Downers Grove Museum

Downers Grove Museum Discover the history of Downers Grove! Hours: Tues, Wed, Thurs 12-4pm, 2nd and 4th Saturdays 10-1pm This is not an appropriate portal for FOIA requests.

The mission of the Downers Grove Museum is to provide educational and leisure opportunities for the community by collecting, preserving, exhibiting and interpreting materials that explain and document the history of Downers Grove and its relationship to local, state, regional, national and global history. Please visit https://www.dgparks.org/freedom-of-information-act for more information.

12/24/2024

🎄✨ Happy Holidays from the Downers Grove Park District! ✨🎄

We wish everyone in our community a joyful and festive holiday season! Whether you're spending time with loved ones, enjoying the outdoors, or participating in our programs, we hope this time of year brings you peace and happiness.

Stay safe, have fun, and we can’t wait to make more memories with you in the New Year! 🥳🎉

🎄⛄ Holiday Season Hours & Closures ⛄🎄The holiday season is here! Please reference our updated hours below to help you pl...
12/20/2024

🎄⛄ Holiday Season Hours & Closures ⛄🎄

The holiday season is here! Please reference our updated hours below to help you plan your visits to our facilities. Wishing you a joyful and festive season from all of us at Downers Grove Park District! 🎅✨

🏀🏋️‍♂️ Recreation Center & 4500 Fitness 🏋️‍♂️🏀
Facility Hours
• Dec. 24: 5 AM to 12 PM
• Dec. 25: Closed
• Dec. 31: 5 AM to 12 PM
• Jan. 1: Closed
Registration Desk
• Dec. 24-25: Closed
• Dec. 31: 9 AM to 12 PM
• Jan. 1: Closed

🏫 Lincoln Center 🏫
• Dec. 24-25: Closed
• Dec. 31 & Jan. 1: Closed

🏛️ Downers Grove Museum 🏛️
• Dec. 24-25: Closed
• Dec. 31 & Jan. 1: Closed

🌳 Lyman Woods Interpretive Center 🌳
• Dec. 24-25: Closed
• Jan. 1: Closed
• Trails will remain open

🗂️ Administrative Office 🗂️
• Dec. 24-25: Closed
• Dec. 31: Closed starting at 12 PM
• Jan. 1: Closed

Happy holidays from everyone at Downers Grove Park District! 🎄✨

Thank you to everyone who visited the Downers Grove Museum's Merry & Bright: A Victorian Christmas event on Saturday! Fa...
12/17/2024

Thank you to everyone who visited the Downers Grove Museum's Merry & Bright: A Victorian Christmas event on Saturday! Families learned about Victorian Christmas traditions, toured the holiday decorated Blodgett
houses, and visited with Santa.

The Downers Grove Park hosted the Merry and Bright Victorian Christmas on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2024 at the Downers Grove Museum. Patrons were given the opportunity to learn about Victorian Christmas traditions, tour the holiday decorated Blodgett house and visit with Santa.

🎄 Merry & Bright - A Victorian Christmas 🎄🎁🎉 Get in the holiday spirit here at the Downers Grove Museum! We invite you a...
12/09/2024

🎄 Merry & Bright - A Victorian Christmas 🎄

🎁🎉 Get in the holiday spirit here at the Downers Grove Museum! We invite you and your whole family to learn about Victorian Christmas traditions, tour the holiday decorated Blodgett houses, and visit with Santa. Stroll the park on a luminary walk, view holiday decorated trees, and warm up around a campfire as you listen to Victorian era carolers. 🎶⛄

📆 Date: Saturday, December 14
🕒 Time: 3pm
📍 Location: Downers Grove Museum
💵 In advance: $5 / At the door: $8
🎄 Merry & Bright welcomes eventgoers of all ages!

✨ Reserve your spot today and make this holiday merry and bright!
👉 Click here to register: https://buff.ly/4f8Edj5

🦃 The Downers Grove Park District would like to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving! On this Thanksgiving, we want t...
11/28/2024

🦃 The Downers Grove Park District would like to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving! On this Thanksgiving, we want to share a sincere "thank you" to the community. We truly appreciate YOU!

🦃🍁 Turkey Day is Almost Here! 🍁🦃Check out all of the Downers Grove Park District's Thanksgiving holiday hours and closur...
11/20/2024

🦃🍁 Turkey Day is Almost Here! 🍁🦃

Check out all of the Downers Grove Park District's Thanksgiving holiday hours and closures at https://buff.ly/3OiHVf3.

