Ruth Van Sickle Ford (1897-1989) was born on this day, August 8th, in 1897. This portrait, part of the Society’s collections since 2000, is oil on canvas by Benjamin S. Kanne, 1929.
Remembering Ruth Van Sickle Ford On Her 125th Birthday
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2022 Summer Membership Sale
Enjoy half off new memberships for a limited time! Available for Individuals, Students, Seniors, and Families. Visit the Gift Shop to join. The 2022 Summer Membership Sale is not available for renewals, or patron, benefactor, or life memberships.
Thank You Picnic Sponsors!
A Special Thank You To The Annual Independence Day Picnic & Ringing of the Bells Sponsors!
Planting Trees of Tomorrow
Support the replanting of trees lost due to old age and disease at the Tanner House Museum campus. Those who plant trees, knowing that only others will enjoy the shade, are public benefactors.
4th of July at the Tanner House
Join us at the Tanner House for our 55th annual picnic and Ringing of the Bells. 11am-2pm.
June 14, Flag Day & Dr. Bernard Cigrand
Dr. Bernard Cigrand (1866-1932) is known as the “Father of Flag Day” and was also a well-known local dentist who lived and practiced his profession in Chicago, Batavia, and Aurora.
Aurora Journalist Randy Shilts Helped Frame Debate About Gay Rights Movement
If there is an act that better defines heroism, I have not seen it.Randy Shilts, paying tribute to those who, while dying from AIDS, agreed to be interviewed for his book, And the Band Played On After his death, The Beacon News called him “an enormous journalistic...
Head to Toe — Our Summer Exhibit
Our summer exhibit, Head to Toe, opened during June's First Friday and runs through August 21.
Welcome Back to the Tanner House
We’ll be open this summer every Sunday afternoon from 1-4 pm. Have a wander through this Victorian gem, chat with the docents, and take some selfies. 304 Oak Avenue, 60506. Free, but donations are appreciated. Through September 4.
Back at Last! Passport to Adventure
The little blue booklet with great information on family-friendly things to do this summer (actually, all year). Many are free.
The Beacon-News: After basically being closed since the start of the pandemic, Aurora museum to reopen May 29
Visit The Beacon-News site to read the article. View our events calendar to see all upcoming events at the Tanner House.
Behind The Scenes: Preparing for Portraits of the Past
Happening now: Portraits of the Past which consists of scores of Aurorans you've never met will be looking straight at you with that question in their eyes in the exhibit at the Pierce Art and History Center. The exhibit, titled Portraits of the Past, will...
The Beacon-News: Aurora wedding one for the history books
Aurora Historical Society Executive Director John Jaros and new wife Kathy greet guests immediately following their exchange of wedding vows on Saturday in the parlor of the historic William Tanner House in Aurora. (Denise Crosby / The Beacon-News) Visit The...
Paul Egan, Unvarnished
“A bunch of lousy gangsters.” That was Paul Egan’s view of politicians. How he became a politician himself and earned an international reputation for plain speaking and a whole lot of other things is an Everyman story of the 1950s that begins in the unemployment line, twists through city hall, and ends up on Aurora streets with sample vacuums that he demonstrated to Mr. and Mrs. Homeowner.
Portraits of the Past Sneak Peek: William F. Holt
Happening Now — Portraits of the Past. Presenting 60 portraits in oil, acrylic, pen and ink, pencil, and photography, all drawn from our archives.