Discover the unique history of the families who once lived in the homes and worked in the campus buildings of the Arlington Heights Historical Museum!
Tours take place every Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Meet at the Heritage Gallery, 110 W Fremont St., for a one-hour tour that includes all five historic buildings on the museum campus. Tours are $5 for adults and $3 for children.
Every third Saturday from June 18, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., the Historical Society will also offer the “Müller Mystery Game”. As you walk through the ground floor of the Müller house, you will solve a series of puzzles. Each puzzle answer will bring you closer to solving the mystery. Individuals are $5 or groups can purchase this gaming experience for $10.
Proceeds help preserve artifacts and home interiors on display on the Museum grounds. Members of the Arlington Heights Historical Society are admitted free. Unless you have a big party, there is no need to book your visit in advance. Please email Katie Porwit at kporwit@ahpd.org to reserve your place in the “Müller Mystery Game”, and she will provide you with more information.
The game will be offered during the Farmer’s Market season on the following dates: June 18, July 9, July 30, August 20, September 10 and October 1.
What you will see during your visit:
In 1882, FW Müller built his house on the corner of Vail and Fremont. The Müller house represents the life of a family of the upper middle class during the period 1880-1910. FW Müller, his wife Lizzie and five children lived in this house. As his family grew, Müller added a second story to the house. After manufacturing soft drinks in the basement of his home, Müller expanded and built his soft drink factory in 1906. He sold his trademark soft drink Arlington Beverage throughout the northwestern suburbs. Many Arlington Heights residents remember the soda that was bought for special occasions.
The former Soda Pop factory housed the bottling machines, the garage and two apartments for FW Müller’s sons and their families. Today, the factory houses exhibits, a shop, offices, a meeting room, and the historical society library.
The 1880s shed was the stable for the horses and wagons that were used to deliver the soft drinks. Be on the lookout for worker graffiti on the walls and ceiling here. Now it contains dioramas of Arlington Heights history and machinery from the old Boeger Wood Shop.
The home of Müller’s daughter Minnie, her husband Nathanial Moore Banta and their daughter Elizabeth was built in 1908 at the corner of Vail and Euclid. FW This Arts and Crafts-style home was the first architect-designed home in Arlington Heights. The first floor remains in the Arts and Crafts style, and upstairs a collection of dolls and dollhouses are on display.
Also located on campus is a replica of an 1830s log home. Learn how ancient settlers called Arlington Heights and surrounding towns home.
Arlington Heights Historical Museum
110 W Fremont St.
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
Phone: (847) 255-1225
Opening hours: Wednesday 1 p.m.-4 p.m.; Thursday 10am-4pm; Friday 10am-4pm; Saturday 8am-4pm; Sunday 1-4 p.m.