🎄 Holiday Tea at the Downers Grove Museum 🎄Step into the charm of the season with a cozy holiday tea in the beautifully ...
11/11/2024

🎄 Holiday Tea at the Downers Grove Museum 🎄

Step into the charm of the season with a cozy holiday tea in the beautifully decorated 1892 Charles Blodgett Victorian House! Join us on Dec. 11 from 11:30am to 12:30pm to enjoy tea, delicate finger sandwiches, and a delightful selection of sweets and pastries. As you sip and savor, relax to holiday music and learn about historic holiday traditions in a brief presentation.

Ages 16+
💲 Residents: $20 | Non-residents: $30

Don’t miss this festive experience—reserve your spot today at https://buff.ly/4ejPQDA .

🇺🇸 Veterans Day Breakfast - Free for Veterans! 🇺🇸Join us at the Lincoln Center for a special Veterans Day Breakfast hono...
11/05/2024

🇺🇸 Veterans Day Breakfast - Free for Veterans! 🇺🇸

Join us at the Lincoln Center for a special Veterans Day Breakfast honoring those who have served our country! Enjoy a morning of connection and conversation as we celebrate our local heroes and hear about Downers Grove's response to military service.

🗓 Date: Veterans Day
📍 Location: Lincoln Center
👤 Registration: Advance sign-up required for all attendees. Children 4+ must be registered with an adult; children under 4 are welcome with a registered adult.

🎟 Cost:

Veterans: Free!
Residents: $18
Non-Residents: $27
➡️ Reserve your spot: https://buff.ly/3CepIN7

Let’s come together to thank our veterans for their service and sacrifice!

🎃 Blodgett House BOO Fest is tomorrow! 🎃 Join us at the Downers Grove Museum on Halloween for a spook-tacular time! Tric...
10/30/2024

🎃 Blodgett House BOO Fest is tomorrow! 🎃

Join us at the Downers Grove Museum on Halloween for a spook-tacular time! Trick-or-treat through the historic Blodgett House, decked out in Halloween decorations, and enjoy a festive scavenger hunt and spooky-themed games for all ages.

🗓 Date: October 31
📍 Location: Downers Grove Museum Campus
⏰ Time: 3:00 - 6:00 pm
💰 Fee: Free!

Come in costume, bring the family, and enjoy some Halloween fun!

** PROGRAM NOW FULL. WAITLIST AVAILABLE **Join us for a night of historic cocktail tastings at Belmont Golf Club! Take a...
10/29/2024

** PROGRAM NOW FULL. WAITLIST AVAILABLE **

Join us for a night of historic cocktail tastings at Belmont Golf Club!

Take a journey back in time as we explore five decades of unique cocktails from the 1860s to 1900s. Learn how to make each drink, enjoy tastings, and discover fun facts about the cocktails and their eras. Light snacks provided to complement the flavors!

🍸Date: Friday, November 22
🍸Time: 7:00 - 9:00 pm
🍸Location: Belmont Golf Club
🍸Ages: 21+

Don’t miss this chance to sip your way through history—sign up now!
Register online at: https://bit.ly/48taaRz

🎃 Specters & Spirits is TOMORROW! 👻Are you ready for a spine-chilling night of paranormal fun at the Downers Grove Museu...
10/10/2024

🎃 Specters & Spirits is TOMORROW! 👻

Are you ready for a spine-chilling night of paranormal fun at the Downers Grove Museum? Join us on October 11th for a haunted adventure where you'll explore eerie locations with paranormal experts, enjoy light bites, and maybe even encounter a ghost or two! 👀✨

It's the perfect way to get into the Halloween spirit—literally! 🕯️ Gather your friends for a night filled with chills, thrills, and ghostly mysteries. This event is for adults only, and spots are filling up fast, so don’t wait! ⏳

📅 Date: Tomorrow, October 11th
⏰ Time: 7-10 pm
📍 Location: Downers Grove Museum
👻 Ages: Adults only

🎃🖤 Click here to secure your spot now for a hauntingly good time! https://buff.ly/3Y3M0bG

We're getting our 1892 Charles Blodgett House spookily prepared for our Halloween season. Don't forget to join us this F...
10/07/2024

We're getting our 1892 Charles Blodgett House spookily prepared for our Halloween season. Don't forget to join us this Friday, October 11th from 7-10pm for our annual Specters and Spirits event, as we search for signs for the paranormal. We're even changing it up, by adding an additional surprise site to our quest. Sign up at www.dgparks.org

🍏✨ It's National Johnny Appleseed Day and we want to remind everyone to join us for our upcoming Tree to Table: Apple Ci...
09/26/2024

🍏✨ It's National Johnny Appleseed Day and we want to remind everyone to join us for our upcoming Tree to Table: Apple Cider program at Lyman Woods! 🍎

On Oct. 19, learn all about the transformation of apples into one of America’s most iconic and delectable treats! From apple cultivation and local orchard history, to the making of apple desserts from our Victorian-era recipes, join us for a sweet journey into all things apple cider! Program will be held indoors and outdoors, so please dress for the weather.
👉 Learn more and register online at https://buff.ly/3N2HrcE .

