Raupp Museum
901 Dunham Lane, Buffalo Grove, IL 60089
VISIT OUR WEBSITEThe Raupp Museum preserves Buffalo Grove’s heritage and provides the broadest possible access to community history. The Museum's collection includes over 5,000 objects, archives, and photographs from the past 200 years of Buffalo Grove history. This Museum database is a work in progress. The Museum regularly acquires new objects and conducts research on its collection. For more information, contact the Raupp Museum at 847.850.2135 or email museum@bgparks.org. The Raupp Museum is part of the Buffalo Grove Park District.
Arcadia Farm Collection
Arcadia Farm was a horse boarding stable, situated along Arlington Heights Road, from 1959 to 1978. The farm was owned and operated by Blanche Kloman and her children. For almost 20 years, people boarded horses at the stable, children took riding classes, and some even had pony birthday parties at the farm. Kloman and her horses were an integral part of the local community. She boarded over 250 horses during her time owning the farm, and employed barn hands to help with all the horses. Arcadia Farm hosted horse shows and rodeos for many years, including the Annual Arcadia Farm All Appaloosa Horse Show, All Breed Horse Show , All Youth Horse Show, and Professional and Rugged Rodeos.
Books
Explore our collection of historic books from the mid. 1800s until present day. Included are published volumes and books from local organizations and businesses.
Buffalo Grove Days Collection
Buffalo Grove Days is a local festival held over Labor Day weekend in Buffalo Grove. The festival started in the early 1960s and continues to present day. Highlights include a parade, carnival, live music, and kids activities.
Buttons and Pins
Explore our collection of historic pins from local organizations, political organizations, and businesses.
Clothing and Textiles
Explore historic clothing and textiles from everyday wear, to military uniforms. This collection includes clothing from the late 1800s until present day.
Communication and Technology
Explore tools and equipment used in communication and technology in the late 1800s until present day, with a focus on technologies used in Buffalo Grove during the town's development.
Historic Buffalo Grove Photos
This collection of photographs from Buffalo Grove's history showcase the people and places of Buffalo Grove from the 1850s until present day. Explore how the town has changed in the past 175 years, and the people that called Buffalo Grove home.
Historic Documents
This collection of historic letters, postcards, documents, and records on paper showcase the history of the people, organizations and businesses of Buffalo Grove. Included are historic deeds from the mid-1800s until 1950s, postcards sent between friends and family, and letters sent back to family during World War I.
Home and Kitchen
Explore our collection of artifacts related to the home and kitchen, including dishes, aprons, furniture, sewing, canning, and laundry. Artifacts in this collection were made between the late 1800s to present day.
Maps
Historic and contemporary maps of Buffalo Grove and Illinois.
Receipts from the General Store
Explore historic receipts from the General Store in Buffalo Grove from the 1860s to 1920s. The Weidner General Store was originally owned by John Weidner and was established in the 1860s. Most families in Buffalo Grove were farmers which meant that they didn’t have cash until crops were sold. The store accepted other forms of payment, including eggs and butter. It was well stocked for a rural town, with a wide range of items like buttons, soap, chocolate, and lemons. The store also served many other purposes in town – it was the post office, train ticket office, and even polling place. In 1901, the store installed a telephone. It was the first phone in town so residents had to stop in the store to make a call. The store was in business until the 1960s. In its 100 year history, it went through many owners and name changes, including The Weidner General Store, Weidner & Sons General Store, and Firnbach and Raupp General Store.
Tools and Equipment
The first Buffalo Grove families formed a small but active community, centered around farming, religion and education. This collection showcases the historic farming equipment and tools used by Buffalo Grove residents from the 1850s to 1980s.
Toys and Games
Learn all about the past 125 years of playing games in Buffalo Grove, including board games, different sports equipment, and toys of all types.