Downers Grove Museum

Location

Downers Grove Museum and Wandschneider Park

831 Maple Ave.
Downers Grove, IL 60515
Phone: 630.963.1309
Fax: 630.963.0496

DIRECTIONS

Admission

Donations appreciated

Hours

Open for self-guided tours

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays: 12 - 4PM
2nd and 4th Saturday of the month: 10AM - 1PM

Additional museum visits and research requests:
Available by appointment only. Contact the Museum by phone at 630.963.1309 or by email at museum@dgparks.org

2024 Holiday Closures

3/29-31; 5/25 - 27; 6/19; 7/4-7/7; 8/31-9/2; 11/28-12/1; 12/24-12/25; 12/31-1/1/25

About the Museum

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.

Downers Grove was settled in 1832 by Pierce Downer, a Plainfield, Vermont native. Downer moved to Ellisburg, New York where he met and married his wife, Lucy. They were a farming family and eventually had five children. Downer's son, Stephen, moved to Fort Dearbon in Chicago to help with the construction of a lighthouse. Following the departure of his son, Pierce Downer decided to also move west in the pursuit of a new future. He reached Chicago and eventually traveled down the DuPage River and settled in an area that would become Downers Grove.

In 2023, The Association of Midwest Museums has recognized the Downers Grove Museum with the Best Practices Award for their work on the completed renovation of the 1846 Blodgett House.

history Programs & summer Camps

The Downers Grove Museum offers a wide range of engaging, year-round programs for all ages, including educational workshops, craft activities, holiday events, and annual free celebrations. Participants can dive into local history while interacting with our knowledgeable staff and volunteers. Plus, don't miss our exciting summer camps, where kids can explore hands-on history, crafts, and outdoor adventures, making it a season to remember!

learn more and register

Group Programs and Tours

Learn more

temporary exhibit

Sears Kit Homes of Downers Grove

Open now in the Montrew Dunham History Center

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.

PERMANENT DISPLAYS

	1846 Israel Blodgett House The 1846 Israel Blodgett House was built by Israel and Avis Blodgett in 1846 and is one of the oldest houses in Downers Grove. Israel and Avis came to Downers Grove in February 1836 from Amherst, Massachusetts. The family first settled in a small, one-room log cabin while Israel worked as the town's blacksmith. The members of the Blodgett family held abolitionist beliefs, and it is believed that the Blodgett's provided assistance to enslaved people during the Civil War era. The 1846 Blodgett House is recognized by the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. Learn more about the renovation
	1892 Charles Blodgett House The Charles Blodgett house was the home of Israel and Avis's youngest son, Charles, and was built in 1892. Charles was a member of the DuPage County Board of Supervisors and was instrumental in the development of the roadway system in Downers Grove. He lived in the home with his wife, Emma, and their four sons. The permanent exhibits in the Charles Blodgett house illustrate life in Downers Grove from the 1890's to the early 20th century. The house also contains the offices of Museum staff, archives, collection storage and a research library. Late Victorian Period Living: Explore period style rooms that represent what life was like in Downers Grove during the late Victoria era! Rooms include a front drawing room, back sitting room, kitchen, child's bedroom, and an adult bedroom. Downers Grove Hall of Fame: Located on the second floor of the Victorian Blodgett house, learn about notable figures who have connections to Downers Grove!
	Montrew Dunham History Center Montrew Dunham History Center (reproduction of a former carriage house) is home to our temporary exhibits as well as a permanent exhibit celebrating the history of the Downers Grove Fire Department, including their 1920's original fire engine.
	1920 White Pumper Fire Truck On permanent display is the first motorized fire truck the Downers Grove Fire Department owned. Learn about the different parts of the truck and fun facts about the early days of the Department. Try on one of our firefighter outfits and take a picture with the truck!

RESEARCH

Local History Resources

Researchers interested in Downers Grove history are welcome at the Downers Grove Museum. The Museum offers a Public Research Library that contains birth and death certificates, cemetery surveys, census records, telephone directories, school yearbooks, genealogies, and newspaper articles. The Downers Grove Museum's photographic collection is also available to view upon request. Resources and access to the Public Research Library is available by appointment only. Please call 630.963.1309 to make an appointment.

For individuals unable to visit the Downers Grove Museum, or those in need of research assistance, you may submit a research request to the Museum Curator at 630.963.1309. A research fee of $17 per hour will be assessed for research inquiries submitted to our Curator for research required over 30 minutes. Please allow up to two weeks for a response to a research request.

Associated Research Fees

Standard Resolution Digital Photo Scans: $5 per photo
High Resolution Digital Photo Scans: $10 per photo
Commercial Use Fee: $25 for all photo requests in addition to standard individual photo fees
Research Requests: $17 per hour for research over 30 minutes*

Research Disclaimer

First 30 minutes of research are performed as a courtesy to researchers by museum staff and volunteers. After 30 minutes, a $34 deposit is required before further research is conducted on topic or research question. Research request fees are non-refundable and applicable regardless of research results. The fee covers the cost of our Curator's time conducting the research and is not based on the outcome of that research.

COLLECTIONS

Museum Collections

The Downers Grove Museum is home to thousands of objects pertaining to Downers Grove history. The Museum contains a large textile collection of clothing, uniforms, and quilts, an archival collection of photos, books, letters and documents, and a three-dimensional object collection containing furniture, memorabilia, dinnerware, toys, and tools.

Donations

What does The Museum collect?

It is the mission of the Downers Grove Museum to collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret materials that explain and document the history of Downers Grove and its relationship to local, state, regional and national history. All objects accepted into the collections must have a direct connection to Downers Grove, or be able to help tell the story of the community.

How can you donate to The Museum?

If you have something that you think is of interest, contact the Museum by calling 630-963-1309 or by visiting the Museum. The staff will be able to tell you whether or not the object(s) would be considered for it's collection.

What happens to donated objects?

Donated objects accepted by The Museum are given one of three designations: Permanent Collection, Education Collection, or Property. Items are placed in the appropriate category based on a variety of factors, including provenance, intended use, availability, and condition.

Are object donations tax deductible?

YES! Under the terms of the Federal Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, charitable gifts of appreciated property are fully deductible. Contributions of $250 and over will require a receipt for all donations, including property and cash.

Does The Museum staff appraise objects for donation?

NO. The value of an object donation must be appraised by a qualified person. The staff is prohibited from providing appraisals of the monetary value of materials offered as gifts, brought in for identification, or submitted for any other purpose. Therefore, the donor is responsible for obtaining the services of an appraiser.

The Downers Grove Museum is always looking for enthusiastic individuals to join our team. Opportunities are available in the following areas:

Collections: Go behind the scenes and work directly with the objects
Exhibits: Help staff curate and install an exhibit
Programs: Assist in DGM programs and summer camps
Tours: Brush up on local history and give tours of the DGM Campus
Research: Help answer research inquiries and conduct exhibit research

If you're interested in becoming part of the awesome Museum team, contact us at 630.963.1309.

Location