Events

Family Event | Fire in Boomtown

1:00 p.m.

Take a closer look at one of America's last great railway terminals on a walking tour that highlights this iconic Chicago locale.

Event

1:00–1:45 p.m.

Join musicians and storytellers Amy Lowe and Megan Wells for a musical mix of commentary, theater, and history as they recount the story of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

Pilsen Murals, Walking Tour

SOLD OUT! Walking Tour | Pilsen Murals

10:00 a.m.

Walk through Pilsen with local guide Luis Tubens and get the larger meaning behind the artwork in Chicago’s capital of Mexican cultures.

Bronzeville, Walking Tour

SOLD OUT! Bus Tour | The Devil in the White City

10:00 a.m.

Join guide Bernard Turner to learn about the history and culture of this South Side neighborhood.

Bus Tour, Tour

10:00 a.m.

Inspired by Erik Larson’s best-selling book, go back to 1893 with CHM director of exhibitions Paul Durica to follow the trails of Daniel Burnham and the devilish doings of H. H. Holmes.

Bus Tour

Bus Tour | Chicago Blues

1:00 p.m.

On this tour with guide Wayne Galasek, discover how the Delta blues came to Chicago during the Great Migration and evolved into its own distinct sound.

Bike Tour, Tour

Bike Tour | Chicago’s Fabulous Fountains

9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Hop on your bike and explore the fountains of Lincoln Park and the Near North Side with Greg Borzo, author of Chicago’s Fabulous Fountains (2017).

August 2022

Gold Coast, Walking Tour

SOLD OUT! Walking Tour | Glitterati on the Gold Coast

10:00 a.m.

Whisk away to a time when Chicago’s rich and famous caroused on the coast.

Union Station, Walking Tour

SOLD OUT! Walking Tour | Union Station

1:00 p.m.

Take a closer look at one of America's last great railway terminals on a walking tour that highlights this iconic Chicago locale.

Bike Tour, Tour

SOLD OUT! Bike Tour | Chicago’s Fabulous Fountains

9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Hop on your bike and explore the fountains of Lincoln Park and the Near North Side with Greg Borzo, author of Chicago’s Fabulous Fountains (2017).

Pilsen Murals, Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

Walk through Pilsen with local guide Luis Tubens and get the larger meaning behind the artwork in Chicago’s capital of Mexican cultures.

Sheffield Stroll, Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

Stroll past Victorian architecture and sites of Hollywood films while exploring the history of the Sheffield/DePaul neighborhood.

Humboldt Park, Walking Tour

Chicago Sinfonietta Presents: For the Left Hand Screening and Fireside Chat

2:00 p.m.

Explore this iconic West Side neighborhood with professional guide and local resident Eduardo Arocho.

Film Screening

6:00–9:00 p.m.

The Chicago Sinfonietta, in collaboration with CHM, presents Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and retired Chicago Tribune critic Howard Reich's documentary on Chicago pianist Norman Malone. CHM members get reserved premiere seating for the screening.

Gold Coast, Walking Tour

SOLD OUT! Walking Tour | Glitterati on the Gold Coast

10:00 a.m.

Whisk away to a time when Chicago’s rich and famous caroused on the coast.

Bus Tour

Bus Tour | Exploring Chicago’s Union Stock Yard

10:00 a.m.

Delve into the Union Stock Yard’s industrial history, cultural heritage, and surrounding neighborhoods with Dominic Pacyga, professor emeritus of history at Columbia College Chicago.

Old Town, Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

From postfire recovery to the hub of Chicago bohemianism in the 1960s and 1970s, Old Town reveals diverse stories about the city’s past.

Pilsen Murals, Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

Walk through Pilsen with local guide Luis Tubens and get the larger meaning behind the artwork in Chicago’s capital of Mexican cultures.

Bronzeville, Walking Tour

SOLD OUT! Walking Tour | Glitterati on the Gold Coast

10:00 a.m.

Join guide Bernard Turner to learn about the history and culture of this South Side neighborhood.

September 2022

Bus Tour

Bus Tour | Chicago Blues

1:00 p.m.

On this tour with guide Wayne Galasek, discover how the Delta blues came to Chicago during the Great Migration and evolved into its own distinct sound.

Gold Coast, Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

Whisk away to a time when Chicago’s rich and famous caroused on the coast.

Union Station, Walking Tour

1:00 p.m.

