Long Grove – a Historic Village with Contemporary Flair

Maybe it’s the charming shops, the historic character or the genuine friendliness of the merchants. Or maybe it’s the unique gifts, jewelry, exceptional home decor, and distinctive foods and wines that will catch your fancy. Discover for yourself why Long Grove Historic Village is often called the hidden gem in Chicago’s northern suburbs.

A charming four-season village, Long Grove offers more than 60 distinctive shops, galleries, and restaurants housed in authentic homes and businesses that date from the 1800s. Visitors can stroll the cobblestone walks that wind through the historic downtown and enjoy seasonal lush gardens and scenic views. And they can make it a quick trip or a day’s outing, shopping and indulging their tastes with a variety of food and bakery products, cafés, and fine eating establishments. Long Grove Historic Village is located just 35 miles northwest of Chicago, near Routes 53 and 83, north of Lake Cook Road in suburban Long Grove, Illinois.

This little crossroads was settled in the early 1800s by German immigrants who tended their farms and came to town to buy their supplies and have their horses shod. Farmers and craftsmen from Alsace-Lorraine, seeking freedom and prosperity, made the arduous trek across the Atlantic to America, the “Land of Opportunity.”

When the Erie Canal opened in 1825, many journeyed on to the Great Lakes area for its good farmland, abundant woodlands, and plentiful game. The crossroads in Long Grove developed where two Indian trails crossed. One trail ran northwest from the Chicago portage along the Des Plaines River through Buffalo Grove and Long Grove. The other trail came southwest from the Lake Michigan shore and continued through Long Grove to the Fox River.

The first settlers in the Long Grove area were George Ruth and his family, who came from Pennsylvania, and claimed 160 acres of pristine prairie land, including all four corners of the trail crossing. Within 10 years, almost all of the surrounding land had been claimed. By 1880 Long Grove was a thriving village with two general stores, two blacksmiths, two wagon and carriage shops, a tavern (which is still in operation), a hotel, a creamery, three churches, and four one-room schools.

Today, buildings in the crossroads area are marked with plaques identifying the original owners and recognizing their importance to Long Grove’s history. The signature covered bridge and the village landmarks in the historic district have all been carefully guarded as the town evolved into a unique destination for visitors seeking a distinctly preserved refuge. Though the blacksmiths, grist mills, and dairies no longer operate, their structures house a myriad of intriguing shops to visit. In Long Grove, you can wander through a bit of early Americana with its one-room schools, early taverns, and general and specialty stores which now house world-class contemporary shops and restaurants.