Events

Monthly Meetings

The Brookfield Historical Society holds meetings in the historic Grossdale Station on the fourth Friday every month except July and December. Meetings start at 7:30, and members and non-members are welcome. The station is located at 8820 1/2 Brookfield Avenue, across from the Brookfield Metra Station.

Many of the meetings include programs. In the last few years there have been speakers on coins, the Chicago world's fairs, Brookfield census records, a Gross play, the Brookfield Zoo, Czechs in America, local schools, and Western Electric.

When there is no program, members are invited to bring items of historical interest, and especially those that relate to Brookfield. In addition, most meetings have a brief discussion of business matters.

Meeting topics are listed on the home page of this web site, and in a newsletter sent to members. The Grossdale Gazette is also available here.

Open Houses

The station is open monthly from May to September, on the fourth Sundays from 1:00-4:00 PM. Visitors can see the restored station, the museum, and the upstairs station master's apartment, which was in use in early years. The museum includes dioramas of scenes from area history. Besides the items relating to Brookfield history, there are pictures and other memorabilia about railroads, especially the Burlington. Even old graffiti-covered wooden benches are in place. Docents are available to explain the displays.

Admission is free, but donations are always welcome.

In addition to the regular hours, tours can be conducted upon special request. Contact the director at director@brookfieldhistory.org.