Our Victorian Italianate house museum is just 3 blocks from Lake Michigan in historic downtown Highland Park. The house was built by the Highland Park Building company in 1871, and was donated to the Historical Society by Jean Butz James in 1969, the centennial anniversary of the incorporation of Highland Park.
There are eight museum rooms open to the public:
The parlor, bathroom, and kitchen have been restored to their turn-of-century charm.
- The Parlor retains its original woodwork with ornate crown moldings, and is furnished with Victorian marble-top table, velvet settees and chairs, and an antique pump organ.
- The Kitchen has a wood-burning iron stove, oak icebox, water pump, and several old utensils.
The Highland Park Room contains a 150-year timeline of the development of Highland Park, as well as maps, photographs, and mementos that provide insights into the architecture, residents, and businesses of the past.
The Library includes reference materials, books by Highland Park authors, and Highland Park High School yearbooks going back almost 100 years. The roll-top desk of our first Mayor is on display in this room.
The two first-floor Exhibit Rooms (formerly the Dining Room and Garden Room) have exhibits that change every six month to a year. (Click on EVENTS for current exhibit information).
The upstairs Children’s Room contains vintage school desks, books, the dollhouse featured in Elizabeth Orton Jones’ book Big Susan, and many dolls and other toys of the past.
The Costume Room has an antique sewing machine and dressmaker forms, as well as several elegant dresses, coats and accessories from 1880’s to early 1900’s.
Museum Hours:
Feb. 15 through Dec. 15:
Wed-Fri. 1-4
Sundays 2-4
Closed on Holidays
326 Central
(corner of Linden)
Highland Park, Illinois
Please help us to preserve the history of Highland
Park by joining our membership.
Click here for information.