History in Focus
New exhibits and a spring lecture ahead
Spring brings new opportunities to explore Oak Brook’s past as the Oak Brook Historical Society unveils expanded exhibits at the Heritage Center and prepares to host a thought-provoking public lecture examining the region’s early history. Together, these programs invite residents and visitors to discover the stories, people, and events that shaped the community and the land beneath it.
Visitors can now explore newly expanded displays at the Oak Brook Heritage Center, located in the historic Butler School. A featured highlight is a comprehensive historical timeline beginning in the 1800s that traces the lives and experiences of Oak Brook’s earliest settlers. Through photographs, documents, and artifacts, the exhibit offers insight into how the community was shaped over time.
Many of the artifacts currently on display have been generously provided by the Fullersburg Historic Foundation, adding valuable context and authenticity to the Center’s collections. Additional new exhibits focus on key chapters of Oak Brook history, celebrating both its cultural and historical foundations while preserving important stories for future generations.
Complementing the new exhibits, the Oak Brook Historical Society will host a special public lecture on Sunday, April 19, 2026, as part of the Audrey Muschler Memorial Speaker Series. Titled “The Cultural Contest for the Western Great Lakes: The Transformation of Native Land into Real Estate (1673–1838),” the program will examine one of the most consequential periods in regional history.
Presented by historians Dr. Ann Durkin Keating and Susan Devick, the lecture will explore how Indigenous nations, European empires, and the emerging United States shaped and reshaped the land and communities of Northern Illinois. The program invites audiences to consider whether this era was defined primarily by conquest and betrayal or by broader forces of migration, technological change, and political and cultural evolution.
Dr. Ann Durkin Keating
Susan Devick
The Audrey Muschler Memorial Speaker Series was established in 2025 to honor Audrey Lorraine Jackson Muschler, founder of the Oak Brook Historical Society and a lifelong advocate for historic preservation, civic engagement, and education. The series brings scholars and storytellers together to deepen understanding of Oak Brook, DuPage County, and Northern Illinois.
Together, the new exhibits and upcoming lecture reflect the Society’s mission to present history in ways that are inclusive, meaningful, and relevant to the community today. Residents and visitors alike are encouraged to explore the Heritage Center and take part in programs that connect global historical forces to the land beneath their feet.
Donations in support of the Audrey Muschler Memorial Speaker Series may be made through the Oak Brook Historical Society. OBHS memberships are available to individuals and businesses in Oak Brook and the surrounding communities. For more information, visit oakbrookhistory.com.
The Cultural Contest for the Western Great Lakes
When: Sunday, April 19, 2026 | 2:00 PM
Where: Oak Brook Village Hall
Samuel Dean Board Room
1200 Oak Brook Road
Admission: Open to the public
