Pressroom

Sharing Chicago Stories

Press Releases | March 14, 2024

Chicago History Museum Announces New Exhibition “Designing for Change: Chicago Protest Art of the 1960s–70s”

A dynamic experience that will transport visitors back to a pivotal time in Chicago and US history and connect to

Read More
CHM_DFC_LandingPage_1500x600_Logo_2

Recent Releases

January 23, 2024

Chicago History Museum Acquires Nick Cave Garments into the Costume Collection

Learn More
Men’s suit jacket by Nick Cave

April 19, 2023

Chicago History Museum Explores Chicago’s Polish Communities in Expansive New Exhibition

Learn More
Performers at Christian Millennium Celebration at Soldier Field

April 12, 2023

Chicago History Museum Opens Digital Access to the Sun-Times Collection

Learn More
Credit line: ST-17500899-E1, Chicago Sun-Times collection, Chicago History Museum

Download Info Sheets

Download Images & B-Roll

Subject Matter Experts

Chicago History Museum curators and historians are available to comment on breaking news and trends in their areas of expertise.

CHM Staff | Peter T. Alter

Peter T. Alter

Gary T. Johnson Chief Historian | Director, Studs Terkel Center for Oral History

Paul_Durcia-1024×1024-1

Paul Durica

Director of Exhibitions

bethea_charles-1

Charles E. Bethea

Andrew W. Mellon Director of Curatorial Affairs

Rebekah Coffman

Rebekah Coffman

Curator of Religion and Community History

Erica-Griffin_resize

Erica Griffin

Elizabeth F. Cheney Director of Education

Elena-Gonzalez-portrait

Elena Gonzales

Curator of Civic Engagement and Social Justice

More Information

GENERAL INQUIRIES

Program and event inquiries from the general public should be directed to our Visitor Services office via phone (312) 642-4600 or e-mail reception@chicagohistory.org.

STUDENTS

While the Museum greatly supports students using its resources, requests for interviews with curators and/or video-recording of the Museum may be denied due to the high volume of requests during peak times, such as the end of a semester. The Museum may also deny your request during its busiest visitation periods or during special Museum events, such as exhibition openings and special programs. We will review each request on a case-by-case basis, and we regret that we cannot accommodate every proposal. Thank you for your understanding.

CHM BLOG

Read more from CHM staff and collaborators about Chicago history, people, and Museum happenings.

Frequently Asked Questions

I’m a member of the press. How can I interview a spokesperson or film in the Museum?

To request an interview with a spokesperson or to be granted access to film inside the Museum, please contact the public communications manager. We will evaluate your request to see which of our spokespeople can best meet your needs and set up the interview and/or filming date. Please note that same-day interview requests may not be possible.

I’m with a production company or am an individual seeking to use the Museum as a filming location. How can I get more details about filming at the Museum?

For filming requests or photo shoots in and around the Museum (this includes the Abakanowicz Research Center, event spaces, and Jaffee History Trail), we are happy to accommodate these shoots on a case-by-case basis. In order to protect the integrity of the Museum’s mission, collection, and philosophy, the Museum must evaluate each request to determine feasibility, appropriateness, and any fees that may be involved.

If you have a filming or photo project and would like to use the Museum as a location, please email pressinfo@chicagohistory.org to discuss the project and receive the necessary filming application. This filming application must be completed at least a month in advance of the desired filming date.

Where can I get a press kit or high-resolution imagery of Museum exhibits and events?

View the latest press kits of our exhibits and events here.

Where can I get more information on the Museum’s research center and collection?

CHM welcomes scholars, students, genealogists, filmmakers, journalists, and the general public to access the Research Collection in the The Abakanowicz Research Center (ARC). While admission to the ARC is free, please email research@chicagohistory.org to ensure that an on-site visit is best for your needs or with any questions.

The Museum’s collection of more than 23 million objects, images, and documents records the evolution of Chicago, one of the nation’s most significant cities, from fur-trading outpost to a modern metropolis. Learn more about the collection here.

Where can I get more information on the Museum’s education programs?

From civic learning to core curriculum, we’ve got you covered. See the latest updates about our education programs and their impact here.

Does the Museum have resident history experts available for media or public commentary?

Yes, CHM offers a wide range of experts in history, history education, museum administration and exhibit development, guest experience, collection best practices, and more. See the list of these experts above.

