Graue Mill and Museum is a historic water-powered mill in Oak Brook, Illinois, where you can explore a site tied to local milling history. Admission is free, and the mill opens seasonally with weekend demonstrations.
- Location: 3800 York Road, Oak Brook, at the corner of York and Spring roads.
- Mill hours: Open Wednesday to Sunday; closed Monday and Tuesday
- Admission: free.
What to see at Graue Mill
Graue Mill offers a look at a working mill’s place in local life, with demonstrations on milling, spinning and weaving on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County manages the site. The museum’s first floor is accessible; accessible portable toilets are available near the mill and museum during the operating season.
The surrounding Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve is open daily from one hour after sunrise until one hour after sunset. That broader access schedule differs from the mill’s seasonal hours, so check the official site before you go. The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is the operator to consult for current access information.
Plan your visit and check access
The mill is generally open from mid-April through mid-November. It is closed on select holidays. Admission is free, and weekend demonstrations begin at 2 p.m.
Opening hours
- Wednesday to Sunday: 10 AM–4 PM
- Monday and Tuesday: closed
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
For the mill itself, plan around those seasonal opening days rather than assuming the preserve’s daily access hours apply to the museum. Graue Mill’s seasonal hours and visitor access are important to check when planning.
If you need accessible facilities, portable toilets near the mill and museum are available mid-April through mid-November. The first floor of the museum is accessible.
How do you get from Hillside to Graue Mill?
Graue Mill is at 3800 York Road in Oak Brook, at the corner of York and Spring roads. From Hillside Manor Motel, it is about a 10-minute drive.
If you’re arranging a wider local history outing, the Villa Park Historical Society Museum is another museum to consider.
The mill and its local historic setting
Graue Mill opened in April 1852 after Frederick Graue and William Asche bought land along Salt Creek in 1849 to build it. The mill ground wheat, corn and other grains for local farmers, serving as a center of economic life in the area during the 19th century.
The Graue family operated the mill for 70 years. As milling methods changed, the operation became obsolete and the mill was abandoned. The Forest Preserve District acquired it in 1933 and decided the following year to restore it to its mid-1800s operation.
Graue Mill was added to the National Register of Historic Places in May 1975 and recognized as an Illinois Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark in 1981. Its setting within Fullersburg Woods connects the mill’s industrial history with the surrounding preserve and Salt Creek landscape.
FAQs
Is admission to Graue Mill free?
Yes. Admission to Graue Mill and Museum is free.
When is Graue Mill open?
Open Wednesday to Sunday; closed Monday and Tuesday. The mill’s regular seasonal pattern is mid-April through mid-November, with closures on select holidays. See the seasonal hours guide when planning.
Are there other local history museums nearby?
The Villa Park Historical Society Museum is another local museum option. Read more about planning a visit there.