By: Ashmar Mandou

If you are looking for a new source of inspiration, a place to melt away all the stress of the day, a daytime retreat for the whole family, then Cantigny Park is the place for your next adventure. Sprawling across 500 acres, Cantigny Park offers a plethora of excursions from guided tours, nature walks, a Red Oaks Farm Playground, a Tank Park where visitors can view tanks from World War I through Desert Shield and Desert Storm, to themed summer night events. “I am out to Cantigny Park when I was little, about 8 or 9 years old and I absolutely fell in love with Cantigny and by the time I got to high school I knew this is where I wanted to work, this it is the only place where I have worked for 34 years now. It’s such a special place and we do such good things for the community that it makes it all worthwhile. To come to a place that educates the public, that has a great leadership team, great colleagues, and the visitors who are here are always happy to be here, just makes everything worth it.” said Matt LaFond, executive director of Cantigny Park.

Cantigny Park is the former estate Colonel Robert R. McCormick (1880-1955), the longtime editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. Cantigny Park was named after a small village in France, where Colonel McCormick commanded an artillery battalion in 1918 as a member of the U.S. Army’s First Division. The Battle of Cantigny left a profound mark on Colonel McCormick where he created the First Division Museum honoring those in the 1st Infantry Division of the U.S Army on the estate where it would be open to the public. Cantigny Park is part of the McCormick Foundation where over 400,000 visitors roam the grounds each year. “I hope visitors have a great time, first and foremost. And I hope they explore all that Cantigny has to offer. If they come for an educational program, or for a movie night with family, I hope they explore the First Division Museum and the gardens as well. There is so much that Cantigny has to offer.” Cantigny Park is located at 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton, IL. For general information, call 630-668-5161 or visit www.cantigny.org. Currently, Cantigny Park is celebrating its 65th Summer Season with numerous events sure to gift you lasting memories.
Upcoming Events at Cantigny Park:

• Jazz and Wine Fest – Sunday, June 18 – Five acts, two stages and 10 wine sampling stations surrounded by Cantigny’s beautiful gardens. Our partner and Media Sponsor for this exciting first-time event is College of DuPage jazz station WDCB-FM.

• Voyage en France – Sunday, July 16 – Celebrating Cantigny’s unique connection with France on a day filled with French sights, sounds and flavors.

• Moonlit Movies -Families can visit Cantigny Park on Friday nights for movie night on a 40-foot inflatable screen. Families will also enjoy a live music and food and beverage.

• Glow in the Park – Saturday, August 12 – Nostalgic adult fun night with live music, fluorescent cocktails, glow-in-the-dark games and more!

Photo Captions:
(1) First Division Museum
Take a tour through history as you wonder through the First Division Museum filled with artifacts from early war to present day. The First Division Museum pays homage to the First Infantry Division with the help of an immersive experience and close-up views of tanks and classic war machinery. Currently, a new exhibit is on display located in the First Division Museum lobby, entitled “65 Years” where nearly 500 artifacts are shown as a nod to Cantigny Park’s 65th anniversary.

(2) Gardens
The various gardens of Cantigny Park from the Rose Garden to Rock and Gravel Gardens, to the Idea Garden, all offer the visitor a space for inspiration, creativity, and tranquility. You can experience the gardens at your own pace with plenty of area to wind down with a family picnic while being surrounded by luscious greens.

(3) Cantigny Park
Located in Wheaton, IL, Cantigny Park stretches across 500 acres replete with golf course, gardens, a designated camp site area, and so much more.