Do you offer high-resolution images to accompany my article, segment or other finished product?

Yes. View the latest photos available for download of general Museum imagery, like Museum exterior photos and images of our most iconic exhibits, and more detailed shots of our exhibits or events.

Does CHM have images available for editorial or commercial licensing?

Yes. Please view CHM images to search, license, and download more than 370,000 images from the Chicago History Museum’s renowned collection. If the images you’d like are not available on CHM images, please contact the public communications manager and the rights and reproductions team for further information.

Does CHM offer tickets to members of the media?

To request tickets to visit the Museum, please contact the public communications manager to discuss the reason for your visit at least 48 hours in advance of the date for which you’d like tickets. Please note that due to a high volume of ticket requests and our status as a nonprofit institution, we cannot offer blanket media complimentary passes. We also cannot guarantee tickets for same-day requests.

I’m a member of the press. How can I interview a spokesperson or film in the Museum?

To request an interview with a spokesperson or to be granted access to film inside the Museum, please contact the public communications manager. We will evaluate your request to see which of our spokespeople can best meet your needs and set up the interview and/or filming date. Please note that same-day interview requests may not be possible.

I’m with a production company or am an individual seeking to use the Museum as a filming location. How can I get more details about filming at the Museum?

For filming requests or photo shoots in and around the Museum (this includes the Abakanowicz Research Center, event spaces, and Jaffee History Trail), we are happy to accommodate these shoots on a case-by-case basis. In order to protect the integrity of the Museum’s mission, collection, and philosophy, the Museum must evaluate each request to determine feasibility, appropriateness, and any fees that may be involved.

If you have a filming or photo project and would like to use the Museum as a location, please email pressinfo@chicagohistory.org to discuss the project and receive the necessary filming application. This filming application must be completed at least a month in advance of the desired filming date.

Where can I get a press kit or high-resolution imagery of Museum exhibits and events?

View the latest press kits of our exhibits and events here.

Where can I get more information on the Museum’s research center and collection?

CHM welcomes scholars, students, genealogists, filmmakers, journalists, and the general public to access the Research Collection in the The Abakanowicz Research Center (ARC). While admission to the ARC is free, please email research@chicagohistory.org to ensure that an on-site visit is best for your needs or with any questions.

The Museum’s collection of more than 23 million objects, images, and documents records the evolution of Chicago, one of the nation’s most significant cities, from fur-trading outpost to a modern metropolis. Learn more about the collection here.

Where can I get more information on the Museum’s education programs?

From civic learning to core curriculum, we’ve got you covered. See the latest updates about our education programs and their impact here.

Does the Museum have resident history experts available for media or public commentary?

Yes, CHM offers a wide range of experts in history, history education, museum administration and exhibit development, guest experience, collection best practices, and more. See the list of these experts above.

Do you offer high-resolution images to accompany my article, segment or other finished product?

Yes. View the latest photos available for download of general Museum imagery, like Museum exterior photos and images of our most iconic exhibits, and more detailed shots of our exhibits or events.

Does CHM have images available for editorial or commercial licensing?

Yes. Please view CHM images to search, license, and download more than 370,000 images from the Chicago History Museum’s renowned collection. If the images you’d like are not available on CHM images, please contact the public communications manager and the rights and reproductions team for further information.

Does CHM offer tickets to members of the media?

To request tickets to visit the Museum, please contact the public communications manager to discuss the reason for your visit at least 48 hours in advance of the date for which you’d like tickets. Please note that due to a high volume of ticket requests and our status as a nonprofit institution, we cannot offer blanket media complimentary passes. We also cannot guarantee tickets for same-day requests.

Read what Others are Saying

Michigan Avenue Magazine

The Chicago History Museum Explores The Polish Community In New Exhibit

Read More

CBS 2 Chicago

Chicago History Museum exhibit of creepy dolls helping tell city's ghost stories for Halloween

Read More

ABC 7 Chicago

Chicago History Museum 'Treasured Ten' exhibit tells stories of 5 local designers

Read More

The Economist

Chicago re-examines its origin story 150 years after the great fire

Read More

The New York Times

Revisiting the Great Chicago Fire of 1871

Read More

Associated Press

Don’t blame Mrs. O’Leary’s cow for the Great Chicago Fire

Read More
Translate »