Meet us where La Grange history is preserved
The Vial House Museum and Archive houses collections and exhibits that tell the rich history of La Grange and La Grange Park.
Using photographs, maps, newspaper clippings, and more, the La Grange Area Historical Society records the memories and the foundations that make up the fabric of the area.
The main floor of the Vial House displays special exhibits and period costumes. The second floor is where members of the Archive and Research Committee do their magic, filing, recording, and storing a history of a town.
Some of their work can be purchased in the form of drawings, maps, and historical posters. There are also gifts and souvenirs for sale in the form of ornaments, notecards, and mugs.
The Vail House was built by local farmer Samuel Vial in 1874. It was purchased by the La Grange Area Historical Society in the mid-1980s.
The Vail House is open on Wednesdays from 9:30am to noon or by appointment.
The La Grange Area Historical Society traces its own historical roots to the date of April 3, 1972, when Caroline Gifford posted a letter inviting all civic-minded individuals to attend a meeting at the local library.
A plan was drawn up with the help of members of the Heritage and Architectural Commission to create a society with the mission of preserving the cultural heritage of the La Grange area. The society was officially created on April 15, 1972.
The rest, as they say, is history.
The Vial House is located at 444 South La Grange Road. It’s 15 miles from downtown Chicago and accessible by public transportation using the BNSF Metra Train. It’s just a 15-minute walk from the La Grange Road Stop.
