Visit Ewing Cultural Center
The Ewing Cultural Center sits in the wooded landscape at the northwest corner of Towanda Avenue and Emerson Street in Bloomington, Illinois.
Ewing Cultural Center is a non-smoking facility, both indoors and out of doors. Only service assistance animals are allowed on the property. Garden paths are accessible.
Please note that public restrooms are available only for clients renting Ewing Manor or patrons of the Illinois Shakespeare Festival. No restroom are available for visitors to the Genevieve Green Gardens.
Photography of the Manor, Theatre, and Gardens is allowed. However, any photography that includes one or more persons requires an approved photography permit.
All guest parking is at St. John's Lutheran Church, 1617 E. Emerson Street, Bloomington, IL.
Ewing Manor Tours
Although the Manor is primarily an event venue, group tours may be arranged in advance by contacting the Ewing staff at (309) 829-6333. Requests are granted based on availability. A minimum contribution will be encouraged.
The residential wing of the Manor is open to the public for walk-in tours on the third Wednesday of each month from 9 am until 3 pm. Reservations are not required, but are requested for groups of 8 or more. There is no charge but contributions are encouraged. Please note there are stairs to enter the Manor and the tour includes visiting three levels which are accessable only by stairs. Guests should park in the St. John's Lutheran Church parking lot and enter the Manor on the lower level on north side of the building. Tours are guided by docents and will last approximately 45 minutes.
Genevieve Green Gardens Pathways
The gardens are open to the public daily from 8 am until dusk, weather permitting. There is no fee to enter the gardens but contribtuions are encouraged in the donation box under the archway between the garage and Manor.
Ewing Cultural Center, including the Genevieve Green Gardens, is privately owned and is not a public park. Recreational games, such as frisbee and kites, as well as sleds, skateboards, scooters, bikes, and roller blades are not allowed on the property. Bicyclists must walk their bikes upon arrival at the site; they may not be ridden on the pathways or any other area of Ewing.
Stay on the pathways and turf areas. Please do not walk in any planted, mulched or wooded area for any reason; even if plant material is not visible, it is underground and can be damaged if walked upon. Stepping between the plants compacts the soil, turning it into a hard substance that repels water and kills roots.
Climbing on trees, fountains, furniture or other garden or Manor features is not allowed. Enjoy the flowers without touching, picking,or disturbing.
Cell Phone Tour
Visitors can learn about the history of Ewing as well as the gardens just by calling pre-recorded messages, available March through November. Signs around the gardens provide the number to call as well as a prompt number for a specific message. Tour Ewing from afar by listening to the messages from anywhere. Call (309) 550-9016 and listen to 15 different recordings. The cell phone tour is available from March through November.
Theatre at Ewing
Guests attending Illinois Shakespeare Festival performances at the Theatre at Ewing must also use the parking lot at St. John's Lutheran Church.
Maps of the surrounding area
You can also view and print out a map of the surrounding area.
Historical Images
View a slide show of the manor's history
View more images in our gallery.
Parking
Ewing Cultural Center has an arrangement with St. John's Lutheran Church across from Ewing to the south. There is ample parking on the north, west, and south parking lots. From the St. John's lot, please use the cross walk on the corner at the stoplight. For your own safety, Ewing and the City of Bloomington strongly urge you not to use any other location to cross the street. No parking is allowed on the Ewing Cultural Center property. Use 1617 E. Emerson Street, Bloomington, IL 61701 for electronic or GPS directions to the parking lot.
To get to the Ewing Cultural Center from the North:
Use 1617 E. Emerson Street, Bloomington, IL 61701 for electronic or GPS directions to the parking lot. Take Interstate 55 to the Normal-Business 51 exit (#165). Turn left onto Business 51 (Main Street), go South about two and a half miles to Emerson Street (by the Kroger grocery store), turn left onto Emerson and drive approximately one more mile. Parking for the Ewing Cultural Center is provided across Emerson Street at St. John's Lutheran Church (the church will be on your right immediately before the intersection of Towanda and Emerson).Cross the street to Ewing at the corner with the pedestrian signal. Do not cross mid-block!
To get to the Ewing Cultural Center from the South:
Use 1617 E. Emerson Street, Bloomington, IL 61701 for electronic or GPS directions to the parking lot. Take Interstate 55 to Bloomington/Normal-Business 51. Exit to your right and proceed North onto Business 51 (Main Street). Go North about two and a half miles to Emerson Street (by the Kroger grocery store), turn right onto Emerson and drive approximately one more mile. Parking for the Ewing Cultural Center is provided across Emerson Street at St. John's Lutheran Church (the church will be on your right immediately before the intersection of Towanda and Emerson).Cross the street to Ewing at the corner with the pedestrian signal. Do not cross mid-block!
