The Raupp Memorial Museum is an organization that chronicles the social history of Buffalo Grove, Illinois. It is part of the Buffalo Grove Park District and an award-winning member of the Illinois Association of Museums.
Buffalo Grove began as a farming community but as the village grew into a suburban area, farms were sold off to developers. While selling off their land, Philip, Carl and John Raupp (three bachelor brothers of an original founding family) also donated three acres and their farmhouse to the Village of Buffalo Grove. The land was later transferred to the Buffalo Grove Park District on the condition that the land would be used for either a museum or library.
The original farmhouse was considered as a museum site but fire damage made it an unsuitable location. Instead, a local builder donated a building to be moved to the site. With the new building, the Raupp Memorial Museum was dedicated on September 16, 1979. The building has undergone several renovations since its dedication including the overhaul of two of the galleries.
The museum offers a variety of educational programs for scouts and schools that correspond with the exhibits. Archaeology, the Potawatomi, pioneer life, and general history are topics that can be examined. The museum’s collection contains over 3000 local history artifacts that are displayed in the organization’s three gallery spaces.
The main gallery depicts the chronological social history of Buffalo Grove starting in the 1830s. This follows the stories of the people that lived in the area: the Potawatomi, and the community’s founding farm families. The exhibit also follows the development of the subdivision, and the eventual growth of the village throughout the 20th century.
The second gallery is a town square mock-up that features various storefronts and locations that would have been common in Buffalo Grove around 1900. It includes a pharmacy, saloon and walk-in schoolhouse.
The third gallery holds temporary exhibits that rotate three to four times a year. Past exhibits have included local painters showcases and exploration of the modern office. This space is also used for programming and special events.