La Grange Area Historical Society

About La Grange Area Historical Society

The La Grange Area Historical Society operates a museum and research center in the restored Samuel Vial House, built in 1874. Visitors explore rotating exhibits on the main floor, including the society's period costume collection, and view artifacts that chronicle the area's development from 1890 to 1970. The summer exhibition "A Walk Through Time" displays clothing, objects, and stories organized by decade, showing how tastes, fashions, and everyday life changed across generations. The second floor houses archives and research materials where visitors can explore property files containing photographs, newspaper clippings, and historical documents about their own homes and buildings. The society also hosts the Home and History Tour, where visitors can walk through five historic properties in the community. Volunteers help curious homeowners and newcomers uncover the architectural details, previous owners, and neighborhood history of their residences. Located in La Grange, Illinois, the society welcomes visitors during published hours, with appointments available outside regular times.