Historic luxury Great House - Chamber Suite

Room in boutique hotel in Galesburg, Illinois

  1. 2 guests
  2. 1 bedroom
  3. 1 bed
  4. 1.5 baths
Hosted by Linda
  1. Superhost
  2. 4 years hosting

Listing highlights

Self check-in

Check yourself in with the keypad.

Dedicated workspace

A common area with wifi that’s well-suited for working.

Wake up to breakfast and coffee

Included essentials make mornings extra easy.
The perfect blend of old and new in this 1857 mansion, the Silas Willard home, just 1/2 mile from downtown. This room is 1 of 4 bedrooms with a full bath, most all amenities, and a majestic view between two pillars onto our historic district of homes.
It's whispered this home was involved with the Underground Railroad, Abraham Lincoln, and the startup of what is now Knox College.
Enjoy a 24-hr continental breakfast and explore the entire main floor full of secrets, mysteries, and even a vault.

The space
The CHAMBERS SUITE is one of four bedrooms in the Great House of Galesburg – Silas Willard Mansion.

Other rooms available in this house:
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/685542861135317822
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/686939638115928352
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/689075352049153707
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/689078079379739234

This large and sophisticated room has a queen-sized bed and a full bathroom with a separate vanity. There is an original marble fireplace with an electric heater, wicked fast free wi-fi, TV with a Fire Stick, mini-fridge, ceiling fan, and extra comfy chairs. Read to the end so you know why to stay here besides a bed.

There is a large, private parking lot for you and your guests in front of our solar panels and the house is equipped with an indoor sprinkler system for your safety. There are outdoor Ring Security Cameras on both the front and back exterior doors only. We can communicate with you through these. We are just ½ mile from the Amtrak Station and a one mile walk through our beautiful downtown to Knox Campus.

All rooms include a 24-hour free continental breakfast, as well as a pajama coffee bar with snacks right outside your bedroom door. All the normal amenities are provided as well as a fully stocked kitchen if you feel like cooking.

Silas Willard was an abolitionist and mainly responsible for bringing the railroad to Galesburg, thus causing this small community to become a fast-growing town. It is believed that this house was part of the Underground Railroad and rumored that Abraham Lincoln made a visit. He was involved in developing what is now Knox College. Silas supported the idea that all people deserve to be educated. His wife was the first female to attend the college and graduate.

With this in mind, the downstairs is yours to explore and to find the hidden secrets that a 165+ year-old home has. With original windows, this home is in pristine condition with lots of architecture, antiques, and books that focus on Lincoln, trains, and the history of Galesburg.

Enjoy the living/music rooms, side parlor, library, dining room, vault, and expansive back deck and front porch sitting areas. This level is yours to explore so “own it” and allow your imagination to take you back in time.

Other rooms available for rent in this house:
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/685542861135317822
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/686939638115928352
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/689075352049153707
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/689078079379739234

Guest access
The day before arrival, the code to get into the house will be emailed to you through Airbnb. Once inside, It is important to know which room you booked.

Your room will have two keys, one key for your room and the other key opens the back deck door off the parking lot (the GUEST DOOR behind the music room.) Please lock these doors when you leave.

Also within this email will be information on the internet and other important information and house rules.

The basement access is only available on request. It is a normal basement you would expect to see in a 1857 house.

The laundry/storage room is for employees only unless special arrangements are made.

Other things to note
There is a long steep original stairway that winds to the second floor bedrooms.

We do not recommend children under six due to the hazard of these stairs.

We are sorry but homes built in 1857 were not built to be handicapped accessible. Modifications would be very difficult.

Rentals include the use of the entire house by overnight guests. We do allow friends and family to visit. Larger groups are consider an events and are allowed but only with pre-arrangements. Please ask about the event fee.

Each room has a fireplaces that is non-functional but does have an electric heaters within.

Where you’ll sleep

What this place offers

Kitchen
Wifi
Dedicated workspace
Free parking on premises
TV

Select check-in date

Add your travel dates for exact pricing

Rated 4.9 out of 5 from 29 reviews.

Guest favorite
This home is a guest favorite based on ratings, reviews, and reliability

Overall rating

  1. 5 stars, 93% of reviews
  2. 4 stars, 3% of reviews
  3. 3 stars, 3% of reviews
  4. 2 stars, 0% of reviews
  5. 1 stars, 0% of reviews

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for cleanliness

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for accuracy

Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars for check-in

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for communication

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for location

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars for value

Guest reviews mention

Where you’ll be

Galesburg, Illinois, United States
This listing's location is verified.

Neighborhood highlights

A iconic house within the historical district just minutes from downtown Galesburg. Walk to town and enjoy your own architectural tour of stunning homes.

Meet your host

Superhost
192 reviews
4.92 out of 5 average rating
4 years of hosting
My work: Linda-Retired from the Gates Rubber Company after 30 years/Niels-Sales Director for Suez Water Treatment for 31 years.
Speaks English
We are Niels and Linda Lewis, and we are happy to be the new hosts of The Great House in Galesburg, IL. We have both spent most of our lives in Galesburg and are very active and committed to the community. Our love for the town and experience in travel brings new ideas we would like to expand upon this house. Linda: I attended Carl Sandburg College and Eastern Illinois University. I spent most of my career as a Buyer for The Gates Rubber Company in Galesburg and Columbia, MO, then retired. This gave me an opportunity to invent, develop, patent, and take to market my idea, Flipple. I can show this to you if we meet. Covid ended my venture, and I am thankful – long story. Niels: I was born in Coppenhagen, the son of a pilot and lived in the Bahamas, England, KS, Jersey (the Island), Tanzania, PA, IL. I have now lived here for 31 years and feel like a native of Galesburg. I got my BA in Chemistry from Illinois State University am an area Sales Director for Suez WT. This puts me on the road quite a bit which makes me even more appreciative of a place like The Great House. My wife and I love to travel two ways; the familiar which is comfortable and predictable and the completely unknown where we are expecting an adventure. We hope that you will be able to experience both when you visit The Great House; a very comfortable space that is also going to be outside of the traditional hotel experience.

Linda is a Superhost

Superhosts are experienced, highly rated hosts who are committed to providing great stays for guests.

Co-hosts

  • Dawn
  • Dawn

Host details

Response rate: 100%
Responds within an hour
To help protect your payment, always use Airbnb to send money and communicate with hosts.

Things to know

Cancellation policy
House rules
Check-in after 3:00 PM
Checkout before 11:00 AM
2 guests maximum
Safety & property
Exterior security cameras on property
Carbon monoxide alarm
Smoke alarm