Past Programs

These are a few of the most recent programs held at the Grayslake Heritage Center & Museum.

Musical Program by Sarah Jo Helgeson
On Wednesday, August 15 at 7 p.m. the museum hosted a special concert by musician Sarah Jo Helgeson. This 17-year old Lake Villa native offered up metaphor-laced lyrics and a folky sound described as "sometimes edgy, often sweet, and always sincere." With the release of her four-song E.P., Recollect and Forget, earlier this year, Sarah Jo launched her solo performing career and has enjoyed playing venues throughout Lake County and Wisconsin.

Make a Pennant and Catch a Baseball Display
On Saturday, August 18, from noon-4 p.m., collector Bill Rose displayed models of past and present major league baseball stadiums at the museum. These meticulous models ranged from the Elysian Fields to modern day Wrigley Stadium. Children also stopped by and made baseball pennants to bring to the museum’s annual 19th-century baseball game at Central Park on Sunday, August 19 at 2 p.m.

1850s Baseball Returns to Grayslake
The Grayslake Heritage Center staged an 1850s style baseball game. The game took place at 2 p.m. on Sunday, August 19 at the Grayslake Aquatic Center Softball Field at Central Park. This game hearkened back to the earliest years of the sport, with wildly different rules. Participants learned to cheer and jeer in proper 19th century fashion.

Reminisce Session: Farm Stands, Grocery Stores and Restaurants
What do these three items have in common? Food! The Grayslake Historical Society’s reminisce session on Saturday, August 25 at 10 a.m. and focused on local cuisine, including Pat’s Pizza, Bob’s Bend, Country Squire, Villard’s, Parkway Foods and more. 

Measuring Avon Township
On Wednesday, September 12 at 7:30 p.m. the Grayslake Historical Society hosted speaker John Baumgartner. Mr. Baumgartner presented Measuring Avon Township, a fascinating examination of the process used to measure and map our surroundings, including the area that became Grayslake.

Grayslake Giving Trees
Grayslake Giving Trees opens free to the public on Friday, November 29, 2019 during the Tree Lighting Ceremony in Grayslake’s Village Center. Visit the Heritage Center to see trees decorated by local organizations and vote for your favorite. The Grayslake Chamber’s holiday market will take place in the Community Room from 5-8 p.m.

Meet Louisa May Alcott
Louisa May Alcott’s story “Little Women”, struck a chord with families nationwide when it was released in 1868. Leslie Goddard will portray Miss Alcott as she reminisces about her life, including her poverty-stricken childhood, her struggles to succeed as a writer, and the unexpected phenomenal success of “Little Woman” in 1868. Leslie Goddard’s portrayal will be open on Saturday, January 18 at 2 p.m.

Make Slime! Workshop
Join us and our friends at the Busy Brains Children’s Museum on Saturday, March 7 at 10 a.m., as we create and play with a fun, sticky slime made out of gelatin. What flavor will your slime be? Be sure to visit our exhibit "Sounds, Smells, and a Smokestack" & the Busy Brains Children’s Museum after the workshop.