This museum isn't very big and can probably be walked through in right around an hour, but it is a…read morehidden gem. The museum is housed in the old Batavia Train Depot (hence the name!) and does a great job introducing the importance of the early railroad on the area. Some of the displays include an original caboose that you can walk through, a very cool reproduced ticket counter, a working Western Union morse code station, Mary Todd Lincoln's bed and dresser (she was treated at a nearby sanitarium after Abe's assassination), and, in the basement, an exhibit on the general history of the area. Check back often, as they have periodic presentations, as well. My kids absolutely loved the one on antique toys and games the museum put on this past summer. It's an inexpensive way to get the family out and about!

This is a great place to visit and learn about local history. From initial settlement, through the…read moreMary Todd Lincoln years, and up to recent history like Furnas Electric, the Depot Museum has something for everyone. There is also an extensive library for people who are researching their families.

The Valley of Chicago has finally completed construction of the new cathedral and it is an…read moreexquisite example of modern architecture melded with the beautiful old woodwork and treasures saved from the old building in Chicago. It is a true testament to the strength of the organization in the Chicagoland region and will serve as a magnificent landmark and home for many, many years to come. Congratulations and thanks to all those involved with it's construction and opening!

Proud to be a life member of the Scottish Rite. The temple is spectacular and the members are a…read moredefinitive statement of the strength and vigor of modern day FreeMasonry. The lodge itself is magnificent and undoubtedly one of the finest working floors in the state. The auditorium is modern and well equipped like the rest of the facility. There is a small masonic museum when you enter that is frequently updated with new artifacts. The dining hall is large and usually filled with brethren. There are pool tables, game tables and chess sets to pass the time. The bar offers generous pours and there is an outdoor terrace surrounded by trees to smoke cigars on when the weather is nice.

The museum is free and a nice place to stop in if you have kids and are walking around downtown…read moreWheaton. They have a charming train display on the lower level that children tend to love! The main floor focuses on local Illinois history. It's a small place, and the upper level is currently under construction, but being free makes it well worthwhile even as they spruce things up.

All of you that took pictures inside should be ashamed of yourselves. It's clearly posted…read morethroughout, now go sit in the corner for 10 minutes and reflect on your rebellious nature. Ok, so first of all it's free. But, you can make donations ($4 is "suggested") I like places like this and was happy to make a donation. The building is cool, it was built by John Quincy Adams (distant relative to the former President) as a Library, he lived across the street and gifted this wonderful building to the community. Why only 3 stars you ask? I wanted to click 4 stars.. but when it said "Yay! I'm a fan." I just couldn't. I'm glad that I went once, but that was enough. Many of the displays are specific to only a few families that have made extensive donations of items, this is cool except that I was looking for more specific information on the formation of the towns throughout the county. Also, maybe some juicy gossip.. like the stuff about the how Wheaton became the County Seat.. or how the towns were named.. etc.. and maybe some founder's pictures. The first room on the left is the main exhibit (and to me most interesting) There are some nice period pieces of clothing and family pictures. Quite a bit of information about the trains (and the stations and architects) that run through DuPage County and the Illinois Prairie Path that took some of their places. I spent the most time in this room. It's easy to walk by, but when you first enter the museum, on the right is a display about the building worth looking at.. pictures of the museum going back to the horse and buggy days.. almost missed that because we were engaged with the people at the desk right away. (very friendly) I didn't get the train exhibit in the basement, it was operational (push the button) on the day we were there and held our interest for all of a few moments.. I think you have to know and understand about these things. I was distracted by the placement of the buildings/locations in relation to the tracks, things were out of whack. I know it's supposed to be impressive.. but I was kind of "meh" The second floor used to have a stage and seating. That's been removed but the room is still attractive with it's tall ceiling. It's worth a visit, but I wouldn't plan a day around it.