Take a closer look at one of America's last great railway terminals on a walking tour that highlights this iconic Chicago locale.

Partner Event, Special Event

Hideout Trivia

6:00–10:00 p.m.

Join us for a night of trivia fun at the Hideout! This is the first round in our 2022 series.

Pilsen Murals, Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

Walk through Pilsen with local guide Luis Tubens and get the larger meaning behind the artwork in Chicago’s capital of Mexican cultures.

Sheffield Stroll, Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

Stroll past Victorian architecture and sites of Hollywood films while exploring the history of the Sheffield/DePaul neighborhood.

Humboldt Park, Walking Tour

2:00 p.m.

Explore this iconic West Side neighborhood with professional guide and local resident Eduardo Arocho.

Gold Coast, Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

Whisk away to a time when Chicago’s rich and famous caroused on the coast.

Union Station, Walking Tour

1:00 p.m.

Take a closer look at one of America's last great railway terminals on a walking tour that highlights this iconic Chicago locale.

hyde park, Walking Tour

Film Screening | The History of South Streeterville

10:00 a.m.

Teaching artist Juarez Hawkins leads this lively historical tour of the murals along the Metra underpasses linking Hyde Park Boulevard and Cornell Avenue.

Film Screening

5:30–8:00 p.m.

Join us for a film screening, reception, and panel discussion with local leaders who helped shape this Near North Side neighborhood.

Event, Fundraiser

Chicago Men’s Fashion Awards 2022

6:00–9:00 p.m.

Join us for an evening of fun and fashion with the Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum!

Bus Tour, Tour

Bus Tour | Chicago Spiritualism

10:00 a.m.

Seek the truth with CHM director of exhibitions Paul Durica on this journey through the history of spirits and spiritualism in Chicago.

Pilsen Murals, Walking Tour

Partner Event | Author Talk: Beata Halicka

10:00 a.m.

Walk through Pilsen with local guide Luis Tubens and get the larger meaning behind the artwork in Chicago’s capital of Mexican cultures.

Lecture

11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Beata Halicka, author of Borderlands Biography: Z. Anthony Kruszewski in Wartime Europe and Postwar America, discusses her work with Z. Anthony Kruszewski, and CHM chief historian Peter T. Alter will introduce CHM’s upcoming exhibition on Chicago’s Polish community.

Bronzeville, Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

Join guide Bernard Turner to learn about the history and culture of this South Side neighborhood.

Urban History Seminar, Virtual Event

SOLD OUT! Walking Tour | Glitterati on the Gold Coast

7:00–8:15 p.m.

Henry Binford of Northwestern University presents “Cincinnati and the Prehistory of US City Planning.”

October 2022

Gold Coast, Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

Whisk away to a time when Chicago’s rich and famous caroused on the coast.

Union Station, Walking Tour

1:00 p.m.

Take a closer look at one of America's last great railway terminals on a walking tour that highlights this iconic Chicago locale.

Partner Event, Special Event

Hideout Trivia

6:00–10:00 p.m.

Join us for a night of trivia fun at the Hideout! This is the second round in our 2022 series.

Chicago Home Movie Day

11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Presented in partnership with the Chicago Film Archives and Chicago Film Society, archivists and projectionists will inspect and project your celluloid home movies and offer tips on how to store and preserve them.

Pilsen Murals, Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

Walk through Pilsen with local guide Luis Tubens and get the larger meaning behind the artwork in Chicago’s capital of Mexican cultures.

Event

Fall Family Day

10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Join us for a day of family-friendly activities, including a musical performance, dollmaking activities, and character-led tours of City on Fire. Bring the family along for a day of fun and learning!

Sheffield Stroll, Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

Stroll past Victorian architecture and sites of Hollywood films while exploring the history of the Sheffield/DePaul neighborhood.

Humboldt Park, Walking Tour

Family Event | Indigenous Peoples’ Day

2:00 p.m.

Explore this iconic West Side neighborhood with professional guide and local resident Eduardo Arocho.

Event

1:30–4:00 p.m.

Join us for talks with Indigenous scholar Starla Thompson, Professor John Low of the Ohio State University, and CHM director of collections Julie Wroblewski and project archivist Lydia Wood.

Urban History Seminar, Virtual Event

SOLD OUT! Partner Event | Meet the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party

7:00–8:15 p.m.

