CHICAGO (May 30, 2025) – The Chicago History Museum is proud to announce the honorees for the 2025 Making History Awards. This prestigious event celebrates the outstanding achievements of individuals and corporations who have made a lasting impact on the city of Chicago.
Over the past 30 years, we have honored 151 individuals from all walks of life for their enduring contributions to art and culture, sports, business and civic life. We have also celebrated 13 companies for their historic corporate achievements.
The distinguished honorees at the 2025 Making History Awards are:
- Martin Cabrera Jr., CEO & Founder of Cabrera Capital, receiving the Marshall Field Making History Award for Distinction in Corporate Leadership and Innovation
- Susan Crown, Founder and Chairman of the Susan Crown Exchange, receiving the Daniel H. Burnham Making History Award for Distinction in Visionary Leadership
- Hon. Rahm Emanuel, Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan and Former Mayor of the City of Chicago, receiving the Harold Washington Making History Award for Distinction in Public Service
- Steppenwolf Theatre, a Chicago theater company, receiving the Theodore Thomas Making History Award for Distinction in the Performing Arts; Audrey Francis, Artistic Director, and Brooke Flanagan, Executive Director, will accept the award
The award ceremony will take place on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at 6 p.m. at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear the unique stories of each honoree and gain insight from their esteemed colleagues on the significance of their contributions to the community. The event will also feature speeches from Chicago History Museum leadership and provide an overview of the Museum’s current initiatives and exhibitions.
The Chicago History Museum inaugurated this event in 1995 to provide vital financial support to the Museum’s operations and programs. More than three decades later, this event is still a cornerstone of the institution, supporting the Museum’s mission to serve as the primary destination for learning, inspiration and civic engagement to connect people to Chicago’s history and each other.
For more information on supporting or attending the Making History Awards, please contact Eric Miller, Development Coordinator, at miller@chicagohistory.org or (312) 799-2110.
The press kit can be found here: https://chicagohistory.box.com/s/ll08hwsf55bzfy6h7zb0jfktqj75bude
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ABOUT THE CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM
The Chicago History Museum is situated on ancestral homelands of the Potawatomi people, who cared for the land until forced out by non-Native settlers. Established in 1856, the Museum is located at 1601 N. Clark Street in Lincoln Park, its third location. A major museum and research center for Chicago and U.S. history, the Chicago History Museum strives to be a destination for learning, inspiration, and civic engagement. Through dynamic exhibitions, tours, publications, special events and programming, the Museum connects people to Chicago’s history and to each other. The Museum collects and preserves millions of artifacts, documents, and images to assist in sharing Chicago stories. The Museum gratefully acknowledges the support of the Chicago Park District on behalf of the people of Chicago.