Very cool art instillation in downtown Elmhurst…read more I'm guessing they change the colors of the umbrellas during the year. It was lovely to come here on a warm day and see this and walk around the area.

Great little walk through whimsical art throughout downtown Elmhurst…read more We enjoyed the colors on one of the hottest day of the year

Great look at life in the 1860's. Award winning restoration of a small typical "overnight"…read morestopping place. Only one in Illinois that is still on it's original foundation. Parking is behind the Tavern or at the History Center, at 800 N Main St, Glen Ellyn.

This is one of the first buildings that was built in Glen Ellyn, and the museum is currently…read morerestored to the mid-1850s. None of the furniture is original, which is typical for small museums like this. There are some nice examples of painted furniture, plenty of trompe l'oeil painted woodgrain, and one original piece, a small needlework sampler presented as a gift to the family. The tavern had an addition built over the original well, which is still spring-fed and has a reproduction well-house built over it. The building is two stories; the tour includes both stories and the back yard (which I missed), including a smokehouse, the kitchen garden, and the privies. Exhibits in the yard are particularly well-labeled; the kitchen garden is kept up by a local garden club. You'll go through with a docent; the gentleman who took me through was very well-informed and a pleasure to listen to, as well as being responsive to questions. The second floor addition to the building includes photos of the area and the inhabitants of the era, including photos of a building which, after serving as a community ballroom, became a brothel, with several photos of the madam and one of the women who worked for her. There are also a few items from excavations on the site, mostly broken dishware. Suggested donation (adults) is $5; $2.50 for students. If you want to hit the gift shop, it's two buildings down at the Glen Ellyn Historical Society; come on a Wednesday or make an appointment, as on Sundays the Historical Society is closed.

My husband and I were in Elmhurst looking for something fun to do and the Elmhurst History Museum…read morefit that bill. This is a really neat museum. While detailing the past, it has some current innovations like a large movie screen where you can select different videos on the village's history to watch. The museum features many artifacts from the permanent collection as well as a timeline of village history. While we were there the rotating exhibits were being changed. For a fun day with history, I highly recommend the Elmhurst History Museum!

Ah memories! This is a fantastic exhibit located in the Elmhurst Museum of History…read more You will discover the evolution of the retail industry and brick and mortar stores going back to the 1800s with artifacts,images and memorabilia . Relive the days when people would get dressed up in their Sundays Best for lunch at the Walnut Room located in Marshall Fields. Look at the Sears or Montgomery Wards Holiday catalogs See a re-creation of a Holiday Window from Marshall Fields. The exhibit is open thru Jan 28,2024. Admission is free.

Very cute! Stopped by with husband and baby for a nice…read moreSunday stroll. Tiny but lovely! Located in Wilder Park. Conservatory is free, donations are encouraged, open daily I believe, free parking close by. Very well maintained, has a small fish pond. I believe they have flower shows from time to time. The nearby walking area (I think they use it for weddings also) is absolutely lovely! Beautiful green arches, flowers, garden, and a small tent for events. Wilder Park is also a large park where you can stroll, has a large child play area, and the Art museum is close by. The mansion is also located very close by (didn't get in to see it but seems interesting). Would definitely recommend!

The Wilder Park Conservatory is located in Wilder Park. My husband and I went there to see the…read moreflowers on display. The conservatory also hosts a pond with fish. Although small, this is a fun place to bring the whole family. I highly recommend the Wilder Park Conservatory.

These small museums often have very old people volunteering there. This one, like the majority of…read morethem, doesn't get that many visitors. Honestly, it's not that special but they have paintings now! That they didn't have before. The staff running the place is more interesting to talk to than looking at the objects. They have the best stories to tell! It's an experience to go there and see what life was like long ago.

I wish I could give the Wade Center 10 stars on Yelp! It's an over-the-top experience to visit and…read moreget a full tour if you're a CS Lewis and/or JRR Tolkien fan! This museum and library is located right on the Wheaton College campus. Currently (September 2022), a meditation garden is being landscaped outside of the back exit, the design of which is inspired by "The Hobbit." My hubby and I have taken so many out-of-town guests here, and recently some local relatives who had never been! Each time I join a tour, I learn something new. The tour guides and staff are so learned!

I heard about this place through Roadside America and am so glad I went. It was amazing to see…read moreTolkien's desk (on which The Hobbit and parts of the Silmarillion were written), C.S. Lewis's desk, and his wardrobe... yes, THAT wardrobe. The staff are so friendly and were kind enough to take pictures of me with the objects. No admission cost!

This is seriously the cutest little museum!!! My daughter and I popped in one Sunday while hanging…read moreout in the downtown area and it was the highlight of our afternoon!!! The staff was amazing and super informative. It was neat to see the history of Roselle. We even got to check out the house behind the museum which was super fun as well! Check their website for hours but I know they are open on Sundays! They do scout programs so if you are in a scouts program, this is a great place to get a badge!! It's is down the street from the main downtown strip, but it is worth the detour!

A few weeks ago, I was walking through the neighborhood and noticed the Roselle Historical Museum,…read moreacross the street from the village hall and police station. I almost missed it since it looks like every other house on the street, with the exception of the sign out front. I noted the hours (only open on Sunday afternoons from 2p-4p) and made a point to come here the next free Sunday afternoon my husband and I had -- which was a week ago. We anticipated being there for about twenty minutes, not an hour and a half! The museum is actually two houses -- the Sumner House and the Richter House. The smaller one in the back looked closed so we walked up a path to the back door of the larger house and were greeted by a man that seemed very happy to see us. He offered to unlock the small house and give us a tour. I love walking through older houses, so I was excited about this. The small house, which belonged to the Richter family, is pleasantly small with a parlor, sunny kitchen, pantry, and a second floor with two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a children's play area. It reminded me of my grandmother's house (the smell of... mothballs? age? what is it?). Family photos and relics were everywhere. The children's play area was littered with many vintage toys and dolls, almost giving off a creepy aura. I could just imagine a doll's head turning around slowly or the scooter rolling across the floor on its own. ANYWAY. The man gave us a very informative tour with different stories and random bits of information. An interesting tidbit about the Richter house: it was built in 1878 and relocated to the museum campus in 1996. Mrs. Richter remained in her home, even after its relocation, until her death in November 1999, when she was 105 years of age. With Mrs. Richter's blessing, the house was restored to represent a Roselle working man's home during the 1920s. Approximately 85 percent of the artifacts in the house belonged to Mrs. Richter. Cool, huh? (And a little bit creepy?) After the man locked up the doors, we headed back to the Sumner House and proceeded to explore on our own. The house, which belonged to several families over the years, was eventually turned into a historical museum. It has various exhibits of different businesses and organizations from every decade since Roselle was established. Downstairs, there is a general store, a barber shop, a room devoted to a 1950's diner that was popular in Roselle but doesn't exist anymore (sad!), a HUGE map of Roselle decorated with old photos of different sites, and a timeline room, which has artifacts, news, and information from Roselle as time progressed. Upstairs, each little room was devoted to different things: farms, military, boy scouts & girl scouts, police & fire departments, and schools & churches. All the rooms had many pictures and artifacts with so much information! If you live in town, you need to make this place a Sunday afternoon destination. You'll leave with a different view of this town and a nostalgia for things that don't exist anymore. Oh, and watch out for the mannequins! They pop up everywhere. Who knew that Roselle had so much history!? Now I do.