Bjorklund Hotel

Address: 209 W Main St, Bishop Hill, IL 61419

Website: dnrhistoric.illinois.gov

The Bjorklund Hotel in Bishop Hill, Illinois is a historic 19th-century building, museum, and part of the Bishop Hill State Historic Site featuring 1850s architecture and seasonal public tours. 

History and Architecture

• Built originally in 1852 as colonist housing by the utopian religious community.

• Converted into a hotel around 1855 and later named after its second proprietor, Sven Bjorklund.

• Expanded with a kitchen wing, barroom, and a third-floor ballroom/tower by the early 1860s.

• Purchased by the State of Illinois in 1968 and opened as a historic site in 1979. 

Visiting Details

• Location: 209 W Main Street, Bishop Hill, IL 61419.

• Admission: Free (donations accepted).

• Hours: Seasonal and limited; generally open weekends or via special community events like Julmarknad. You can contact the main site office at (309) 927-3345 to confirm current weekly open hours before traveling. Built in 1852, the Bjorklund Hotel accommodated visitors to the colony. Now part of the Bishop Hill State Historic Site, it offers guided tours that transport guests back to the 19th century, highlighting the colony's hospitality. 

• NOTE: The State of Illinois is currently in the design phase for extensive restoration of this historic building.