Are pets allowed on the property?

No. Pets are not permitted on the property for the safety and preservation of the site.

How long is the tour and what does it include?

Tours are approximately 90 minutes and include an introductory film, a half-mile walk to the house, guided interpretation, and access to the Visitor Center and museum shop.

Do I need to wear socks inside the house?

Yes. Socks are required for the interior portion to protect original floors and objects.

Is the tour accessible?

Golf cart transport is available upon request to assist guests for whom the walk is difficult; contact staff in advance to arrange accommodations.

What are the photography rules?

Photography for personal use is permitted, but drones, tripods, stabilizers, and selfie sticks are not allowed. By attending you consent to possible use of your image in marketing.

Who can I contact with questions or to request assistance?

Please contact the Edith Farnsworth House at 630.552.0052 or farnsworth@farnsworthhouse.org for questions or special requests.

Twilight at the Farnsworth House: Summer Evening Guided Tours on the Fox River

The Edith Farnsworth House sits on the Fox River in Plano, Illinois, set within a 60-acre property that balances lawn, riverbank, and woodlot. The Summer Evening Guided House Tour is a 90-minute program that folds architecture, art, and landscape into a single late-afternoon experience - offered June 4, July 2, and August 4 - and begins at the Visitor Center at 14520 River Road, Gate 1, Plano. IL. 60545. You’ll start inside with a short introductory film, then follow a mulched half-mile path to the iconic modernist retreat. The house's glass walls frame the river and changing sky; as light softens in summer evenings the structure reads like a living sketch, every reflection and shadow revealing a different conversation between building and water. Along the walk you pass lawns, riverbank edges, and stands of mature trees that make the property feel private despite its public access. This season's interpretive focus, Farnsworth Forward, marks Edith Farnsworth's 75th anniversary and layers rotating art into the visit. The spring exhibition by Noel Mercado reupholsters classic Knoll furniture as a prompt to consider interiors as living displays; select pieces may appear in the Barnsworth Gallery or be temporarily moved from the house. An expert guide threads history, design, and local landscape together, turning what could be a static house tour into a dialogue about modernism, use, and preservation. Practical details are straightforward: tours operate rain or shine and require socks for the house interior. Golf cart transport is available on request; restrooms are in the Visitor Center, with a port-o-let near the house. Wristbands are provided at check-in; photography for personal use is allowed but drones, tripods, stabilizers, and selfie sticks are not. Pets are not permitted. Tickets are final sale but can sometimes be rescheduled. What distinguishes these summer evenings is the meeting of scale and intimacy: a compact group, the slow descent toward dusk on the Fox River, and curated artwork that reframes familiar sightlines. For anyone interested in architecture, landscape, or the interplay of art within a living site, the tour is a concentrated way to experience a modernist icon and the surrounding 60 acres without requiring a full-day commitment. Bring sensible shoes, a light jacket for river breezes, and curiosity - this guided hour-and-a-half peels back layers of design history while leaving space to simply watch the river change color as the sun goes down. Arrive early to park in the gravel lot adjacent to the Visitor Center and check in for wristbands; the museum shop will be open after the program. Children age 2 and older require tickets. The property participates in Bloomberg Connects for a complimentary digital guide so you can continue exploring exhibits and behind-the-scenes content after your visit, extending the evening's conversation together.