The city of Chicago is known for it’s many impressive museums, among them The Field Museum of Natural History, The Museum of Science and Industry, The Art Institute, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Adler Planetarium, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, The Shedd Aquarium, National Museum of Mexican Art and the DuSable Museum of African American History. Many people (especially touristy-type people) might pass over the Chicago History Museum for bigger, flashier and more famous ones like the Field or the Art Institute. The main reason why I love this museum is its size- - it’s smaller and can be seen in one day, and yet there’s more to be seen and learned upon each visit. It’s also the city’s oldest cultural institution, having just celebrated it’s 150th anniversary.
 | The museum is located in Old Town at the North and Clark street intersection (near Lincoln Park and the lake). While you’re in Old Town, you may want to wander by the infamous Second City training facility or grab some ribs at Frank Sinatra’s favorite rib stop, Twin Anchors. There’s also some terrific shopping and dining nearby on Wells street and along with A Red Orchid Theatre, founded in part by actor Michael Shannon. |
I knew I didn’t pick the best day of the week to visit the museum (weekends are usually very crowded) but with a 9-5ish day job, what can be done? When you get there, be sure to ask for an audio tour at the front desk. It’s only for the “Chicago Crossroads of America” exhibit, but it’s worth having and they won’t offer it to you - -you’ll have to ask. They’ll just hold onto your ID while you borrow it. They’ll check your coat for you if you want, too. Many times they’ll be Groupons for ½ price admission, and there are free days too (for Illinois residents. Check out their website for more details). Otherwise, plan on paying around $14 for adults, $12 for seniors and students and nothing for kids 12 and under.
Inside the lobby of the Chicago History Museum
A good place to start is the diorama room. In here, you’ll find dioramas depicting different times throughout the history of Chicago from it’s founding to the Great Chicago Fire to the Wolrd’s Fair of 1893. Pretty impressive stuff and real artistry in the craftsmanship. There’s a room for the kiddos downstairs with a giant stuffed Chicago hot dog complete with all of the ingredients. The gift shop is not to be missed with it’s interesting books and souvenirs and Frank Lloyd Wright inspired gifts.
Upstairs you’ll find a permanent Lincoln exhibit with an actual cast of Lincoln’s head sitting unsettlingly next to the bed Lincoln died on. Be sure to check out (especially if you have your audio tour headphones) the “Chicago- Crossroads of America” exhibit. In here you’ll go through the many disasters Chicago has faced - - the Great Chicago Fire, race riots, gangster shootings, and the Democratic national convention among others. You'll also you’ll see artifacts from each historical event. There are things from the original Playboy Club, the 1893 World’s Columbian Exhibition, toys and machines invented in Chicago and much more. It’s enough to make any local beam with pride over the resiliency and fantastic journey of Chicago.
Upstairs you’ll find a permanent Lincoln exhibit with an actual cast of Lincoln’s head sitting unsettlingly next to the bed Lincoln died on. Be sure to check out (especially if you have your audio tour headphones) the “Chicago- Crossroads of America” exhibit. In here you’ll go through the many disasters Chicago has faced - - the Great Chicago Fire, race riots, gangster shootings, and the Democratic national convention among others. You'll also you’ll see artifacts from each historical event. There are things from the original Playboy Club, the 1893 World’s Columbian Exhibition, toys and machines invented in Chicago and much more. It’s enough to make any local beam with pride over the resiliency and fantastic journey of Chicago.
Timeline of Chicago Historical Events. I want this in my house!
There’s always a rotation of temporary exhibits there, too. When I was there this time, they had “Fashioning the Magnificent Mile" - - an exhibit about the many high-end fashions worn on and around Michigan Ave by the Chicago elite in the last 100 years or so. Another exhibit was "1968" - - complete with a Vietnam-era helicopter, projected speeches and interviews, records, clothing from the time with extra focus on the events surrounding the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Archway for the Union Stockyards (1888)
After I see the exhibits, I like to go down to the cafeteria (which has MUCH better food than you’d expect) to think about all that I’ve seen. The cafeteria acts as an exhibit, too. The archway to the seating area is an actual terra cotta arch from the Union Stock Yard from 1888. Having survived the fire and been moved several times, it was donated to the museum in 1984.
As I enjoyed my delicious panini, I faced the large windows that looked out on North Ave and Clark Streets and was acutely aware that I was surrounded by history. A couple of things caught my eye....there was a Latin School across the street established in 1888. There was a theatre with an old-timey marquee called “Village Theatre”. Thanks to the museum I was filled with inspired curiosity and researched these things as soon as possible. Here's what I found in my research:
1. The Latin School - - This is the oldest independent day school in Chicago. It is a private elementary, middle and high school founded by a group of parents seeking better education for their kids in 1888. The school is designed to provide it's student with a rigorous, college-prep educational system with focus on Greek and Latin classic studies, thus it's name, "The Latin School".
2. The Village Theatre - - Here I have linked the facebook page dedicated to memories and developments on the fate of this old gem. According to my research, The Village Theatre (originally the Germania Theatre) was built in 1916 and is currently one of the best surviving "first generation" movie theaters still standing.
It’s wonderful to come to this museum and be reminded that everywhere you look around here comes with such rich history, and it’s up to us to learn and appreciate as much as we can!
For those of you interested in Chicago History, you can avoid the crowds and plan a research trip to the museum. For $10 a day (and an emailed visitor request prior to your visit), you can plan a trip to the Chicago History Museum’s archives where you can photocopy your heart out for whatever historical project you are undertaking. Everything from fashion to film to architecture and published works are available to the public. Many of the archives are available online, but a research trip sounds like fun to me (but then again, I’m a nerd about Chicago)!
As I enjoyed my delicious panini, I faced the large windows that looked out on North Ave and Clark Streets and was acutely aware that I was surrounded by history. A couple of things caught my eye....there was a Latin School across the street established in 1888. There was a theatre with an old-timey marquee called “Village Theatre”. Thanks to the museum I was filled with inspired curiosity and researched these things as soon as possible. Here's what I found in my research:
1. The Latin School - - This is the oldest independent day school in Chicago. It is a private elementary, middle and high school founded by a group of parents seeking better education for their kids in 1888. The school is designed to provide it's student with a rigorous, college-prep educational system with focus on Greek and Latin classic studies, thus it's name, "The Latin School".
2. The Village Theatre - - Here I have linked the facebook page dedicated to memories and developments on the fate of this old gem. According to my research, The Village Theatre (originally the Germania Theatre) was built in 1916 and is currently one of the best surviving "first generation" movie theaters still standing.
It’s wonderful to come to this museum and be reminded that everywhere you look around here comes with such rich history, and it’s up to us to learn and appreciate as much as we can!
For those of you interested in Chicago History, you can avoid the crowds and plan a research trip to the museum. For $10 a day (and an emailed visitor request prior to your visit), you can plan a trip to the Chicago History Museum’s archives where you can photocopy your heart out for whatever historical project you are undertaking. Everything from fashion to film to architecture and published works are available to the public. Many of the archives are available online, but a research trip sounds like fun to me (but then again, I’m a nerd about Chicago)!
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