- Info
Exhibitions
Benjamin B. Green-Field Gallery and The Mazza
Foundation Gallery
Abraham Lincoln Transformed
October 10, 2009 through April 12, 2010
He is often revered as the president who freed the slaves, but how
did Abraham Lincoln arrive at his highly controversial decision, and
what was the real impact? This exhibition examines the fundamental
change in Lincoln’s views about slavery and the Union that changed
America. At one time a moderate on the question of slavery—while he
despised it, he wasn’t an abolitionist—Lincoln changed his mind during
the Civil War, resulting in the Emancipation Proclamation that declared
free more than three million African American slaves. This exhibition
reveals the intensity and the gravity of the forces that transformed
Lincoln’s views and forever changed America.
> Learn more about Abraham Lincoln Transformed
Bessie Green-Field Warshawsky Gallery
Benito Juárez and the Making of Modern Mexico
October 10, 2009 through April 12, 2010
As America faced its darkest days during the Civil War, Mexico, too,
waged war that led to the creation of its modern state. In conjunction
with Abraham Lincoln Transformed, the Museum presents
Benito Juárez and the Making of Modern Mexico. Both Lincoln
and Juárez faced urgent situations that would forever shape the future
of their countries. This show provides an introduction to Mexico’s most
revered leader with many national treasures on display for the first
time in Chicago.
> Learn more about Benito Juárez and the Making of Modern
Mexico
Current Exhibitions
Treasures
-
Costume and Textile Gallery
Bertha Honoré Palmer
May 23, 2009 through January 4, 2010
Bertha Palmer reigned as the queen of Chicago society, but her
influence was known around the world. For the World’s Columbian
Exposition of 1893, she enlisted the support of foreign queens to erect
a Woman’s Building. As a civic booster, she bought modern art directly
from artists and donated it to the Art Institute of Chicago. She was a
champion of her fledgling city and the epitome of a grande dame. On the
anniversary of Palmer’s 160th birthday, the Museum presents a selection
of her personal effects to honor one of the most significant figures in
late 19th-century Chicago.
> Learn more
about Bertha Honoré Palmer
Treasures
-
Online exhibition
Lincoln at 200
This online exhibition investigates Lincoln’s political philosophy
and how it guided him—and the nation—through the Civil War. Built in
collaboration with the Newberry Library, Lincoln at 200 will
feature more than 200 images from the Museum’s collection.
> Visit
Lincoln at 200
Treasures
-
KPMG and Paul and Katherine Snyder Community
Gallery
Lincoln Park Block by
Block
July 4, 2009 through May 16, 2010
Lincoln Park is a dynamic neighborhood and home of the Chicago
History Museum. For 150 years, Lincoln Park residents and visitors have
experienced some of the city’s most historic events—from the opening of
the Chicago’s first public beach in 1895 to the riots of the late
1960s. Set on an oversized map, the exhibition invites you to discover
the history, culture, and making of Lincoln Park. Share your memories
with other visitors, and explore Lincoln Park—a place that constantly
remakes itself with a nod to the past and an eye toward the future.
>
Learn more about Lincoln Park Block by Block
Upcoming Exhibitions
Treasures
-
Skyline Gallery
My Chinatown
Opens Saturday, December 5
Chicago’s Chinatown is unmistakable, but what’s behind the ornate
building facades and signs covered in Chinese characters? Who are the
people who make our Chinatown the second largest in the U.S.? This
winter, the Chicago History Museum presents its first ever theater
experience using the sights, smells, and voices of Chicago’s most
recognizable neighborhood to tell its most unfamiliar stories.
Permanent Exhibitions
Crossroads
-
The Exelon
Wing
Chicago: Crossroads of America
Discover the city's vast history in Chicago: Crossroads of
America. Whether you are interested in Chicago's changing economy,
challenging crises, diverse neighborhoods, groundbreaking innovations,
or lively cultural scene, this exhibition is a must see!
> Learn more
about Crossroads and preview highlights
Children's Gallery
-
Konen Family Children's Gallery
Sensing Chicago
Use your five senses to explore Chicago, uncover the past, and discover that history is all around you. The Konen Family Children's Gallery invites families to ride a high-wheel bicycle, hear the Great Chicago Fire, catch a fly ball at Comiskey Park, smell the city's past, and be a Chicago-style hot dog.
Dioramas
-
Tawani Foundation Diorama Hall
The Dioramas
Our much-loved dioramas have been restored and are better than ever! Visit the Tawani Foundation Diorama Hall to learn the story of Chicago's rise from a desolate frontier outpost in 1804 to the bustling city that hosted the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893. Engaging details invite you to look closely and put history into a larger context.
Treasures
-
Treasures
This series of building-wide installations promises to surprise you from the moment you step in
the door. Highlights include a 1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo lowrider, souvenirs from Chicago's
world's fairs, and Abraham Lincoln's deathbed.
> View the lowrider video