Takako Day, independent researcher, and Michael Day of Northern Illinois University present "Breaking the Japantown Stereotype: Who Were the Japanese and Japanese Americans in Chicago 1865–1940?"

Partner Event

7:00–9:30 p.m.

With host rapper Chuck D, join us as CHM director of curatorial affairs Charles E. Bethea moderates a panel talk with Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party members Billy “Ché” Brooks, Wanda Ross, and Ralph Bostick.

Gold Coast, Walking Tour

Back With You Again: Celebrating 75 Years of Kukla, Fran, and Ollie

10:00 a.m.

Whisk away to a time when Chicago’s rich and famous caroused on the coast.

Event, Partner Event

3:00-4:30 p.m

Join us at CHM for a live event celebrating 75 Years of Kukla, Fran, Ollie, one of the most influential television programs of all time, and the history Chicago children’s TV.

Partner Event

Partner Event | Latinx Art Market

1:00–4:00 p.m.

Join us at the Gage Park Latinx Council Cultural Center for an afternoon of FREE family-friendly fun!

hyde park, Walking Tour

Film Screening | “Art and Pep”

10:00 a.m.

Teaching artist Juarez Hawkins leads this lively historical tour of the murals along the Metra underpasses linking Hyde Park Boulevard and Cornell Avenue.

Film Screening

1:00 p.m.

CHM is pleased to be a partner of the 58th Chicago International Film Festival, which showcases the best in international and independent films from around the world.

Film Screening

Film Screening | “King of Kings: Chasing Edward Jones”

6:00 p.m.

CHM is pleased to be a partner of the 58th Chicago International Film Festival, which showcases the best in international and independent films from around the world.

Members | Members

SOLD OUT! Author Talk | The Life of Vivian Maier

12:00–1:00 p.m.

CHM members and Historical Alliance are invited to a special discussion with Ann Marks, author of Vivian Maier Developed: The Untold Story of the Photographer Nanny.

Members | Members

Author Talk | The Life of Vivian Maier

2:00–3:00 p.m.

Two tickets left! CHM members and Historical Alliance are invited to a special discussion with Ann Marks, author of Vivian Maier Developed: The Untold Story of the Photographer Nanny.

Members | Members

SOLD OUT! Author Talk | The Life of Vivian Maier

4:00–5:00 p.m.

CHM members and Historical Alliance are invited to a special discussion with Ann Marks, author of Vivian Maier Developed: The Untold Story of the Photographer Nanny.

Pilsen Murals, Walking Tour

Educator Seminar | Welcome Back to CHM!

10:00 a.m.

Walk through Pilsen with local guide Luis Tubens and get the larger meaning behind the artwork in Chicago’s capital of Mexican cultures.

Educator Program

9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Designed for educators, this seminar explores our facilitated museum experiences offered on-site as well as virtually.

Film Screening

Film Screening | “The Big Payback”

1:00 p.m.

CHM is pleased to be a partner of the 58th Chicago International Film Festival, which showcases the best in international and independent films from around the world.

Film Screening

Film Screening | “No Ordinary Campaign”

3:30 p.m.

CHM is pleased to be a partner of the 58th Chicago International Film Festival, which showcases the best in international and independent films from around the world.

Bus Tour

Bus Tour | Chicago Blues

1:00 p.m.

On this tour with guide Wayne Galasek, discover how the Delta blues came to Chicago during the Great Migration and evolved into its own distinct sound.

Bus/Trolley

Bus Tour | North by Northwest: Infamous Places in the Land Approaching O’Hare

10:00 a.m.

Explore local crime scene haunts and residences of some of Chicago's most notorious lawbreakers with author Richard Lindberg.

Event

Family Event | Spectacularly Spooky Saturday

11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Join us at CHM for a day of fall-time fun including face painting, dollmaking, and, of course, CANDY!

November 2022

Members | Members

Members’ Annual Meeting

6:00–8:00 p.m.

Learn about the history of Chicago pubs from authors June Sawyers and Bill Savage, sample beer from Chicago's own Revolution Brewing, and hear from CHM president Donald Lassere.

Event

Family Event | Indigenous Peoples’ Month

11:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

Celebrate the rich heritage and histories of the people who were in Chicago first. Learn about the lives they still lead today as Indigenous artist and scholar Tony Tiger talks about his work.

