Downers Grove Township in DuPage County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Heritage Garden

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, June 3, 2026

1. Heritage Garden Marker

Inscription. Although the Blodgetts were not primarily farmers, they would have grown a portion of their food. The Blodgetts planted, harvested and stored a variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs for cooking, treating illnesses and trading with their neighbors. Kitchen gardens were common in homes throughout the 1800s and were brought back in the form of Victory Gardens during World War II.

The Museum's Heritage Garden features heirloom varieties of plants available in the Downers Grove area from the mid-19th to mid-20th century. "Heirloom" refers to plants that have a long history of being farmed in this area and developed but have not been changed through science. Heirloom produce often have a great taste but are less hardy than produce agricultural system. The Museum's Garden aims to preserve the history and diversity of these plants, and demonstrates preindustrial agricultural techniques.

Caption at the bottom: Burpee Seed Catalogue Cover 1891. Rawleigh's Almanac Cover 1918 (Museum Collection 186.170). Rawleigh's Almanac Pages 1918 (Museum Collection 186.170) (Background image) Boy Farming from Pictures from the Farm. John O. Allen and Amy Rost-Holtz with photographs by J.C. Allen & Son, Inc. Stillwater, MN: Voyageur Press, 2001. pg.87 (Located on the right)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • War, World II.

Location. 41° 47.517′ N, 88° 0.31′ W. Marker is in Downers Grove, Illinois, in DuPage County. It is in Downers Grove Township. It is on Maple Avenue east of Lyman Avenue, on the right when traveling east

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. The marker is on the grounds of the Downers Grove Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 831 Maple Avenue, Downers Grove IL 60515, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Israel and Avis Blodgett (within shouting distance of this marker); The Israel Blodgett House (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to the Downers Grove Park District Museum Campus (within shouting distance of this marker); Charles Blodgett (within shouting distance of this marker); Underground Railroad (within shouting distance of this marker); 1892 Blodgett House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); 1846 Blodgett House (about 300 feet away); 1832 Log Cabin Footprint (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Downers Grove.

Also see . . . Downers Grove Museum official site. (Submitted on June 4, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Heritage Garden at Downers Grove Museum campus image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, June 3, 2026

2. Heritage Garden at Downers Grove Museum campus

Credits. This page was last revised on June 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 4, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 4 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 4, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.