Welcome to the Chicago History Museum
EXPLORE OUR FEATURED EXHIBITIONS
Aquí en Chicago
Aquí en Chicago traces the lives of Latino/a/e communities that have maintained a persistent cultural presence and flourished in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.
Learn MoreInjustice: The Trial for the Murder of Emmett Till
In 1955, the murder of Emmett Till, a Black teenager from Chicago, and the subsequent criminal trial in Mississippi attracted international attention and sparked the Civil Rights Movement.
Learn MoreFacing Freedom
From women’s suffrage to a local school boycott, this exhibition asks the question: What can we do for freedom?
Learn MoreUS at 250: Barrett Keithley
"The People, We Are: Democracy, Justice, a More Perfect Union" is a mural installation from Barrett Keithley that visually and emotionally explores the impact of the US Constitution.
Learn MoreEXPLORE OUR FEATURED EXHIBITIONS
Aquí en Chicago
Aquí en Chicago traces the lives of Latino/a/e communities that have maintained a persistent cultural presence and flourished in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.
Learn More
Injustice: The Trial for the Murder of Emmett Till
In 1955, the murder of Emmett Till, a Black teenager from Chicago, and the subsequent criminal trial in Mississippi attracted international attention and sparked the Civil Rights Movement.
Learn More
Facing Freedom
From women’s suffrage to a local school boycott, this exhibition asks the question: What can we do for freedom?
Learn More
US at 250: Barrett Keithley
"The People, We Are: Democracy, Justice, a More Perfect Union" is a mural installation from Barrett Keithley that visually and emotionally explores the impact of the US Constitution.
Learn MoreWHAT’S HAPPENING AT CHM?
Explore the city with our expert guides, delve into our exhibitions through thematic programs, or discover Chicago history through family-friendly activities.
US at 250: Civic Action in Chicago
On the 250th anniversary of our nation’s Declaration of Independence, we’re asking questions about our nation’s democracy in progress.
Learn More![Untitled-2 [Recovered]](https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2026/01/USat250_Logo_stack_color-white-border-1280x1279.jpg){kind=logo}
UPCOMING EVENTS
This trolley tour with Mike McMains of Tours with Mike puts a spotlight on the South Loop’s and Bronzeville’s fascinating neighborhood evolutions along with their hidden LGBTQIA+ histories. Learn more
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Join author and historian Bernard Turner on this van tour through Bronzeville to discover the ways African Americans shaped the history and culture of this South Side neighborhood. Learn more
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Join storyteller and guide Connie Fairbanks on this exploration of the history of the Near West Side/West Loop from the late 1800s to the present. Learn more
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Join guide Mike McMains of Tours with Mike to discover Chicago’s hidden LGBTQIA+ stories from the 19th century to today while exploring the city’s downtown area. Learn more
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Join professional guide and local resident Eduardo Arocho on a walk through Humboldt Park, the center of Puerto Rican culture in both Chicago and the US Midwest. Learn more
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Join artist and educator Juarez Hawkins for a lively historical tour of the murals along the Metra underpasses linking Hyde Park Boulevard and Cornell Avenue in Hyde Park.
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Explore the newly reimagined Facing Freedom exhibition, which examines how people in the United States have shaped freedom through civic action, service, innovation, and advocacy.
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Join a CHM History Buff volunteer guide and whisk away to a time when Chicago’s rich and famous caroused on the coast.
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Join CHM volunteer Carol Fitzgibbons to explore stories of recovery from the 1871 Great Chicago Fire and when Old Town was the center of Chicago bohemianism in the 1960s and ’70s.
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The Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum invites you to the opening night celebration of Threads of a Nation, featuring a presentation by fashion historian and curator Timothy Long.
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LEARN AND CONNECT WITH CHM
CHM strives to be a destination for learning, inspiration and civic engagement. Through dynamic exhibitions, tours, programs, digital resources, and special events, the Museum connects people to Chicago’s history and to each other.
ABAKANOWICZ RESEARCH CENTER
Home to the Chicago History Museum’s archives, manuscripts, photographs, and more, the Abakanowicz Research Center (ARC) is one of the premier research facilities in Chicago. With free admission, the ARC helps fulfill the Museum’s mission to be a destination for learning and to connect people to Chicago’s history. We look forward to welcoming you!
Learn MoreSupport the Museum
SUPPORT OUR MISSION BY BECOMING A MEMBER
Membership offers ways to engage with others who love the city of Chicago and its history and opportunities to interact with our award-winning staff. Enjoy free admission, behind-the-scenes experiences, special discounts, and more!
OUT at CHM | South Side LGBTQIA+ Stories Trolley Tour
This trolley tour with Mike McMains of Tours with Mike puts a spotlight on the South Loop’s and Bronzeville’s fascinating neighborhood evolutions along with their hidden LGBTQIA+ histories. Learn more
BUY TICKETSVan Tour | Bronzeville
Join author and historian Bernard Turner on this van tour through Bronzeville to discover the ways African Americans shaped the history and culture of this South Side neighborhood. Learn more
BUY TICKETSWalking Tour | Mary Bartelme Park and Beyond in the West Loop
Join storyteller and guide Connie Fairbanks on this exploration of the history of the Near West Side/West Loop from the late 1800s to the present. Learn more
BUY TICKETSWalking Tour | Downtown LGBTQIA+ Stories
Join guide Mike McMains of Tours with Mike to discover Chicago’s hidden LGBTQIA+ stories from the 19th century to today while exploring the city’s downtown area. Learn more
BUY TICKETSWalking Tour | Paseo Boricua and Humboldt Park
Join professional guide and local resident Eduardo Arocho on a walk through Humboldt Park, the center of Puerto Rican culture in both Chicago and the US Midwest. Learn more
BUY TICKETSWalking Tour | Hyde Park Murals
Join artist and educator Juarez Hawkins for a lively historical tour of the murals along the Metra underpasses linking Hyde Park Boulevard and Cornell Avenue in Hyde Park.
Buy TicketsEducator Seminar | Facing Freedom
Explore the newly reimagined Facing Freedom exhibition, which examines how people in the United States have shaped freedom through civic action, service, innovation, and advocacy.
RSVPWalking Tour | Glitterati on the Gold Coast
Join a CHM History Buff volunteer guide and whisk away to a time when Chicago’s rich and famous caroused on the coast.
Buy TicketsWalking Tour | Historic Old Town
Join CHM volunteer Carol Fitzgibbons to explore stories of recovery from the 1871 Great Chicago Fire and when Old Town was the center of Chicago bohemianism in the 1960s and ’70s.
Buy TicketsThe Costume Council Presents | Threads of a Nation: A Celebration of Style & Statesmanship
The Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum invites you to the opening night celebration of Threads of a Nation, featuring a presentation by fashion historian and curator Timothy Long.
Buy Tickets