Presidents’ Day was originally established to honor the birthday of George Washington. In Illinois, we still celebrate the day officially as “Washington’s Birthday,” but in line with many other areas of the nation, we at CHM celebrate this day to honor all US presidents and the Office of the President of the United States. It’s a day to remember past national leaders and think broadly about leadership, political systems, and civic engagement.

Join us at CHM as we expand this idea of Presidents’ Day. We’ve partnered with Central States SER and Paul Durica of the Newberry Library to promote civic-mindedness and create learning experiences for both youths and adults.

Included with admission, which is FREE for all Illinois residents on this day.

On-site voter registration with the League of Women Voters will be available from 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

SCHEDULE

10:00–11:30 a.m. – Life Skills of a Leader

Led by Central States SER, middle schoolers and high schoolers are invited to engage each other in live activities to promote civic-mindedness and learn new skills for becoming future leaders. Recommended for grade 6 and up.

2:00–3:30 p.m. – Presidents’ Day Trivia with Paul Durica

Ever wonder which presidents have direct ties to Illinois? Join us for some fun trivia with Paul Durica, director of exhibitions at the Newberry Library, to learn more about Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Ronald Reagan, and Barack Obama and their impact on the history of Chicago, Illinois, and the nation! All ages welcome; recommended for grade 6 and up.

Established in 1987, Central States SER is a nonprofit organization dedicated to designing and delivering services to improve the quality of people’s lives. Their mission is to promote economic self-sufficiency and upward mobility for low-income community residents through education and employment.

As per the City of Chicago’s safety guidelines, all CHM guests 5 years of age or older will be required to show proof that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 upon entry. CHM requires all visitors over age 2 and staff to wear a mask while inside the Museum or on a tour. Learn more about the Museum’s safety policies and procedures.