July 2014 marked the 43rd year for the Aurora Puerto Rican Heritage Festival. I love going to fests…read moreof all kinds in different towns and I must admit...this was one of the best I've been to. The Puerto Rican Heritage Fest is in downtown Aurora at the River Edge Park. They couldn't have picked a better location. For one, the park is fairly new and absolutely beautiful. Two, parking was extremely easy--only $1.50 in the metra parking lot and it is right across the street from the fest. And three, they have a huge stage with seating for live bands. The festivities last two days, Saturday and Sunday, and kick off with the Puerto Rican Parade at noon. The parade itself is located in the streets of downtown near City Hall. After that, everyone walks/drives over to River Edge. It's only $5 to get in! Not bad. As soon as you're past security, it's like you're actually in Puerto Rico. The smell of delicious fried foods, red white and blue flags every where, and loud music that makes you want to stop and dance with someone. I was in heaven! First thing to do at any fest is head to liquor booths. There were pina colada and daquiri booths every where, so I picked the first one I came to. "These have rum in them right?" "No, you have to go get drink tickets at a different stand and they only sell mikes hard and beer." WHAT!? How are you gonna have all these drink stands and no booze? Not too big of a deal, but that's definitely a recommendation I would make for next year. So I grabbed a Mikes hard. It was $4 but that's typical at any fest. Next I went to all the booths where they sold puerto rican jewelry, flags, clothes, art work, anything you could imagine. It was much like Guavate, Puerto Rico. Shops everywhere but many of them selling the same stuff. I got a great flag, only $3 bucks, and a festival t-shirt, only $15 bucks. The prices were very reasonable. Keep in mind...many of the vendors only spoke Spanish. Now for the food...by far the best part of the fest! Anything I could possibly get my hands on and eat...I did. There were multiple food vendors. Again, many of them selling the same type of foods, but some times the way they make it varies (such as the beans different vendors use. And yes, the type of bean you use when making Puerto Rican food matters!!) All together, I spent only $26 bucks on food and you would not believe me if I showed you just how much food $26 bucks got me! I got two empanadillas (fried meat pies), a huge portion of lechon (pulled pork), a fried plantain, one giant rellenos de papa (fried potato ball with ground beef inside), habichuelas guisadas (pink beans with wonderful seasoned sauce), and arroz con gandules (yellow rice and gandules)! We also ordered the bacalaitos (cod fritters), alcapurria (corn fritter stuffed with ground beef), and a pastele. The pastele, however, was the only thing that was not good! It was complete mush. Everything else was AMAZING!! They also sold pinchos, sorrulitos de maiz (sweet corn fritters), mozzarepa (corn pancake stuffed with mozzarella), and funnel cakes...so many different kinds of funnel cakes like red velvet! Mmmm.... This fest is seriously a great time. The people are so beautiful and friendly (seriously every person working the fest was just so happy to be there, really friendly and helpful). The music was fun, the puerto rican souvenirs were well priced, and the food was cheap and DELICIOUS!! I can't wait for next years fest!

The historical society / museum is in the old Butler School, with a wooden sign out front you'll…read moresee only after you miss the turn. So when you get close and see "Butler School," turn. It's the brick school building and you enter from the side, from what looks like the handicapped entrance. The people there seemed a bit surprised to see me, but were happy to have the archivist (90 years old, been there 25 years!) give me a tour. The archives are on the ground floor where you come in; the main displays are up two flights of steps on the top floor. There's a room on the start of white settlement in the area, with a small section on the Indians who lived here before - lots of arrowheads. There is a small schoolroom section, with a small display on the old Rabbit Hill School that Butler replaced. Then a section on local worthy Michael Butler, who produced the American version of HAIR, a couple of boards of photos of local buildings and restaurants, and then the tour went into more local worthies. At this point I started getting my local families mixed up. The Butler family was very wealthy from a paper factory and Paul Butler, who founded Oak Brook (which only dates back to 1958) pal'd around with movie stars (there's a photo album; he dated Audrey Hepburn for a while; the album includes casual snaps with folks like Rock Hudson) and there's a file on when King Hussein of Jordan visited. Butler apparently donated all his papers to the museum; there are a couple of big oil portraits, and then a whole room of polo memorabilia (you can pick up a polo ball), with photos of people getting prizes from the Queen of England, and a photo of the current King of England from when he visited. The library includes books on folks with a local connection (including, to my surprise, renowned skirt / serpentine dancer Loie Fuller); there's also a book with photos of every known Oak Brook veteran, including the docent (Korean War). Back in the main part of the schoolroom there's a vitrine on the local police; a sleigh (it was December); a display on how Oak Brook was founded (in pieces in haste as the local Oak Brook Terrace Mall was going in); and a rather charming vitrine showing some of the Christmas cards that Paul Butler sent *every single resident of Oak Brook* every year. I learned a lot, though to be honest I knew nothing about Oak Brook's history (polo??) before I came. The docent was very generous and even walked me briefly through the archives (this never happens). If you want to know about Oak Brook, like snapshots of 1950s movie stars, or just want to know about the local polo connection, stop by.

