The Evanston History Center will throw open the doors of the Dawes House on Wednesday, September 23, for a free Family Open House timed to District 65's scheduled day off — giving families three hours inside a vice president's mansion without paying a dime.

The open house runs from 2 to 5 p.m. at 225 Greenwood St. Families can explore the center's current 1920s fashion exhibit, "Vive la Garçonne," make vintage fashion crafts, play with Tinkertoys and other games with Evanston roots, and listen to live piano music. Books and snacks round out the afternoon.

The setting is part of the draw. The Dawes House, a 25-room chateauesque mansion built in 1894, was home to Charles Gates Dawes, who served as vice president under Calvin Coolidge and earned the 1925 Nobel Peace Prize. According to the History Center's website, Dawes composed "Melody in A Major" at the house's piano in 1911. Lyrics were added decades later, and the tune became "It's All in the Game," reaching No. 1 on Billboard's Top 100 in 1958. The interior still holds the family's Tiffany lamps, Persian rugs, and a Steinway grand piano.

The Tinkertoys on offer carry their own local pedigree. Charles H. Pajeau, an Evanston stonemason, invented the interlocking wooden construction set in 1914 after watching children play with sticks and empty thread spools. His Toy Tinker Company manufactured them at a plant on Ridge Avenue until the early 1970s. Kris Hartzell, the History Center's director of collections, has noted that Pajeau's creation inspired Evanston toy designer Marvin Glass, who developed some of the most popular toys of the 1960s and '70s, according to Evanston Now.

"Vive la Garçonne," which opened July 2 and runs through November, features daily wear, party dresses, beach attire, and loungewear from the 1920s, drawn from the History Center's costume collection of more than 20,000 garments, textiles, and accessories. Attendees are invited to come dressed in their own vintage-inspired looks.

The event is free and open to all. The History Center, which noted on its event page that community generosity makes its free programming possible, asks attendees to consider a $10 donation to support ongoing public programs.

RSVPs are requested through the History Center's website. Questions can be directed to Erin Hughes at [email protected].

The Dawes House normally charges $10 admission during its Thursday-through-Sunday public hours. The September 23 open house waives that fee.