{"id":15,"date":"2026-04-21T00:10:26","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T00:10:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adventuresingeekery.com\/capstonemuseum\/?page_id=15"},"modified":"2026-04-22T03:28:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T03:28:14","slug":"about-the-museum","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/adventuresingeekery.com\/capstonemuseum\/about-the-museum\/","title":{"rendered":"About the Museum"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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About the Capstone Museum<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Tucked along a quiet stretch of Chicago\u2019s historic district, the Capstone Museum stands as both a preserved relic of the city\u2019s Gilded Age and a testament to one student\u2019s vision. What was once a long-abandoned mansion\u2014its grandeur hidden beneath years of neglect\u2014has been transformed into a space where history, architecture, and storytelling converge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Story of Robert Peel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Robert Peel first encountered the mansion as a student of architecture at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Passing it daily, he became increasingly drawn to its structure\u2014its ornate detailing still visible beneath decay\u2014and equally troubled by its deterioration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Driven by a deep appreciation for historic architecture and a personal connection to the past, Robert began organizing a fundraising effort among his peers and faculty. With their support\u2014and a promise to dedicate the restoration as his capstone project\u2014he acquired the property in 2004.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Working alongside his father, Michael\u2014known to most as Mike\u2014a lifelong carpenter with a sharp eye for detail, Robert began the slow and careful process of bringing the mansion back to life. While Robert focused on preservation and design, Michael\u2019s craftsmanship ensured that every restored element remained true to the building\u2019s original character.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Hidden History<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

During the early stages of restoration, Robert uncovered concealed passageways and sealed rooms hidden within the mansion\u2019s walls. Among these discoveries was a preserved Prohibition-era speakeasy\u2014complete with original fixtures and remnants of a long-forgotten social world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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While the building\u2019s origins remain uncertain, speculation continues to surround its past, with rumors of ties to Chicago\u2019s underground during the Prohibition era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, these discoveries form the foundation of one of the museum\u2019s most intriguing experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Explore the Hidden History<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Designed for Everyone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At the heart of the Capstone Museum is a commitment to accessibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Robert\u2019s mother, Lorraine\u2014a retired history teacher and a constant source of inspiration\u2014played a central role in shaping the design of the restored space. Ensuring she could experience every detail of the home, Robert made accessibility a guiding principle throughout the renovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Today, every room, corridor, and exhibit has been thoughtfully adapted so that visitors of all abilities can explore the museum without limitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lorraine remains closely connected to the museum and is known to visit during the winter season, when the house is decorated for the holidays. Each year, Robert continues a quiet tradition\u2014placing a gift beneath the tree just for her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Living Capstone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Though officially completed in 2018, the Capstone Museum continues to evolve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project has since become a collaborative space for students whose fields intersect with the building\u2019s history\u2014from architecture and preservation to design and historical research. What began as a single capstone project has grown into a living, ongoing exploration of Chicago\u2019s past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Today, the museum invites visitors to step into a layered narrative\u2014one that blends documented history with lingering mystery, and craftsmanship with care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every detail, from the restored woodwork to the hidden rooms below, reflects not only the legacy of the building itself, but the dedication of those who chose to preserve it.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

About the Capstone Museum Tucked along a quiet stretch of Chicago\u2019s historic district, the Capstone Museum stands as both a preserved relic of the city\u2019s Gilded Age and a testament to one student\u2019s vision. What was once a long-abandoned mansion\u2014its grandeur hidden beneath years of neglect\u2014has been transformed into a space where history, architecture, and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-15","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_hostinger_reach_plugin_has_subscription_block":false,"_hostinger_reach_plugin_is_elementor":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresingeekery.com\/capstonemuseum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresingeekery.com\/capstonemuseum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresingeekery.com\/capstonemuseum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresingeekery.com\/capstonemuseum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresingeekery.com\/capstonemuseum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresingeekery.com\/capstonemuseum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":170,"href":"https:\/\/adventuresingeekery.com\/capstonemuseum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15\/revisions\/170"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adventuresingeekery.com\/capstonemuseum\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}