Aurora Historical Society

Name: Aurora Historical Society
Address: Aurora, IL, US
Telephone: +16309060650
Price range: $

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Aurora Historical Society

The Aurora Historical Society gives the past a future. Please call to verify hours. Our hours vary by the season. 2013.

01/02/2024

The last visitors of Tanner House Holidays 2023 have visited and all votes have been tallied for the Visitors' Choice Awards.

In Third Place is the Parlor, Barbie Comes to the Tanner House, decorated by Carol Hartzell Bassett.

In Second Place is the first-floor bedroom, Toys That Travel, decorated by Bill Walsh.

And in First Place is the second-floor bedroom, A Sweet Nutcracker Suite, decorated by Samara Bee.

Congratulations to the Visitors Choice winning rooms and decorators! Thank you to all of our wonderful decorators for transforming the Tanner House into a winter wonderland and thank you to all of our guests who visited this season. We look forward to seeing you back at the Tanner House in the spring!

12/22/2023

TWO CHANCES LEFT to see the historic Tanner House Museum dressed to the nines for the Holidays! Join us Friday, December 22 and 29, from 4-7pm at the corner of Cedar & Oak to explore and cast your vote for the Visitor's Choice Award.

12/22/2023

12/15/2023

Have you toured Tanner House yet this season? Be certain to check out how spectacular our donation box looks this year! Darlene Varney created an exact miniature replica of the Tanner House parlor!

12/08/2023

Did you know that the kitchen at Tanner House has a holiday gift shop set up? You can tour the rooms all dressed up for the holidays in different themes from local decorators and businesses, and then do some shopping!

Fridays 4pm-7pm
Sundays 1pm-4pm
305 Cedar St
Aurora, Illinois
60506

12/04/2023

Thank you to our guests and visitors for the Tanner House Holidays opening day!

A special thank you to this year's event coordinator, Ruby Sue Bee, for all your time and loving attention to showcasing the elegance and beauty of the Tanner House. Thanks also to superstar volunteers Kathy Olson and Kris Carmichael.

Visit https://go.aurorahistory.org/TannerHolidays for hours and additional details to help plan your visit this Holiday Season.

Photos courtesy of event sponsor Gary Bahnick.

12/01/2023

A very special thank you to Thrift & Dollar our Sponsor For our December event, Tanner House Holidays. We have some lovely new holiday decor, glassware, and more thanks to the generosity of Thrift & Dollar. You can shop for your own terrific decor with them at
950 N Lake Steet
Aurora, Il
60506

11/29/2023

Have you made your December plans to go to Tanner House yet? A local Holiday favorite activity for many, you can tour the rooms of the Italiante Mansion built in 1857 and enjoy seeing the rooms decorated in different holiday themes. Below are descriptions of the rooms this year, and we are thrilled to have two local businesses as decorators- Yellow Bird Books Aurora and The Cornucopia Shop LLC - Gift Baskets, Teas!

Which room are you most excited to see? Don’t forget that when you visit, you can vote for your favorite room!

Opening Day is Saturday December 2nd 1pm-3pm
and then Sundays 1-4pm
and Fridays 4pm-7pm.
305 Cedar St
Aurora, Illinois
60506

11/28/2023

By visiting https://go.aurorahistory.org/GivingTuesday today, you will give the past a future and allow us to continue telling how YOU are part of the Aurora Story.

The 4th of July Family Picnic and Ringing of the Bells has been a community staple for many decades. Your gift empowers the Society to continue hosting the free event for the community featuring a petting zoo, a pie eating contest, and family-friendly entertainment like Andy Head the Wild Wacky Juggler, and the Aurora American Legion Band.

11/25/2023

By visiting https://go.aurorahistory.org/GivingTuesday and supporting us this GivingTuesday, your generosity recognizes that being able to tell the story of the past to future generations is truly a priority for our community.

The Aurora Historical Society protects, interprets, and shares the history of the second-largest city in the State of Illinois -- no small feat for an independent organization that is not funded through a line on your tax bill.

11/21/2023

Give Aurora's past a future this by visiting https://go.aurorahistory.org/GivingTuesday to show your support.

The 4th of July Family Picnic and Ringing of the Bells has been a community staple for many decades. Your gift empowers the Society to continue hosting this free event for the community featuring a petting zoo, pie eating contests, and family-friendly entertainment like Andy Head the Wild Wacky Juggler, and the Aurora American Legion Band, to name a few.