Educator Program

Educator Seminar | Using the Library of Congress for Student Inquiry

8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

This seminar introduces teachers to Finding, Analyzing, and Constructing History: A Research Guide for Students and how to use the Library of Congress collections for student inquiry projects.

Film Screening

Supreme Models the Documentary, Midwest Premiere

5:30–9:30 p.m.

The Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum invites you to the Midwest premiere of Supreme Models with author Marcellas Reynolds, Supreme Model Veronica Webb, Chicago fashion icon Ikram Goldman, Fashion Fair Cosmetics CEO Desirée Rogers, and DuSable Black History Museum's Danny Dunson!

Gold Coast, Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

Whisk away to a time when Chicago’s rich and famous caroused on the coast.

Union Station, Walking Tour

Virtual Educator Workshop | Teaching about the Asian American Experience: A Primer

1:00 p.m.

Take a closer look at one of America's last great railway terminals on a walking tour that highlights this iconic Chicago locale.

Educator Program, Virtual Event

5:30–7:30 p.m.

Designed for middle and high school educators, this workshop presented in partnership with Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago centers on Asian American themes and teaching resources.

Urban History Seminar, Virtual Event

SOLD OUT! Walking Tour | Pilsen Murals

7:00–8:15 p.m.

Erin McCarthy of Columbia College Chicago presents “Stagg and Stella: We Interrupt this Marriage for Football Season.”

Pilsen Murals, Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

Walk through Pilsen with local guide Luis Tubens and get the larger meaning behind the artwork in Chicago’s capital of Mexican cultures.

Humboldt Park, Walking Tour

2:00 p.m.

Explore this iconic West Side neighborhood with professional guide and local resident Eduardo Arocho.

Sheffield Stroll, Walking Tour

Virtual Educator Workshop | Teaching about the Asian American Experience: A Primer

10:00 a.m.

One ticket left! Stroll past Victorian architecture and sites of Hollywood films while exploring the history of the Sheffield/DePaul neighborhood.

Educator Program, Virtual Event

5:30–7:30 p.m.

Designed for elementary educators, this workshop presented in partnership with Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago centers on Asian American themes and teaching resources.

Gold Coast, Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

Whisk away to a time when Chicago’s rich and famous caroused on the coast.

Union Station, Walking Tour

1:00 p.m.

Take a closer look at one of America's last great railway terminals on a walking tour that highlights this iconic Chicago locale.

hyde park, Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

Teaching artist Juarez Hawkins leads this lively historical tour of the murals along the Metra underpasses linking Hyde Park Boulevard and Cornell Avenue.

Pilsen Murals, Walking Tour

NEW! Bus Tour | North Side Pursuits: Infamy from Lincoln Park to Edgewater

10:00 a.m.

Walk through Pilsen with local guide Luis Tubens and get the larger meaning behind the artwork in Chicago’s capital of Mexican cultures.

Bus/Trolley

10:00 a.m.

Explore local crime scene haunts of some of Chicago's most notorious lawbreakers with author Richard Lindberg.

December 2022

Members | Members

Members’ Double Discount Week

Through Friday, December 9

From Friday, December 2, through Friday, December 9, CHM members and Historical Alliance get 20 percent off at the Museum Store and North & Clark Café!

Event

Family Event | Guild Holiday Party

5:30–7:30 p.m.

The Guild of the Chicago History Museum invites you to ring in the holiday season with the Great Lakes Dredge and Philharmonic Society!

January 2023

Commemorative Day, Event

Family Event | Martin Luther King Jr. Day

10:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Commemorate the enduring legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at our annual family-friendly event.

Urban History Seminar, Virtual Event

Costume Council Virtual Book Club with Michael Kutza

7:00–8:15 p.m.

Author Patrick T. Reardon presents “Reporting the Loop: Taking the 'L' from Newspapering to History-writing.”

Partner Event, Virtual Event

5:30–7:00 p.m.

The Costume Council and nenasnotes The Fashion Book Club invite you to attend a special virtual program featuring STARSTRUCK: How I Magically Transformed Chicago into Hollywood for More Than Fifty Years with author Michael Kutza in conversation with Nena Ivon of nenasnotes.

Event

Queen of the Lakes: How Chicago Became One of the Busiest Ports in the World

10:30 a.m.

Join the Guild of the Chicago History Museum at the Saddle & Cycle Club for brunch and a presentation by Professor Theodore Karamanski as he recounts the days when Chicago was the busiest seaport in the US.

