If you have enjoyed the exhibits, programs and events at the Grayslake Heritage Center & Museum this past year, please consider making a donation to the Grayslake Heritage Center Foundation. Your donation will help us with future initiatives in 2016. Thank you for your consideration.
An Invitation to Join Us
The true worth of a museum lies not only in its historical collections, but in its service to the public good. Here at the Grayslake Heritage Center & Museum, we believe in a philosophy of civic engagement. That is why you will find our staff and volunteers at all major community events, in the classroom and involved with other service organizations all year long. The Grayslake Heritage Center & Museum Foundation invites you to join us in our efforts by making a donation to support our community endeavors.
Donors like you make everything we do possible. As the museum continues to grow, your investment ensures that we will continue our efforts to build a shared sense of community through Grayslake’s rich history. All donors receive an invitation to special donor and sponsor recognition events, plus invitations to sneak previews for major upcoming projects. This year, we are also looking to grow Club 1895, an elite group of donors who support the museum with gifts of $1,000 or more. Members of Club 1895 are recognized on the museum’s donor wall in the lobby, and receive behind the scenes tours and invitations to exclusive museum programs and functions throughout the year. With your help, we have an exciting year ahead of us in 2016.
Major Accomplishments
Support from donors like you has allowed the museum to thrive and grow, offering high quality exhibitions, programs and services. Working with our partners at the Grayslake Historical Society and the community, we have received major awards for our recent exhibition, Over There: Grayslake in the Great War. In June, we brought the traveling exhibition, Sox vs. Cubs: The Chicago Civil Wars to Grayslake, kicking off opening weekend with former White Sox and Cubs pitcher Steve Trout. We provided hands-on learning opportunities at local festivals and the Grayslake Farmers Market, visited classrooms to share local history, conducted numerous tours and staged more than 50 family-friendly programs featuring talented actors, musicians, storytellers and lecturers.
New Shows
More recently, we have opened two new shows. The first, Food, Family & Tradition: Dining in Grayslake, shares stories of past and present local restaurants, and the people who made them go. It also features new touch screen technology and hands-on learning stations to engage our younger visitors. A teaser event for this exhibition took place in October and featured tastings of seven recipes from old Grayslake families, which represented a century of fine-dining in our community. On November 27, the third annual Grayslake Giving Trees display opened to a record crowd. This show invites local non-profit and community organizations to share their message of service throughout the holiday season and is quickly becoming a family favorite.
Recent Challenges
2015 was not without its challenges. Heavy rains in July and September caused flooding in the museum’s archives, home to many precious images and artifacts. While there was no significant damage to historic collections, the floods did require extensive renovations for the long term care and security of precious items.
New Opportunities
The coming year, we will provide exciting new programs, shows and experiences. Future exhibitions will focus on local architecture, the history of transportation in Grayslake and area entertainment past and present. Watch for architectural walking tours, as well as an expanded roster of concerts and dramatic presentations at the museum and nearby Centennial Plaza. Learn to cheer and jeer in fine Victorian fashion as your Grayslake Athletics once again take the field to offer nine innings of 19th century baseball against the McHenry County Independents.
Planning for the Future
We are also hard at work on a new, long-range plan to chart a path for continued growth and community service. Help us better serve you by visiting the museum’s website at www.grayslakeheritagecenter.com and giving us feedback in our quick and easy survey. Your thoughts and ideas will ensure that we continue to meet the needs of our residents and plan exciting and engaging programs, exhibitions and initiatives for all generations.
Help Us Continue Our Progress in 2016
Help us make history. Your tax deductible donation will allow us to share the gift of history all year long. Checks may be made payable to the Village of Grayslake, Heritage Center Fund and sent Attn: Dave Oberg, Village of Grayslake, 10 South Seymour Avenue, Grayslake, IL 60030. Your donation will support new exhibitions, programs and initiatives in 2016 and beyond. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
David M. Oberg
Executive Director