Chicago History Museum

Curator-Led Gallery Tour of “Aquí en Chicago”
2026-02-10 13:45 - 14:45, 2026-02-16 13:45 - 14:45, 2026-02-27 13:45 - 14:45 (America/Chicago) | Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL, 60614, United States
Chicago has been home to Latino/a/e communities since the 1800s. Their descendants have actively carried on and protected Latino/a/e cultural heritages and traditions. Today they stand firm in the face of systems and policies of oppression and remain Here in Chicago—Aquí en Chicago.
Join us for a curator-led tour of our newest exhibition, Aquí en Chicago, as a part of your visit to the Chicago History Museum. Learn more about Chicago’s Latino/a/e communities and their histories in the city, starting with the earliest arrivals in the late 1800s, all through the lens of experts who curated this groundbreaking exhibition! This tour will be in English.
Meet at the entrance of Aquí en Chicago.
Included with general admission. RSVP required.

Commemorative Day | Presidents’ Day
2026-02-16 11:00 - 15:00 | Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL, 60614, United States
In 2026, the Chicago History Museum is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence by asking questions about our nation’s democracy in progress. All of our commemorative days will center questions of civic engagement and democracy in action.
This Presidents’ Day, we’re focusing on how you can become a more engaged community member. Through a variety of interactive activities, learn new ways to create a stronger community and engage one another through conversation and action to promote positive social change. Be sure to check out our US at 250 installations in the lobby!
Included with admission, which is FREE for Illinois residents on this day.
Schedule
11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
The Art of Leadership
Campaign buttons and signs have a long history of successfully—and sometimes unsuccessfully—promoting political campaigns. Make your own campaign buttons and signs and show your friends and family why you would make a great leader!
Writing for Change: Letters to the President
Calling and writing to your elected officials is an important way to make your voice heard. Whether you want to see change or to celebrate successes, politicians need to hear from their constituents like you! Join other CHM visitors and write a letter to President Donald J. Trump. Afterward, all letters will be mailed to the White House.
Community Response Activity: “If I Were President . . .”
If you were president, what would you do for the nation’s people? What policies would you implement to make life better for everyone? What sorts of actions help us all achieve “a more perfect union”? For this activity, you’ll respond to these questions and more on a public whiteboard for others to read, support, and find inspiration. Share your ideas with others about how we can achieve “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” for all!
1:00–2:00 p.m.
Interactive Workshop: “What Matters Most to You? Unlocking Your Civic Journey”
Led by the Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement (IPCE) at the University of Illinois Chicago, this workshop is a unique opportunity to learn more about civic engagement, find your civic voice, and understand the impact individuals have in shaping their futures and our communities. Through small group conversations and a civic engagement activity, learn why civic learning and democratic education are important and how they can lead to civic action.

Partner Event | Dave Truitt Film Series - “Phunny Business: A Black Comedy”
2026-02-21 12:30 - 15:00 | Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL, 60614, United States
Join us for a free screening of Phunny Business: A Black Comedy, followed by a panel discussion moderated by Jeanne Sparrow featuring:

John Davies, director
Raymond Lambert, producer
Knowledge Beckom, comedy promoter

Phunny Business: A Black Comedy chronicles the rise and fall of the South Side Chicago based club All Jokes Aside™, which for a decade, was the preeminent Black Comic showcase in the United States. This mostly unheralded “star factory” impacted US pop culture in a huge way, giving early exposure and early paychecks to major talent. The artists haven’t forgotten “the best little club no one ever heard of” and have been sitting down in front of our cameras to share their memories and relive the glory days of All Jokes Aside™. Using stills, archival performance footage and interviews, Phunny Business: A Black Comedy chronicles the rise and fall of All Jokes Aside™ and salutes the legendary showcase for its major contribution to comedy history.
Free; RSVP required.
The screening of the documentary Phunny Business: A Black Comedy is underwritten by the DAVE TRUITT Historical Documentary Series.
Questions? Contact Eric Miller, development coordinator, at miller@chicagohistory.org or (312) 799-2110.