Partner Event

CHM with National Geographic Live | Greenwood: A Century of Resilience

2:00 p.m.

Join us for a presentation by Dr. Alicia Odewale of the University of Tulsa and stay for an in-depth discussion with Erica Griffin, CHM’s Elizabeth F. Cheney Director of Education.

Members | Members

Member Dialogue | The Aga Khan Award for Architecture: Exhibition and Discussion

6:00–8:00 p.m.

Join us for a dialogue with Nader Tehrani of The Cooper Union, CHM curator Rebekah Coffman, CHM chief historian Peter T. Alter, and Ellen Dickson of Bailey Edward Design.

February 2023

Historical Alliance & All Star Exclusive | Chicago Food Stop

4:00–6:00 p.m.

Historical Alliance and All-Star members are invited to join the Chicago History Museum and Media Burn Archive for an exclusive look and Q&A at the Chicago Food Stop.

Urban History Seminar, Virtual Event

Partner Event | Screening of “Mikva! Democracy is a Verb”

7:00–8:15 p.m.

Historian and author Rima Lunin Schultz and Ann Durkin Keating of North Central College present “Jane Addams, Social Planning, and Early Public Housing on Chicago's Near West Side.”

Film Screening, Partner Event

5:00–8:00 p.m.

Join us for a screening of this Emmy-nominated documentary depicting Mikva’s epic career. Following the screening is a panel discussion with Peabody award–winning director Bob Hercules, Con. Jan Schakowsky, Mikva Challenge students, and special guests.

Partner Event

SOLD OUT! Partner Event | Day of Remembrance

1:30–3:00 p.m.

Each year, Chicago’s Japanese American community gathers to remember President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s signing of Executive Order 9066, which led to the incarceration of some 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II. Walk-ins are welcome as capacity allows.

Commemorative Day

Family Event | Presidents’ Day

11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Illinois has been home to four US presidents: Lincoln, Grant, Reagan, and Obama. Commemorate Presidents’ Day at CHM and discover the lives behind the legends of the American presidency.

Members | Members

Member Event | Author Talk – Chicago’s West Loop: Then and Now

6:00 p.m.

CHM members and Historical Alliance are invited to this talk with local author and historian Connie Fairbanks and WTTW host Geoffrey Baer.

Black History Month, Commemorative Day

Gallery Activities | Black History Month

10:30 a.m.–2 p.m.

Join us at the Chicago History Museum to explore the Chicago origins of Black History Month! Connect with Bronzeville community advocacy organizations, get an up-close look at Bronzeville materials from CHM’s collections, and participate in a meet and greet with a reenactor of journalist and activist Ida B. Wells-Barnett!

Partner Event

Partner Event | Preserving Heirlooms and Histories

11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Presented in partnership with 18th Street Casa de Cultura, join us to learn tips on preserving your own collections of personal photographs, negatives, documents, and more.

Partner Event

Evento asociado | Recuerdos, reliquias y conservación

11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Presentado en colaboración con 18th St. Casa de Cultura, únete a nosotros para aprender consejos prácticos sobre cómo conservar tus propias colecciones de fotografías personales, peliculas, documentos, etc.

March 2023

Film Screening, Partner Event

Partner Event | Screening of “Clodagh”

3:00 p.m.

CHM is pleased to be a host site for the Chicago Irish Film Festival. Join us for the Midwest premier of Clodagh, a documentary that explores what drives the single-minded designer.

Fundraiser, Special Event

CHM Giving Day 2023

1:00–4:00 p.m.

Support the Museum’s mission to connect people to Chicago’s history and each other by participating in CHM’s Giving Day. We invite you to enjoy special activities and fun for all ages.

Partner Event

Family Event | Navroz, the Persian New Year

11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Presented in collaboration with The Ismaili Council for the Midwestern US, learn about the history and traditions behind Navroz!

Partner Event

SOLD OUT! Partner Event | Chicago’s Black & Brown Future: Mayoral Runoff

5:00–8:00 p.m.

Presented in partnership with the Latino Policy Forum, Chicago Urban League, and other partners, make your voices heard and join us at CHM for Chicago's Black & Brown Future: Mayoral Runoff Debate.

Members

Members’ History Happy Hour

5:30–7:30 p.m.

