Grayslake Heritage Center & Museum

The Grayslake Heritage Center & Museum opened their present-day facility on August 15, 2010. This state of the art history museum features multiple exhibition galleries, a community room, archives and collections storage. It also incorporates the original Village Hall, a former one-room school house moved to the site and expanded in 1895.

A centerpiece of the new Grayslake Heritage Center & Museum is an exhibition titled Embracing Change: The Growth of Grayslake, created in partnership between the Grayslake Historical Society, the Village of Grayslake and Taylor Studios, Inc. This engaging, family-friendly exhibition provides a detailed look at how our community has grown and changed over time through rare images and artifacts, stunning graphics and innovative interactives highlighting distinctive Grayslake scents of yesterday. Embracing Change has garnered significant recognition at the state and national levels. The exhibition received Superior Achievement Awards from the Illinois State Historical Society and the Illinois Association of Museums and an Award of Merit from the American Association for State and Local History. These awards are given to organizations which embody the highest professional standards and serve as models to the museum community.

The Grayslake Heritage Center & Museum’s exhibit, My Phone Can Do That!, opened on February 2025, answers the question “what did we do before cellphones?” Your phone's apps were once physical maps, candlesticks, sliderules, gossip columns, picture postcards, and pocket watches. Step back in time and explore the pre-cellphone days through artifacts and photos in our latest exhibit. Open until November 2025.

Closing June 2026, the A Dose of Grayslake History exhibit is full of artifacts from the Grayslake Historical Society and community members. From house calls to modern day medical equipment, A Dose of Grayslake History covers it all. Visit memories of local family doctors, corner pharmacies, medical milestones, and stories of Grayslake wellness. You don't have to have a medical degree to attend and no co-pay is required!

To learn more about the exhibits and other offerings at the Grayslake Heritage Center, visit their website.