Since the 100th anniversary of the founding of the United States, we have enthusiastically celebrated centennial milestones in uniquely Lake Bluff style, beginning with the 1876 Centennial. The Lake Bluff Camp Meeting Association summer resort had just opened for its first season after purchasing 100 acres along the lakefront the year before. Illinois Governor John L. Beveridge had been persuaded by several influential camp meeting investors to attend the special centennial celebration that was to take place in July of 1876. To showcase the planned grand parade, a boulevard street was laid out that went through the center of the camp meeting grounds to be called Centenary Avenue — today known as Center Avenue — forever memorializing the historic occasion.

To honor the nation’s Bicentennial in 1976, along with events planned by the park and school districts and several social clubs, our well-known Gazebo, which sits on the Village Green, was built with donated funds from the community.

For the 100th birthday of the incorporation of the Village of Lake Bluff in 1995, village residents donated funds to replace the hose tower on the historic Village Hall, which due to deterioration had to be taken down in 1934. A community photo with all residents invited to participate was taken. The American Legion sponsored a three-day carnival in Artesian Park, and a huge birthday cake was donated by the Sara Lee Corporation.

In 2020, Lake Bluff’s Quasquicentennial (125 years) was celebrated with several events, including “Dogs on the Bluff,” an extended 4th of July parade, a new public garden donated by the Lake Bluff Garden Club, a Lake Bluff History Museum pictorial book on the last 125 years, and a community-wide “Birthday Bash” held at Blair Park.

2026 brings us the 250th birthday of our nation, the Semiquincentennial, which we will celebrate as “USA250-Lake Bluff Style.” All sorts of activities and events are well into the planning stages with participation by our local government entities, the Lake Bluff History Museum, the 4th of July Parade Committee, the LF/LB Chamber of Commerce, and several community organizations. We are grateful to ELCO Mutual Life & Annuity of Lake Bluff, which has committed to be the overall financial sponsor of USA250-Lake Bluff Style.

(Photographs courtesy of the Lake Bluff History Museum)