Every week during the exhibit “Aurora’s Own Ruth Van Sickle Ford,” we will feature one of the more than two dozen watercolor and oil paintings on display from March 3-May 13, 2023, at the Pierce Art and History Center. Accompanying the images will be commentary...
Who was Ruth Van Sickle Ford? Ruth Van Sickle Ford (1897-1989) was an artist and educator. She owned the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and taught painting there and in Aurora to likely thousands of students. In addition, she was a prolific painter and exhibited widely,...
The annual memorial exhibit to commemorate those lost has concluded.
The Favorite Room voting during the 2022 Tanner House Holidays had the following results: First place, Parlor, decorated by Pam and Shawn Van Kampen. Following first place very closely was the second place Dining Room, decorated by Darlene and Jim Varney and their...
Due to the extreme weather, and for the safety of staff, volunteers, and visitors, we will be closing both our sites this weekend. The downtown David L. Pierce Art & History Center, featuring exhibits and the gift shop, will be closed Friday, December 23rd &...
Enjoy the decked-out Tanner House on Sunday, December 4 from 1-4pm and visit with special guests Santa and Mrs. Claus!
Darlene and Jim Varney and their daughter Emily Adams accept the Victoria Award from house historian Karen Nickels for their creation of a Victorian Christmas dinner in the Dining Room.
Take a look back at the 2022 exhibit Portraits of the Past. Harry H. Barber (1878-1948) William B. Greene (1886-1982) Harry H. Barber & William B. Greene; Oil portraits by James J. Ingwersen, 1966 Harry Barber & W. B. Greene were engineers at Aurora’s...
Winter Lights event brings Santa and associates to light the city holiday tree right outside the Pierce Center. The evening ends with fireworks. Start your holiday shopping and enjoy a variety of street food. Friday, November 18, 6-8 pm.
Coffee and donuts at the Pierce Center courtesy of the City of Aurora immediately following the Veterans Day parade on Friday, Nov. 11. Parade steps off at 10:15 am. Stop by for a treat and see the "Take A Seat" exhibit of chairs from our collection before it closes...
Singer-songwriter Bradley Keven Green in a 2018 performance of Death Comes to the Tanner House, set in the Civil War era. The Aurora Historical Society takes on a terrible blend of war, sickness, and death in Death Comes to the Tanner House: 1918 over the Halloween...
Retired Chief of Police Kristen Ziman will sign copies of her inspiring book, Reimagining Blue, on Tuesday, November 8, from 5-7pm at the Gift Shop in the Pierce Art and History Center, 20 E. Downer, 60505. In stock at the gift shop or reserve your copy by calling 630-906-0650. $26 plus tax, members get 10% discount.
Without a doubt Ruth VanSickle Ford, 1897-1989, is Aurora's best-known artist and arts educator, and the Aurora Historical Society will pay tribute to her on the occasion of her 125th birthday year. Saturday, October 22, 2022 4:00-7:00pm @ Aurora Country ClubExhibit,...
Former mayor, 36-year member of city council, and stalwart supporter of the best in Aurora, Bob was a real friend of the Aurora Historical Society and we will miss his generous smile and kind sense of humor. In this 2017 photo, Bob, at left, joined in the fun of...
The Henry Pratt may be gone now, moved to Kimball, Tennessee, but before closing the building, on Highland Avenue, the company donated a memorial bench to the Historical Society.