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Lincoln Today

July 4, 1839, Lincoln was assistant marshal in Springfield’s Fourth of July parade.

 

Exhibitions

Benjamin B. Green-Field Gallery and The Mazza Foundation Gallery

Chic Chicago:
Couture Treasures from the Chicago History Museum

September 27, 2008, through July 26, 2009
Chic Chicago presents the hallmarks of modern fashion. The exhibition's extraordinary garments date from 1861 to 2004 and represent the most prominent couturiers of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Each gown has a strong connection to Chicago and belongs to the Museum's permanent collection.

> Learn more about Chic Chicago

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

Bessie Green-Field Warshawsky Gallery

Lincoln Treasures

February 12 through August 16, 2009

This family-friendly exhibition commemorates the accomplished life and tragic death of Abraham Lincoln. You'll see many of the Museum's prized Lincoln artifacts, including his pocket watch, desk, piano, and the bed in which he died.

> Learn more about Lincoln Treasures

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

Upcoming Exhibitions

Treasures

KPMG and Paul and Katherine Snyder Community gallery

Lincoln Park Block by Block

Opens July 4, 2009

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

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

 

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

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