The Yost House

The Catharine V. Yost Museum is an extraordinary site. Constructed before the turn of the 20^th century, the house was owned and occupied by a single family for nearly 100 years. When the last member of the Yost family passed away, the house and everything in it was deeded to the City of Pontiac.

The Yost House Museum is open by appointment. During the tourist season, it is open for public tours on select Saturdays. Photography is prohibited inside the home. To arrange a private tour, call 815-844-5847.

The Yost House is a three-story, wood-framed structure built for Z.F. Yost, a Pontiac attorney. Built in 1898, this five-bedroom, Queen Anne-style house rests on the north bank of the Vermilion River, providing a clear view of the flowing waters.

Visitors enjoy that same scenery today, filtered through the many trees and shrubs that offer a haven for visiting songbirds and waterfowl. The interior of the home remains much as it was at the turn of the 20^th century. Most of the furnishings are original to the home, many dating back to the 1850s. Docents at the Yost Museum provide the historical and cultural background to help visitors appreciate life in that earlier, quainter era.