Free to the public. DG Historical Society is pleased to announce Israel Larry Blackburn as the Founder of the Year for 2024. Israel Larry Blackburn was born into slavery on a plantation in Kentucky in 1818. He lived there until 1864 when he was sold to the Union Army where he was assigned to 124th […]
The Downers Grove Historical Society will present a plaque to the Downers Grove Museum that recognizes the 1846 Blodgett House as being a part of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.
Avery Coonley School Head of School, Dr. Kirsty Montgomery, Ph.D will give a presentation on the history and architecture of this wonderful historic private school in Downers Grove. Following the presentation, small group guided tours will be available. 6:00 Reception on the patio with Refreshments included 6:45 Program 7:30 Tours See note below regarding the Tour […]
The Downers Grove Historical Society will present a new plaque to recognize the Belmont Prairie as its Historic Site for 2024. Naturalist and Belmont Prairie expert Lance Herning will then lead a discussion on the abundant variety of wildflowers located throughout the Prairie. We encourage attendees to walk the Prairie path after Lance’s talk to […]
Do you live in a home that’s more than 50 years old? Do you feel the history of your home, or the actual home itself, is worthy of preserving? If either of these options interest you, then you don’t want to miss this FREE educational event: “Preserving Your Home And its History” to learn about […]
Come discover the fascinating history of Sears Kit Homes constructed in Chicagoland from 1908 to 1942. What is the reason behind Downers Grove boasting an abundance of the kit homes? Despite the rash of teardowns in the Chicago area, some of these houses have managed to survive. Discover the Sears homes that remain in Downers […]
The Downers Grove Historical Society will honor Mary Ellen Young as the 2024 Montrew Dunham Award recipient. This award was established by the Downers Grove Historical Society in 2019 to honor those whose significant service and contributions to the Village of Downers Grove have earned them a place in its history, following in the footsteps […]
No ghosts, but plenty of ‘guest’ actors will portray early settlers buried in Downers Grove’s historic Main Street Cemetery. Portrayed by both adult and young-adult actors, our early founders, who reappear for this one day every year, will share their stories about the early pioneer days in Downers Grove. Come to the Living Cemetery on […]
Join the Downers Grove Historical Society on our 5th annual History on Tap Trivia Pub-Crawl fundraiser through Downtown Downers Grove! With a trivia card in hand, you’ll stroll to seven local watering holes to find answers to interesting (and brand new) Downers Grove historical questions, while enjoying a 10 oz. beer, 3 oz. glass of wine, soft drink, […]
January 2-30! Historic downtown Downers Grove is full of history and architectural interest... much of it hidden in plain sight. The DG Historical Society and Orange & Brew invite you to explore our village and enter to win prizes during the whole month of January, 2025. How it works: Pick up a clue sheet at […]
Please join us for a special presentation on the life of Israel Blackburn. Israel was born into slavery in 1818 in Kentucky. In 1865, during the Civil War, he was performing garrison duties as part of the 124th U.S. Colored Infantry in Kentucky. Blackburn moved his family north to Downers Grove shortly after the war. […]
Join us for a fun and informative presentation by professor of history and baseball historian Bruce Allardice. Listen as he describes the early days of “America’s Game” and its context in society and Downers Grove. The 2025 Downers Grove Historical Society Annual Member Meeting will take place after the presentation. Drinks and snacks will be […]
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