Test your knowledge of Chicago history! CHM director of exhibitions Paul Durica hosts this trivia night featuring a cash bar and a chance to win an exclusive CHM prize package.

Urban History Seminar, Virtual Event

Family Event | Women’s History Month

7:00–8:15 p.m.

Aaron Shkuda of the Princeton-Mellon Initiative in Architecture, Urbanism, and the Humanities presents “Commodities Capital of the World? Building for the Future of Trading in Chicago.”

Commemorative Day

12:00–4:00 p.m.

Featuring performances by Starla Thompson and Connie Shirakawa, join us as we highlight women storytellers and storytelling as a way of recounting history.

Guild Field Trip: Polish Culture and Cuisine

10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

In anticipation of the May 20 opening of CHM’s Back Home: Polish Chicago exhibition, join the Guild of the Chicago History Museum on a morning filled with Polish history and culture.

OUT at CHM

OUT at CHM | Trans Joy and Chicago’s Transgender Community

6:00–9:00 p.m.

Learn about the community work of LGBTQIA+ organizations who have fought for transgender equality for years, laying a foundation for LGBTQIA+ youth in Illinois to grow up with greater levels of support than ever before.

April 2023

Members, Walking Tour | Members

Members’ Garden Tour Series

10:00–11:30 a.m.

Enjoy the outdoors with a series of member-only tours of our Jaffee History Trail! Learn more about the trail’s history, as well as its natural and historical elements. Free and exclusive to members.

Members, Walking Tour | Members

SOLD OUT! Members’ Garden Tour Series

2:30–4:00 p.m.

Urban History Seminar, Virtual Event

SOLD OUT! Members’ Garden Tour Series

7:00–8:15 p.m.

Tikia K. Hamilton of Loyola University Chicago presents “Before Brown v. Board of Education.”

Members, Walking Tour | Members

2:30–4:00 p.m.

Members, Walking Tour | Members

SOLD OUT! Members’ Garden Tour Series

5:30–7:00 p.m.

May 2023

Event

The Glory of Galanos: America’s Haute Couturier

6:00–9:00 p.m.

Presented by The Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum, join us for a dialogue featuring journalist and fashion collector David Nash and designer and author Steven Stolman.

Old Town, Walking Tour

Partner Event | The Legacy of Benjamin Marshall: A Film Screening and Panel Discussion

10:00 a.m.

From postfire recovery to the hub of Chicago bohemianism in the 1960s and 1970s, Old Town reveals diverse stories about the city’s past.

Partner Event

1:15–4:30 p.m.

CHM members get discounted tickets to this event about one of Chicago’s most prolific architects.

hyde park, Walking Tour

SOLD OUT! Urban History Seminar

10:00 a.m.

Teaching artist Juarez Hawkins leads this lively historical tour of the murals along the Metra underpasses linking Hyde Park Boulevard and Cornell Avenue.

Urban History Seminar

6:00–8:00 p.m.

Lisa Yun Lee, executive director of the National Public Housing Museum, will speak about the history, vision, and future of the NPHM.

Humboldt Park, Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

Explore this iconic West Side neighborhood with professional guide and local resident Eduardo Arocho.

Union Station, Walking Tour

Guild Benefit for Back Home: Polish Chicago

1:00 p.m.

Take a closer look at one of America's last great railway terminals as you learn the architectural facts, transport history, and intriguing narratives of Union Station.

Event

6:00–10:00 p.m.

The Guild of the Chicago History Museum warmly requests the pleasure of your company for a Guild Benefit, featuring cocktails, an enlightening program, and a fabulous dinner celebrating the opening of Back Home: Polish Chicago.

Event, Exhibition Program

Family Day | Back Home: Polish Chicago

10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Join us for a Family Day highlighting Back Home: Polish Chicago! Create art inspired by Polish traditions and enjoy a performance by the Lira Ensemble.

Pilsen Murals, Walking Tour

Family Event | AAPI Heritage Month

10:30 a.m.

Walk through Pilsen with local guide Luis Tubens and get the larger meaning behind the artwork in Chicago’s capital of Mexican cultures.

Commemorative Day

12:00–4:00 p.m.

Stop by and get to know three local AAPI-related service organizations: Circa Pintig, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, and the South Asian American Policy and Research Institute.

hyde park, Walking Tour

SOLD OUT! Members’ Reception for Back Home: Polish Chicago

10:00 a.m.

