Preservation of community history is a priority of the Village of Addison. In 1973. the Addison Historical Commission was created. The commission is composed of nine community volunteers who are appointed by the Village Board to serve three year terms. A main duty of the Commission is to work and collaborate with the Addison Historical Society, a 501 c 3 not for profit organization formed in 1974, in providing, maintaining and operating the Addison Historical Museum.
The Addison Historical Museum opened to the public on July 4, 1976 in the former Village Hall at 131 W. Lake St. In 1999, the historic 1892 Balzer House and 1932 Coach House were acquired and moved from their Lake Street location to property adjacent to the 1893 Century House to create the museum campus.
The museum is staffed by one full-time professional employed by the Village of Addison and Historical Society volunteers. The museum is funded by the Village as part of the Community Relations Department and by the Historical Society. The Village and Historical Society cooperatively help govern museum operations, planning, and financial accountability.
Addison Historical Society Board of Directors
- John Navrocki, President
- Tom Tovello, Vice President
- Chris Pudelek, Secretary
- Val Loftus, Treasurer
- At Large: Kimberly Last, Thomas Power, Lauretta Schneider
To access the Ethics Policy of the Addison Historical Museum. Please go here.
For accessibility-related questions, please contact Susan English, Museum Coordinator.
MUSEUM IS OPEN FOR TOURING:
WEDNESDAY - FRIDAY FROM 11AM-4PM.
SECOND SATURDAY OF THE MONTH (MARCH-DECEMBER) FROM NOON-4PM.
GROUPS OF 10 OR MORE MAY SCHEDULE A GROUP TOUR BY ADVANCED APPOINTMENT.
ARCHIVES ACCESS IS BY ADVANCED APPOINTMENT ONLY.
Free Admission
The Addison Historical Museum is housed in the historic 1892 Balzer House which was originally located on East Lake Street. It was the home of William Balzer, his wife Marie Heidemann and their family. Since 1999, it has served as the Addison Historical Museum. The museum contains artifact and photo displays about local history. Please call 630- 628-1433 or email the museum at museum@addison-il.org for more information.
Century House
129 W. Army Trail Boulevard
Built in 1893 as a teachers' home for the Lutheran School, this house was purchased by the Village of Addison in 1993 and hence, got its distinctive name. The Addison Historical Society researched and restored the home to the late 19th to early 20th Century period through the generous donations of the Addison community. Visitors to the museum can experience first hand what it was like to live in Addison at this time.
Coach House
135 W. Army Trail Boulevard
(Location: Behind Addison Historical Museum)
The Coach House was built by William Balzer in 1932 using lumber from his former tombstone shop and originally stood behind the Balzer House on East Lake Street. Balzer used the building for his Addison Township Clerk office, vehicle storage, and carpentry shop. It was moved to this location in 1999 along with the museum. The first floor contains a recreation of Balzer's clerk office, a diorama of the Addison State Bank, an Addison Railroad display and exhibits on Addison's agricultural heritage. The second floor area includes displays of antique household items and tools.
Museum Mission: The Addison Historical Museum is a cooperative venture of the Addison Historical Society and the Village of Addison which bridges the past, present and future by procuring, preserving and presenting Village history and engaging its community. (adopted 5.5.2025)
Museum Vision: Engaging the Community in Addison's History (adopted 11.5.2018)
Addison Historical Museum Core Values Statement:
Appreciation-We appreciate the rich and diverse history of Addison and share it with our community.
Authenticity-We strive to provide the public with pertinent collections, accurate interpretation, and solid scholarship.
Creativity-We look to share Addison history with the public in a variety of creative ways.
Education-We hope to educate the community about our past so they can more effectively build the future.
Engagement-We seek to engage the community in our work and partner with other organizations to expand our reach.
Preservation-We are dedicated to preserving the history of Addison for future generations to come.
Stewardship-We are committed to providing the highest level of care for the collections the Museum holds in the public trust based on our financial and human resources. (adopted Core Values, 9.11.23)