I love coming here for Mass. it's been discouraging however lately as Rev Tom likes to berate the…read morecongregation during his homilies .. today he mentioned white supremacy.. has done so several times as he obviously does not care for the current administration.. in light of the hatred attempted violence of late .. I would pray that he stops talking like this .. there are so many uplifting things to talk about . When's the last time he's paid taxes or a mortgage.

Very nice place, both inside and outside. I felt at peace each time I come here! The museum is very…read moreinformative. Highly recommended.

I could have sworn I reviewed this already, but apparently not and someone should. I wasn't sure…read moreexactly what "GAR" was and was never here when it was open. This was a hall for the Union Army in the Civil War. There's not much to it and the hours are very limited (if you work during the day, come Saturday or during a First Friday, when it's open in the evening). However, it's free and it is interesting to read about what soldiers were faced with during the war, which was much less organized than our military is today, and when things like the VA and veteran's benefits did not exist. (The museum has apparently won several awards including the "Small Institution of the Year.") There is a beautiful marble "recording angel" at the center of the main room (to record the names of unknown soldiers) and there are panels and some exhibits; the display cases started life as bookshelves in Aurora's first library. The basement has some information on the building itself but is much less museum-y. The building was going to be torn down to make room for a parking garage and it actually butts right up against the one they built.

This year marked 83 years of Lilac Festival and Parade tradition…read more I love the Lilac Parade. I've been going for over 20 years and it's become my tradition. I think that my favorite part (besides the veterans) is the drum line and dancers. Every year I convince myself that I could be one of them. Or I could be one of the dancers, I mean, I could totally do it right? Get out there and twerk, twerk, twerk....um yea I could totes do it. =) The only thing I don't like about this is finding a spot to camp out. You have to be there at least two hours before hand to find close parking. This year there were spots saved from the night before!! Imagine that. That was a little unfair because spots weren't' even being used while people were searching all over the place. Don't hold a spot if you're not planning on using it. I always manage to find a spot by Señor Jalapeño and this year it was perfect because we walked across the street to grab a slice of pizza from Gianorio's. Then we sat in our lawn chairs with our drinks, our pizza and watched the parade for about a good hour. Veteran Marching band, Antique Cars, Military Vehicles, Lombard Leapers Tumbling Squad, and our very own Lombard Falcons (which my friends son is part of), and the coolest horses around, those are just a few of the participants. Don't worry, there's a street sweeper that comes around to clean up after the horses. They also have face paint for the little ones, I always manage to get my face painted though. So, if you wake up one Sunday morning, sometime in May, and realize the parade is happening, I would definitely recommend going. With friends, family or yourself, well, I don't know about just yourself...that's a little creepy. Take your dog for a stroll! lol There's just so much history in the Village of Lombard and I hope Lombard never let's this tradition die.

This is one of this west suburban's traditions that I try not to miss. The Lilac Parade IS Lombard,…read moreand if the only event attended in this town is the parade, I feel like the best representation of the village is going to be on this day. Regardless of the weather, hoards of people line Main Street and East Maple to watch the 2 hour parade that has something for everyone to see and enjoy. This year featured a bunch of adorable miniature horses, and were the highlight of the day. For the constant every year, I like the Jessie White tumblers best of all. Having been a gymnast, there is something magical to see several teens fly 20 or so feet through the air from concrete as though they're bouncing on backyard trampolines.