History Comes To Life At The Graue Mill
The Graue Mill
3800 York Road, Oakbrook
Open mid-April to mid-November
Tuesday – Sunday, 10 AM - 4:30 PM; Closed Monday
Children 4-12 $1.50
Children 3-under Free
Adults $3.50; Seniors $3.00
(630) 655-2090
www.grauemill.org
Fullersburg Woods Nature Center
3609 Spring Road, Oakbrook
Open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m
Free Admission
(630) 850-8110
Fullersburg Woods Nature Center
Since 1853, the Graue Mill in Oakbrook, Illinois, has been grinding out cornmeal, its traditional grist wheel spinning to the ebb and flow of the picturesque Salt Creek. This historic homestead and museum in the western Chicagoland suburb of Oakbrook illustrates life as it was for the first immigrants of DuPage County in the mid-1800's, and volunteer interpreters are happy to share their stories and skills with you, making for a day of learning and fun. Our family makes a point of visiting the Graue Mill each year at season's end, in late fall, to stock up on freshly ground cornmeal that we use to make cornbread for our annual Thanksgiving feast.
Catch Some History in Action
The Graue Mill Museum is dedicated to bridging past and present through living history programs that bring to life daily life of the past. Don't miss the traditional milling, spinning and weaving demonstrations, which run daily. Watch a woman clad in a pioneer dress and bonnet weave a rug and prepare preserves in her utilitarian kitchen, help separate the wheat from the chaff, and learn how to make traditional cornbread with freshly ground cornmeal (also available in the mill's general store). Tour the house and see how bedrooms, bathrooms and kitchens were typically furnished back in the mid-1800's. Try out some old fashioned chores yourself (note how heavy the irons were!).
Stop at the Underground Railroad
Not only did the eponymous Frederick Graue, a German immigrant to the area, start up the areas first gristmill, he also housed runaway slaves in the basement of his homestead, and the Graue Mill is one of the remaining authenticated Underground Railroad stations. The exhibit "Graue Mill and the Road to Freedom" uses photographs, documents, a computer interactive system and additional displays that allow visitors to better understand the danger and fear that fugitive slaves faced when attempting to escape to freedom. On the first weekend of October, visitors can even take a virtual journey on the Underground Railroad, experiencing what it was like to be a "passenger" and meeting up with legendary figures such as Harriet Tubman.
Take a Hike
Follow the scenic hiking trails that lead through a quiet forest, along the Salt Creek, linking the Graue Mill to the Fullersburg Woods Nature Center. We make a point of visiting in the autumn, when these woods are especially beautiful and alight with fall colors; in the wintertime the trail is ripe for snow-shoeing. In the spring time, try to spot the turtles and frogs along the creek's shores. At the Fullersburg Woods Visitor's Center, built by the Civilian Corps of Engineer's in the 1930's, a small nature collection will teach you more about the critters you may have encountered during your hike. Visitors can also view a mastodon skeleton and bird-watch over the expansive bend in the creek with the built-in binoculars. The nature center also offers a wide range of seasonal programs for all age groups, including tapping maple trees for sap, identifying spring wildflowers, and tracking wildlife. Check their website at dupageforest.com for updated event listings.
Graue Mill Top Five To-Do List
* Skip stones into the Salt Creek
* Lend a hand at operating the grist mill
* Take home some freshly ground cornmeal, making sure to grab the recipe pamphlet which includes traditional cornmeal recipes
* Try to spot some creek loons using the binoculars at the Fullersburg Nature Center
* Take a fall hike on the trails surrounding the Graue Mill and enjoy the Autumn splendor
