Monmouth, Illinois is home to Monmouth College and the Prime Beef Festival, held the week after Labor Day. It is also the birthplace of Wyatt Earp, and former home of President Ronald Reagan. There are several lodging options in Monmouth, but travelers looking for the bed and breakfast experience must travel 16 miles east to Galesburg, IL, which hosts several boutique hotel options.
Built as a Victorian-style home in 1890, the Fahnestock House features two multi-room suites to its guests: the Victorian Suite and the Empire Suite. Each suite has its own private bathroom, bedroom, living room, dressing room and pantry. In addition to a full home-cooked breakfast every morning, guests also enjoy complimentary wine and beverages in their private pantry.
The Carr House in Galesburg features six suites in a Victorian-style house. The house has a rich history, as it is the only place President William McKinley held a cabinet meeting outside of the White House. Each room is decorated with antique furniture, sitting areas, private baths, and cable television. Full breakfast is served daily.
Built and decorated in 1890s Victorian-style, the Seacord House Bed and Breakfast, run by proprietors Gwen and Lyle Johnson, is near Knox College and Carl Sandburg's birthplace. The free full breakfast every morning features Lyle's Malt Waffles with strawberries and maple syrup, among other freshly baked treats. Seacord has three guest suites and a large porch for sitting and playing card games or reading books; cards, games, and books are available for guests in the house.
Built in 1856, the Silas Willard House was a stop on the Underground Railroad for slaves escaping to the north, according to local legend. Now renovated as a bed and breakfast in the Seminary Street Historic Commercial District, The Great House offers three suites, fully decorated and furnished in elegant 19th century style. The house features seven fireplaces, a wine cellar, and a dining room where full breakfast is served every morning.