🗓️ Date: October 19
🕐 Time: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
📍 Location: Lyman Woods

Don’t miss out on this sweet experience, a partnership between Downers Grove Museum and Lyman Woods!

You’ve heard the stories about the mysterious happenings at the old Blodgett house, and now you’re finally invited to ex...
09/25/2024

You’ve heard the stories about the mysterious happenings at the old Blodgett house, and now you’re finally invited to experience it for yourself! But beware—when the festivities begin, one of our town’s cherished philanthropists may be making an eternal exit!

Get ready for a night of fun and frights starting at 7 PM. Don’t miss out on what’s sure to be a chillingly unforgettable experience! 🕖✨

🕖 When: Friday, Oct. 25 from 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
📍 Where: Downers Grove Museum
👥 Ages: 16+
💰 Cost: Residents $20 | Non-residents $30

Don’t miss out on this spine-chilling event! Register now: https://buff.ly/3XWuHdx

This year’s party is sure to be a real scream! 🎉👻

🇺🇸🎉Wishing everyone a fun and safe 4th of July! Downers Grove Museum is closed July 4 to 7 in observation of Independenc...
07/04/2024

🇺🇸🎉Wishing everyone a fun and safe 4th of July! Downers Grove Museum is closed July 4 to 7 in observation of Independence Day.

New temporary exhibit! Sears Kit Homes of Downers Grove 🏠Downers Grove has a great deal of confirmed Sears Kit Homes, 68...
07/02/2024

New temporary exhibit! Sears Kit Homes of Downers Grove 🏠

Downers Grove has a great deal of confirmed Sears Kit Homes, 68 as a matter of fact. Many of the examples here in town have made it nearly to or exceeded the 100-year mark. This new exhibit will explain how these homes were ordered, delivered and built. The centerpiece will be framed examples of Sears Kit Homes that still stand in Downers Grove. Visitors can also explore original advertisements, floor plan options, and the prices people originally paid for these homes.

Downers Grove Museum is open for free self-guided tours:
- 12-4PM: Tuesdays to Thursdays
- 10AM-1PM: 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month

In observation of Independence Day, the Downers Grove Museum will be closed July 4 – 7.
06/28/2024

In observation of Independence Day, the Downers Grove Museum will be closed July 4 – 7.

In honor of Juneteenth, the Downers Grove Museum will be closed tomorrow, June 19.This federal holiday commemorates the ...
06/18/2024

In honor of Juneteenth, the Downers Grove Museum will be closed tomorrow, June 19.

This federal holiday commemorates the end of slavery in the United States after the Civil War. Learn more about the history of Juneteenth at https://nmaahc.si.edu/juneteenth.

Address

831 Maple Avenue
Downers Grove, IL
60515

Opening Hours

Tuesday 12pm - 4pm
Wednesday 12pm - 4pm
Thursday 12pm - 4pm

Telephone

+16309631309

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Our Story

The Downers Grove Museum is a community museum in the western suburbs of Chicago. Operated as a facility of the Downers Grove Park District, the musuem’s mission is to provide educational and leisure opportunities for the community by collecting, preserving, exhibiting and interpreting materials that explain and document the history of Downers Grove and its relationship to local, state, regional, national and global history.

The museum’s collection includes over 80,000 historical objects, furniture, clothing, textiles, documents, and photographs related to the history of Downers Grove. Some of the important artifacts in our collection include Downers Grove’s first motorized firetruck, objects owned by Downers Grove’s founder, documents signed by four U.S. Presidents, and original photographs that the Downers Grove Reporter newspaper published from the 1940s to 1990s.

The museum started in 1973, when the Downers Grove Park District and Downers Grove Historical Society began operating a museum in a house on Curtis Street. The Historical Society exhibited its collection of historical artifacts that it had started in 1967 and displayed in Village Hall. Three years later, the Park District purchased the historic 1892 Charles Blodgett House on Maple Avenue and moved the museum there. The Park District also hired Pauline Wandschendier, the founder of the Downers Grove Historical Society, as the museum’s first Curator and named the Blodgett house’s property Wandschneider Park in her honor.

The Downers Grove Museum has expanded beyond the Charles Blodgett House since then. In the late 1980s, the Park District replaced the property’s old homestead barn with a brand new exhibition and programming facility designed to look like a barn. In 2008, the DG Heritage Preservation Society raised funds to move the 1846 Israel Blodgett house on Randall Street to the museum’s property. However, it has not been opened to the public due to a long-term interior renovation project.