The Kruse House and Garden
An American four-square house built in 1917 and now owned and maintained by the West Chicago Historical Society, the Kruse House was the home of Frederick Kruse, a ticket collector for the Chicago & North Western Railway, his wife Bertha, and their daughter, Celia. Although lived in by Celia until her death in 1975, the house overwhelmingly reflects the tastes and life-style of a typical middle-class American family between the two world wars, the result perhaps of a conscious attempt by Bertha and Celia to preserve within their home the memory of Frederick, who died in 1933. With virtually all of its original furnishings, placed as when lived in by Celia, the Kruse House offers visitors a singularly authentic experience of the past. The large and elaborate garden, the center of Celia’s life, with its original rock terraces and lily pond, has been restored and is maintained by the West Chicago Garden Club.
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Ice Cream For a Cause- Saturday, September 6th!
The West Chicago Historical Society invites the community to a spirited, family-friendly event on Saturday, September 6, 2025, to help raise funds for the beloved Kruse House Museum, a historic gem that has stood at the heart of West Chicago for generations.
From 1 PM to 4 PM, the our Ice Cream Social for a Cause event will bring residents and history lovers together for a lively celebration featuring a car show, music, food and sweet treats, and kids’ games with prizes. Visitors will also be treated to a tour of the beautiful historic gardens, lovingly maintained by the West Chicago Garden Club.
The event’s highlight is a 50/50 raffle, with proceeds directly supporting the Kruse House Museum’s urgent need for repairs and sustainability upgrades. As construction costs continue to climb, community support is vital to ensuring the future of this cherished local landmark.
Our goal is to preserve the Kruse House not just as a historic structure, but as a place where future generations can learn about West Chicago’s past and the Kruse family, whose immigrant German heritage relates to many American stories.
Tickets: Admission is $20 an adult, $10 member, $5 kid, and all ages are welcome.
Come for the cause—stay for the cars, community, and charm.
Our business members help support our year-round work and we say thank you: Buck Services, Haggerty Ford, Norris-Segert Funeral Home, and Rite Way Auto.
“The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future.”
— Theodore Roosevelt
