Sanfilippo Estate: 3 hour Guided Tour of the Estate & Carousel Pavilion

Join us for an exclusive 3-hour Docent-Guided Tour of the Collection at the Sanfilippo Estate in Barrington! This tour includes 2 hours in the Sanfilippo Residence and one hour in the Carousel Pavilion with the Foundation Director as your tour guide.

Come hear the story of the family and Collection, demonstrations of a variety of music machines, a mini-concert on the Mighty Wurlitzer and a the history of the items in the Carousel Pavilion. There's a reason many folks have taken this tour more than a few times! It's educational and highly entertaining.

DATE: Saturday, November 23, 2024

TIME: 8:30-9am therapy animal visit greeting at the Estate entrance

9am-11am House Tour/Organ Concert

11am-12noon: Carousel Pavilion, featuring the Eden Palais Carousel

LOCATION: The Sanfilippo Estate, 789 Plum Tree Rd.

Barrington, IL 60010

COST: $75 per person *a portion of each ticket sale will benefit the SOUL Harbour Ranch Animal Therapy Program, a 501c3 charity

RSVP: at Eventbrite (see link) *limited to 60 tickets so purchase your ticket early!

MORE INFO ABOUT THE TOUR:

The Docent-Guided Tour is approximately 3 hours.

Begins in the main Residence viewing and learning about the Sanfilippo Collection of automated music machines, their history, restoration efforts, as well as the opulent details of the Residence’s French Second Empire setting. The tour includes hearing a representative selection of our music machines. Popular selections include early Edison and (Talking Machines), Barrel Organs, Disk Players, Roll Orchestrions, Violin Machines such as the 1922 Hufeld Phonoliszt-Violina which plays the piano and three violins, Reproducing Pianos including a Steinway Duo-Art (a George Gershwin favorite) and more.

The tour features the American Orchestrion Room, with some of the most beautiful art glass-front orchestrions ever made. A group of Tiffany and other art glass lamps and a large collection of Victorian chandeliers add to the color of the room. Also see the Victorian Bar Room, a recreation of a turn-of-the-century casino, featuring a 24 foot long back bar, rare slot machines, Coin Pianos and Orchestrions by Mills, Coinola, Seeburg, Link and Wurlitzer, as well as the lower level of the theater, to see the organ blower and lift. Added to the tour is the Paris Passageway, a glimpse into the Jeffrey Sanfilippo Collection of antique fragrance and cologne bottles. The 1890 General Store Gallery is visible from the Paris Passageway.

The house portion of the tour culminates in the Music Theater with a mini-concert on the world’s largest theater pipe organ: an 80 rank, 8000 pipe, 1927 Wurlitzer, in an auditorium specially built for this instrument. The thunderous Phantom of the Opera rumbling your balcony seat is always a delight for audiences.

The tour continues in the Carousel Pavilion. Inside you’ll enjoy hearing a selection of Dance Organs, Band Organs, Calliopes, and Fairground Organs. You’ll view an 1881 Grant Railroad Locomotive (used by Henry Ford) with its tender and caboose; a reproduction Pullman Coach Car; spectacular street clocks; and a variety of Stationary Steam Engines.

The featured jewel in the building is the Eden Palais Carousel. The most complete example of a European salon carousel in existence, the Eden Palais was built in 1890 and is fully restored and operational. The salon carousel was more than just an amusement ride—it was a self-contained entertainment palace. Lit by hundreds of light bulbs, it was undoubtedly one of the first places that patrons experienced electric lighting. The Eden Palais includes an 89’ wide and 42’ tall carved façade with life-sized carved horses, giant art glass butterflies, a painting recreating an original that hangs in the Louvre, and a beautiful etched-glass entryway. A sight to behold, 36 hand-carved horses, four ornate rocking gondolas and a spinning lovers’ tub rotate spectacularly to the sounds of an 89-key Gavioli Band Organ.

Guests will never forget the experience of hearing exactly what those at the turn-of-the-century heard from these beautifully restored music machines.

*NO PHOTOGRAPHS EXCEPT FOR PERSONAL USE (cannot post on internet)

Event Venue

789 Plum Tree Rd, 789 Plum Tree Road, Barrington, United States