Teaching artist Juarez Hawkins leads this lively historical tour of the murals along the Metra underpasses linking Hyde Park Boulevard and Cornell Avenue.

Members | Members

5:30–8:00 p.m.

Join us for a member-exclusive reception and walkthrough celebrating our newest exhibition, Back Home: Polish Chicago. Key CHM staff and project contributors will be on-hand to answer your questions. Free and exclusive to members and Historical Alliance.

Film Screening, Partner Event

Summer Screenings | Precious Ivie

6:30 p.m.

Presented by Cinema/Chicago, the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, and their consular and cultural partners, CHM is pleased to be a host for Summer Screenings.

Union Station, Walking Tour

1:00 p.m.

Take a closer look at one of America's last great railway terminals as you learn the architectural facts, transport history, and intriguing narratives of Union Station.

Gold Coast, Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

Whisk away to a time when Chicago’s rich and famous caroused on the coast.

Bronzeville, Walking Tour

Walking Tour | Leopold and Loeb

11:00 a.m.

Author and historian Bernard Turner leads this walking tour that highlights Chicago’s most influential African Americans and their contributions to the city.

Tour, Walking Tour

1:00 p.m.

Tour the Kenwood neighborhood with CHM director of exhibitions Paul Durica, visiting the scene of the crime and other sites connected to the murder of Bobby Franks.

Event, Members

Members’ Open House

4:00–8:00 p.m.

CHM members and Historical Alliance get exclusive access to our exhibitions, collections, and staff. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to go behind the scenes!

Film Screening, Partner Event

Summer Screenings | A Rising Fury

6:30 p.m.

June 2023

Event, Partner Event

Partner Event | Preserving Heirlooms and Histories

11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Presented in partnership with Gage Park Latinx Council, join us to learn tips on preserving your own collections of personal photographs, negatives, documents, and more.

Event, Partner Event

Evento asociado | Recuerdos, reliquias y conservación

11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Presentado en colaboración con el Archivo Comunitario del Gage Park Latinx Council, únete a nosotros para aprender consejos prácticos sobre cómo conservar tus propias colecciones de fotografías personales, peliculas, documentos, etc.

Old Town, Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

On this tour, explore stories of recovery from the 1871 Great Chicago Fire and the neighborhood as the center of Chicago bohemianism in the 1960s and 1970s.

Pilsen Murals, Walking Tour

NEW! Walking Tour | Working the World’s Columbian Exposition

10:30 a.m.

Walk through Pilsen with local guide Luis Tubens and get the larger meaning behind the artwork in Chicago’s capital of Mexican cultures.

Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

Visit the former fairgrounds with CHM director of exhibitions Paul Durica and learn about the collective effort, sacrifices, and successes that made the World’s Columbian Exposition possible.

Film Screening, Partner Event

SOLD OUT! Summer Screenings | Welcome Venice

6:30 p.m.

Event

29th Annual Making History Awards

6:00–9:00 p.m.

The Making History Awards pay tribute to the positive and enduring impact of some of our city’s extraordinary leaders.

Humboldt Park, Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

Explore this iconic West Side neighborhood with professional guide and local resident Eduardo Arocho.

Union Station, Walking Tour

NEW! Walking Tour | A Century of Progress: Chicago’s Second World’s Fair

1:00 p.m.

Take a closer look at one of America's last great railway terminals as you learn the architectural facts, transport history, and intriguing narratives of Union Station.

Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

Explore the often-surprising legacy of Chicago’s second world’s fair with CHM director of exhibitions Paul Durica.

Film Screening, Partner Event

Summer Screenings | Red Shoes

6:30 p.m.

Civic Season, Film Screening

Civic Sundays @ CHM | Speak Up and Out Boldly

12:00 p.m.

Presented in partnership with Made By Us, Civic Season is a new tradition to reflect and reshape our story, together, with everyone who participates. This session is focused on the civic superpower Amplify and includes a film screening.

Film Screening, Partner Event

Summer Screenings | Bad Poems

6:30 p.m.

Event, Members

Member Event | Stories from Chicago’s LGBTQ+ Past

2:00–3:15 p.m.

Dr. John D’Emilio of the University of Illinois Chicago shares about Chicago’s LGBTQ+ history at this exclusive members’ event.

Gold Coast, Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

Whisk away to a time when Chicago’s rich and famous caroused on the coast.