11/18/2023

Just in case you haven’t yet rsvp’d interested or going to Opening Day of Tanner House Holidays , here are some sneak peek photos of a couple of rooms! This year the parlor is being done up with all things Barbie, from the 1960’s to today. Our dining room is a mad, mad tea party courtesy of The Cornucopia Shop LLC - Gift Baskets, Teas! The Tanner library will be dressed up in a literary theme by Yellow Bird Books Aurora. The sitting room is a mid century Christmas, and yes-there are still more surprises in store! Let us know what you think!

11/18/2023

Now available in-store or online, the Vintage Aurora 2024 Calender: 175 Years of the Burlington Railroad 1849-2024.

Visit us at the David L. Pierce Art & History Center (20 East Downer Place) or visit https://go.aurorahistory.org/2024calendar to have it delivered to your mailbox by ordering online. $17.95 plus applicable tax and shipping.

11/14/2023

Closing this week! Don't miss your chance to explore the Uniting for Victory: Poster Art of the World Wars Exhibit!

11/09/2023

Veterans Day Parade & Reception, Vintage Aurora 2024 Calendar Pre-Preorder, War Poster Exhibit & More in the most recent e-news. Visit https://go.aurorahistory.org/enews231109 to read all about it!

11/03/2023

🇺🇸⭐️🇺🇸
Come visit us tonight at Pierce Center for First Friday and be among the first to enjoy our latest exhibit-Uniting for Victory: Poster Art of the World Wars. Here is a behind the scenes look at Scott Sherwood and Bill Walsh installing the exhibit.

11/01/2023

New Trustees Elected, Tanner House Holidays & More in the most recent e-news. Visit https://go.aurorahistory.org/enews20231031 to read all about it.

10/31/2023

Thank you to Denise Crosby for the wonderful article on our October event, and thank you to all of our guests and volunteers. See you next October!

It's a beautiful place to visit ... but are hauntings living there?

10/28/2023

Put your costume on and visit us at the David L. Pierce Art & History Center, 20 East Downer Place, today from 1-3 p.m. as we and dozens of other Aurora Downtown locations participate in Trick or Treat DOWNTOWN AURORA.

Visit us at the David L. Pierce Art & History Center, 20 East Downer Place, between 1 and 3 p.m. to join us for Downtown Aurora Trick-or-Treat.

10/27/2023

Come see the wonderful Ofrenda at the Pierce Center, 20 East Downer Place — we have photos featuring some rather notable Aurorans.

10/24/2023

Tickets for the Tanner House Tours by Candlelight are officially sold out.

Stay tuned for information regarding Tanner House Holidays or visit us at the Pierce Center in the meantime. Visit www.aurorahistory.org for hours, events, and much, much more!

10/21/2023

We've had a wonderful time with our guests during the Tanner House Tours by Candlelight! The remaining tour tickets are nearly sold out with only single tickets remaining (no couples, or multiples available) as of the time of posting. Visit aurorahistory.org/october to grab one of the available tickets!

Address

Aurora, IL

Telephone

+16309060650

Website

https://www.aurorahistory.org/

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Videos

We’ve heard you, Aurora! We are pleased to share that the Here Comes the Bride exhibit has been extended for a second and final time! Visit this beautiful exhibit at the David L. Pierce Art & History Center from Noon - 4 pm Wednesdays - Fridays and 10 am - 4 pm on Saturdays through October 7, 2023. The exhibit's Premier Sponsor is Wolsfelt's Bridal.

"COME AND VISIT US SOON." That's what Tanner House historian and docent Karen Nickels says as she talks about the woodburning stove in the kitchen. It's a heartfelt invitation but don't delay. :-) There are only 4 more Sundays to enjoy docent-led visits to the house. Last day is September 3, 2023. Tours from 1-4pm. 304 Oak Avenue, 60506. Free, but donations appreciated.

THE PORTRAITS OF THE PAST exhibit may be history, but enjoy many of the portraits that were displayed in this look-back video.

Live from the Independence Day Picnic!

STRIKE UP THE BAND! The American Legion Post 84 concert band will perform at the Tanner House during our annual Independence Day picnic on July 4. Between 11 and 2 you can enjoy the petting zoo, tours of the house, the Wild Wacky Juggler (at 12pm), children's games and face-painting, hot dogs, old fashioned sodas and Oberweis ice cream (at nominal prices), the Ringing of the Bells (1pm) followed immediately by the band concert. After the concert, try your skill at the blueberry-pie-eating contest. Happy Fourth!

FREE CONCERT to close out Military Appreciation month and start your Memorial Day weekend. The American Legion Band will perform at the West Aurora High School auditorium at 3pm on Saturday, May 28, 2022. Doors open at 2:45pm. Use Doors 18 and 19 on Commonwealth Avenue. The concert is sponsored by the Roosevelt Aurora American Legion Post 84. Video is of the band playing at the Tanner House on the Fourth of July, 2019.