- Info
Exhibitions
Magic
Opening June 9, 2012
We’re filling the Museum with mystery to celebrate Chicago’s place in American magic. Visit our object theater to discover the story of Greta, a little girl who visits a wonderful store looking for a magician’s secrets. Next door, explore a collection of magical artifacts from across the country that have returned home to Chicago for your amazement and delight. Curious how magic looks in action? Professional magicians roam our halls at set times all summer long, defying viewers with their tricks and tips.
> Learn more about Magic
Current Exhibitions
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Sanger P. Robinson Gallery
Lincoln's Chicago
Lincoln was a frequent visitor to Chicago; The city became his
second home and political headquarters during his rise to
prominence. This gallery features portraits of Lincoln’s contemporaries
with lithograph views of Chicago created in the 1860s. The pairings
provide a glimpse of the city that Lincoln knew—a dynamic young
metropolis on the verge of greatness.
The McCormick Foundation is the lead exhibition
sponsor of Lincoln’s Chicago. Education funding for Lincoln’s Chicago
is provided by JP Morgan Chase and the Terra Foundation for American
Art.
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Abraham Lincoln
As president, Abraham Lincoln faced our nation’s greatest crisis—the
Civil War. His resolve to save the Union and radical decision to end
slavery transformed America. This intimate exhibition highlights
Lincoln’s election in 1860, his leadership during the Civil War, and
his tragic assassination. Together these stories honor a great leader
whose legacy endures.
The Abraham Lincoln installation is supported by a
gift from The Gupta Family with additional support from The Joyce
Foundation in honor of Lawrence N. Hansen.
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Kovler Family Lobby
Unexpected Chicago
What’s the most surprising thing about a collection made up of millions artifacts? A single artifact! This world-class collection holds the second largest costume collection in the world including clothing and accessories as well as thousands of linear feet of archives and manuscripts that make up the equivalent of forty-nine football fields or twelve Willis Towers. Unexpected Chicago is a way to reveal unexpected treasures of Chicago history a single artifact at a time.
> Learn more about Unexpected Chicago
Unexpected Chicago is supported by a gift from The Jacob and Rosaline Cohn Foundation.
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KPMG and Paul and Katherine Snyder Community
Gallery
Lincoln Park Block by
Block
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
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Costume and Textile Gallery
Investigating the American Flag
Our flag hasn’t always looked the way it does today. The country’s first citizens experimented with many ideas as they formed the symbol that would represent their nation at home and abroad. Here is your opportunity to take a close look at one of the earliest versions of the Stars and Stripes.
Upcoming Exhibitions
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Shalom Chicago
Opens Sunday, October 21, 2012
Through personal stories, rare artifacts, and engaging media presentations, this exhibition will illustrate the Jewish community’s rich history and many contributions to Chicago’s growth and development.
Permanent Exhibitions
Facing Freedom
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The Naphtali ben Yakov Pritzker American History
Wing
Facing Freedom
What does freedom mean? To whom should freedom be extended? How are
denied rights gained? These are some of the questions the new American
history exhibition explores. Based on the central idea that the history
of the United States has been shaped by conflicts over what it means to
be free, this new exhibition uses images, artifacts, and interactivity
to explore familiar and not-so-familiar stories from the nation’s past.
From women's suffrage and the formation of unions, to Japanese
internment, to a local school boycott, the exhibition highlights some
of the ways Americans have struggled over the true meaning of
freedom.
Crossroads
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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
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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
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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
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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