Union Station, Walking Tour

Civic Sunday @ CHM | Take a Stand Together

1:00 p.m.

Take a closer look at one of America's last great railway terminals as you learn the architectural facts, transport history, and intriguing narratives of Union Station.

Civic Season, Film Screening

12:00 p.m.

Presented in partnership with Made By Us, Civic Season is a new tradition to reflect and reshape our story, together, with everyone who participates. This session focuses on the civic superpower Defend.

Sheffield Stroll, Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

Stroll past Victorian architecture and sites of Hollywood films while exploring the history of the Sheffield/DePaul neighborhood.

Bronzeville, Walking Tour

OUT at CHM | Supportive Space for Trans Joy

11:00 a.m.

Author and historian Bernard Turner leads this walking tour that highlights Chicago’s most influential African Americans and their contributions to the city.

OUT at CHM

5:30–7:30 p.m.

Learn about the work of local LGBTQIA+ organizations that have fought for transgender rights for years and continue their support through serviceable action and promoting joy in the community. Join us for a talk with moderator Kim L. Hunt of Pride Action Tank and panelists Myles Brady Davis of Equality Illinois and Bonsai Bermúdez of Youth Empowerment Performance Project.

July 2023

Civic Season

Civic Sunday @ CHM | Care = Action

12:00 p.m.

Presented in partnership with Made By Us, Civic Season is a new tradition to reflect and reshape our story, together. This session is focused on the civic superpower Nurture.

Civic Season, Film Screening

Independence Day | Remember, Reconnect, and Represent

10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.

Humboldt Park, Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

Explore this iconic West Side neighborhood with professional guide and local resident Eduardo Arocho.

Pilsen Murals, Walking Tour

10:30 a.m.

Walk with poet and multidisciplinary artist Luis Tubens to experience the public art of Pilsen on railroad viaducts, buildings, and doors that show an evolution of the community’s Mexican identity, heritage, and activism.

Old Town, Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

On this tour, explore stories of recovery from the 1871 Great Chicago Fire and the neighborhood as the center of Chicago bohemianism in the 1960s and 1970s.

Gold Coast, Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

Whisk away to a time when Chicago’s rich and famous caroused on the coast.

Sheffield Stroll, Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

Stroll past Victorian architecture and sites of Hollywood films while exploring the history of the Sheffield/DePaul neighborhood.

Bronzeville, Walking Tour

Member Event | Chicago History Podcast LIVE!

11:00 a.m.

Author and historian Bernard Turner leads this walking tour that highlights Chicago’s most influential African Americans and their contributions to the city.

Event, Members

6:00–7:30 p.m.

CHM members are invited to an exclusive live recording of a Chicago History Podcast episode with host Tommy Henry.

Educator Program

Educator Workshop | Twenty Years of Change in Chicago: 1963–83

9:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Designed for middle and high school teachers, this hands-on session explores activism for social change.

Event

Aquí en Chicago: Project Kickoff and Community Gathering

6:00–8:00 p.m.

Get acquainted with Aquí en Chicago, our forthcoming project and exhibition opening in 2025.

August 2023

Humboldt Park, Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

Explore this iconic West Side neighborhood with professional guide and local resident Eduardo Arocho.

hyde park, Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

Teaching artist Juarez Hawkins leads this lively historical tour of the murals along the Metra underpasses linking Hyde Park Boulevard and Cornell Avenue.

Old Town, Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

On this tour, explore stories of recovery from the 1871 Great Chicago Fire and the neighborhood as the center of Chicago bohemianism in the 1960s and 1970s.

Gold Coast, Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

Whisk away to a time when Chicago’s rich and famous caroused on the coast.

Bronzeville, Walking Tour

11:00 a.m.

Author and historian Bernard Turner leads this walking tour that highlights Chicago’s most influential African Americans and their contributions to the city.

hyde park, Walking Tour

Member Event | Coffee with a Curator

10:00 a.m.

Teaching artist Juarez Hawkins leads this lively historical tour of the murals along the Metra underpasses linking Hyde Park Boulevard and Cornell Avenue.

Event, Members

10:30–11:30 a.m.

Members are invited to enjoy a free drink from the North & Clark Café and chat with CHM curator Elena Gonzales.

Gold Coast, Walking Tour

10:00 a.m.

Whisk away to a time when Chicago’s rich and famous caroused on the coast.

Sheffield Stroll, Walking Tour