
Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Hall, Aurora
23 E. Downer Pl. | Aurora, IL 60505 | 630.256.3400
23 E. Downer Pl.
Aurora, IL 60505
630.256.3400
The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Hall was a sanctuary. It served as a gathering place for those who had fought side by side on Civil War battlefields, and it was a place of scholarship-Aurora’s first free library. Extensive renovations in 2016 produced an outstanding museum with dozens of exhibits documenting Aurorans and Illinoisans contributions to the Union effort in the Civil War. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has more than 2,500 artifacts, photographs, scrapbooks, medals, flags and items dating from the Civil War through the Vietnam War. This historic treasure is now open for public viewing: Self-guided public tours are available Saturdays 12 noon to 4 pm and 6-9 pm during each First Friday event through November. Group tours are available by appointment, please call ahead. All tours are free and open to the public. Special events bring Civil War re-enactors to the GAR throughout the summer.