesque country cottages that are reminiscent of rural Tuscan villas.
To learn more about the history of Lewis Steward
An estate steeped in tradition and excellence
In the early 1850s, the Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad began expanding westward from Chicago. Seeing an opportunity for business growth as a result of the railroad’s expansion, Steward offered the railroad access across his family’s farm and proposed to build a town around the railroad. In 1853, Mr. Steward plotted the town of Plano, configuring the streets, planting trees, subdividing his property for new settlers, and donating land to build the town’s twelve original churches.
For the next several years, Lewis Steward focused his efforts on the growth and development of Plano, supporting its industries and maintaining the city’s economic strength. In addition to acting as a lawyer, farmer, merchant, manufacturer, horse breeder, and philanthropist, Steward served as the area’s Representative in the 52nd United States Congress.
Mr. Steward was known as a man of integrity, always with an eye for the welfare of the residents of Plano. He provided the town with its water system, developed a park, built an opera house, and took school children to the neighboring city of Aurora to see the circus. As a result, Plano became known as “The Child of Lewis Steward’s Creation.” Mr. Steward expanded the house in the early 1860s and again in the late 1870s, and the house remained in the Steward family until 1954.