Donated to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1946 by Robert Henry Allerton, son of wealthy Illinois farmer Samuel Allerton, the 1,500-acre estate, now called the Allerton Park and Retreat Center, was modeled after the 17th century Ham House in Surrey, England. An avid art collector, philanthropist and an artist himself, Robert Henry Allerton used the landscape as his canvas, designing the estate to ensure that earth, sky and water were visible from all of the main rooms.

Today, the Allerton Mansion is used as a retreat and conference facility by visitors from around the world. It is surrounded by a magnificent forest, exquisitely manicured formal gardens, and more than 100 unique sculptures and garden ornaments commissioned by Allerton and brought back from his travels around the world. Striving to maintain balanced, integrated, and sustainable relationships between people and nature, the public park is used for recreational activities such as hiking, bird watching, picnicking, cross-country skiing, leisurely strolls, and enjoyment of the formal gardens, garden ornaments, and sculptures.