Museum archives include photos, postcards, documents and objects that trace Lake Bluff’s history from the 1800s to present. Many can be viewed remotely, through our online catalog. Among the museum’s more noteworthy holdings are the following.
Collections
Postcards
The Lake Bluff History Museum's collection of over 200 unique postcards date from the early 1900s and capture memories of Lake Bluff's days as a summer destination and development as a community. more...
Mural: Our Sense of the Past
One of Lake Bluff’s finest treasures is the large mural of the French explorers Marquette and Joliet, which hung in the now demolished Lake Bluff School gymnasium for 85 years and now hangs in Lake Bluff Village Hall. more...
Ice Truck
History is Cool and so is Lake Bluff's 1931 Ice Truck! The Museum brought the historic 1931 Lake Bluff Ice Truck back to town in 2010, some eighty-plus years after it first cruised Village streets delivering ice. more...
American Legion Post 510
In February 1920, twenty-five veterans of World War I met in Lake Bluff Village Hall and signed a charter establishing American Legion Post 510. The Museum archives a collection of Post 510 artifacts, memorabilia. more...
I am Lake Bluff History: People
Have you ever wondered who walked the village's sidewalks before you? Who might have grown up just down the street? People, places and events - from the expected to the remarkable - all are part of Lake Bluff’s history. more...
I am Lake Bluff History: Places & Events
The orphanage; hotels, grocery stores, pharmacies, taverns, florists, salons and inns: Lake Bluff has been home to hundreds of beloved businesses and service organizations over the decades. more...