Support Adaptive ReUse for McKee House

The Journey towards Adaptive ReUse

Built in 1936, the McKee House has long been a treasure on the along St Charles Road in Glen Ellyn. Having sat vacant for decades, the structures became at risk for demolition.

In 2016, the McKee Preservation Group, Inc. formed and collected over 1,000 signatures to support preserving and re-adapting the historic structures. The hurdles then became to:

1. Find a purpose for the structures.

2. Form partnerships.

3. Secure funding.

Being near the geographical center of the county (no more than 16 miles from any DuPage County)  boundary, the site has great potential.

• It could be a regional cultural asset for a myriad of uses, e.g. environmental studies, fine arts classes, performances, and rental opportunities. 

• It would be easily accessible by foot or bicycle along East Branch DuPage River Trail (EBDRT) extension connecting the Prairie Path and the Great Western Trail through Churchill Woods Forest Preserve.

Recognizing its potential, in 2018 Village of Glen Ellyn stepped forward to annex a portion of Churchill Woods Forest Preserve including the McKee House structures and leased that area from the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County.

On September 23, 2023, The Village of Glen Ellyn, the Midwest SOARRING Foundation, and the Forest Preserves of DuPage County signed an agreement to allow the preservation and adaptive reuse of the McKee House as The Native American Cultural and Environmental Center at Churchill Woods Forest Preserve. (Please view the Conceptual Plans for the Center.)

Having jumped the 1st two hurdles, late in 2024, the McKee Preservation Group, Inc. reorganized to become the fund-raising not-for-profit organization to Fund the Center.  

As funds are secured, the building will repaired and adapted for a museum and education center. Once established, the center will operate under a new entity, the NAC&EC.