Muller House
Also known as: Arlington Heights Historical Society
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Why it's listed
Built in 1882 at 500 N. Vail Avenue in Arlington Heights, this brick building first served as both home and factory for the F. W. Müller family and their soda water business, F. W. Müller and Sons. The factory occupied the basement level, and a third story was added in 1896 along with a two-story dormitory for seasonal workers. Arched windows, a stringcourse separating factory from living space, and a Greek key cornice on the front give it a functional look uncommon in homes of the period. Inside are a hand-carved oak staircase, oak and walnut screens, and etched glass room dividers. The Müllers were among the earliest families to settle home and business in the village, and their enterprise helped turn a farm settlement into part of Chicago's suburban area. The building now holds the local historical society, with the family living space restored as an 1880s home and museum of area history.
Significance in brief: The Müller family was among the earliest to settle both home and business in Arlington Heights, and their commercial enterprise marked the village's shift from farm settlement toward a Chicago suburb. The building also combines a functional factory design with Victorian residential features. It is valued as a preserved piece of the community's past.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 79000819, listed March 26, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 500 N. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights |
|---|---|
| County | Cook County |
| Listed | March 26, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000819 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | F. W. Müller, builder |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored and used as a museum and historical society headquarters; the home portion is restored to resemble an 1880s moderate-income Arlington Heights home. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.08756, -87.98451 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 79000819.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6934190
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.