Unspecified/General

Standing at the southern edge of Lincoln Park, where Clark Street meets North Avenue, the Chicago History Museum holds the collections of the Chicago Historical Society, an institution founded in 1856 and among the oldest cultural organisations in the city. Its early collections were twice devastated by fire, including the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, and the society rebuilt each time before moving to its present Georgian-style building, which opened in 1932. The museum took its current public name only in 2006, when the society rebranded and reopened with redesigned galleries. Its holdings are vast and sometimes startling, reflecting a major collection bought in 1920 from the estate of the collector Charles F. Gunther; among the artefacts are the bed on which Abraham Lincoln died, furniture from the room of his death, and the table on which Robert E. Lee signed the surrender that ended the American Civil War. Permanent exhibitions trace the arc of the city, from its origins as a trading post to its role as a railroad and industrial hub, the rebuilding after the fire, and its social and political history through the twentieth century. A long-running favourite is a set of detailed dioramas of early Chicago, while other galleries cover topics such as the city's music, sport and the experience of its many immigrant communities, with interactive displays for younger visitors. For visitors the museum offers a manageable, well-organised overview of how Chicago grew into a major American city, useful either early in a trip or for those wanting depth on its past. It charges admission, with free days for Illinois residents at times, and includes a research centre for those digging into local and family history. Its parkside setting puts it within easy reach of the lakefront, the zoo and the Old Town neighbourhood. The building has expanded several times since 1932, including a modernist limestone wing and a later brick re-wrapping that unified the look, and an extensive photographic and manuscript archive supports researchers and authors. Costumed programmes, walking tours of the city and rotating special exhibitions round out the offering. A cafe and a shop sit off the lobby, and the surrounding park and nearby beaches make an easy pairing in warmer months.

Type: Tourist Attraction

Address: 1601 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL, United States

Telephone: (312) 642-4600

Website: https://www.chicagohistory.org/

Opening Date: 01/01/1932