Partner Event | Day of Remembrance
2026-02-22 14:00 - 15:30 | Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL, 60614, United States
Full Spectrum Features’ latest short docudrama, Enough, will be featured at Chicago’s Day of Remembrance 2026, an annual gathering that marks the signing of Executive Order 9066 and honors the many generations shaped by Japanese American incarceration. Rooted in the decades-long history of the Japanese American Redress Movement—from the lead-up to the 1981 Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWRIC) hearings through the passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988—the film turns to community memory and testimony to ask what it takes to confront harm honestly and pursue repair over time.
Following the screening, a panel of community members and practitioners will reflect on how the legacies of Redress speak to present-day struggles around state violence, surveillance, and displacement:

Rebecca Ozaki – Yonsei, granddaughter of a CWRIC testifier
Mary Samson – Sansei, Redress organizer
Dr. Britt Dantley – family therapist and clinician
Brian Tee – director and actor
Scott Sakiyama – attorney and anti-ICE advocate

Together, they will consider how practices of storytelling, accountability, and care can interrupt repeating patterns of removal and state violence—both within families and across communities.
The program invites attendees to think with the panel about what “enough” looks like when it comes to justice: How do we honor the labor of those who fought for Redress while recognizing what remains unfinished? How can we speak with urgency about current harms without losing sight of the slow work of healing across generations? A guided discussion will offer space for reflection, questions, and shared commitments to ongoing community care.
This program is free and open to the public. Doors will open at 1:00 pm, and a brief reception will follow the program from 3:30—4:00 pm. Due to limited seating, advanced registration is highly encouraged.
This event is sponsored by Full Spectrum Features, Chicago Japanese American Council, Japanese American Citizens League – Chicago Chapter, Chicago Japanese American Historical Society, Japanese Mutual Aid Society of Chicago, and Japanese American Service Committee.
Schedule
1:00 p.m. – Doors open
2:00 p.m. – Program
3:30 p.m. – Reception (water, coffee, tea)
4:00 p.m. – Event concludes
About the Film
Enough intertwines the journeys of two determined young women, separated by time but united by purpose: Ashley, a biracial student frustrated by the societal controversies and erasure of racial justice efforts in the present day, and Erika, a Japanese American teenager in 1981 whose father, Brian Takakura (played by Tee), a reserved and reluctant attorney, is drawn into a landmark reparations hearing for World War II incarceration survivors.
As Ashley discovers Erika’s story in the archives of her school library, she is pulled into a forgotten past—where the Japanese American community, fractured by differing strategies and scars, comes together in a last push for redress. With pressure mounting from younger activists, traditional community leaders, and his own daughter, Brian must decide whether to speak from legal logic or personal truth. What follows is a powerful reckoning: revealing the lingering trauma of incarceration, the generational cost of silence, and the courage it takes to break it.
Content Advisory: This film has dialogue that references alcoholism and domestic violence.

Commemorative Day | Black History Month
2026-02-28 11:00 - 15:00 | Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL, 60614, United States
Celebrate Black History Month in the city where it started! As we look forward to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we lift up the history of African Americans who have had a vital hand in forming this nation.
Included with admission.
Schedule
11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Button Making for Social Change
Create your own buttons to celebrate Black History Month and wear them proudly inside and outside the museum! Draw images of important people and moments in African American history or show your support for a cause that matters to you today!
Designing for Protest: Make Your Own Protest Sign
Chicago has a long history of protest and civic action. We also have a powerful history of activism for and by the city’s Black community. Ida B. Wells fought for African American representation in the suffragist movement. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and his colleagues fought against housing discrimination. And this activism continues today to fight injustice in all corners of the city. Come create your own protest sign to let those around you know what matters to you!
1:00–2:00 p.m. – Musical Performance: Zion Ali
Music has long served as a vehicle for social change. Join us with a performance by young Chicago singer Zion Ali as he delivers an uplifting and high-energy performance that blends powerful vocals, storytelling, and audience engagement centered around youth empowerment, perseverance, and community. The performance will be followed by a Q&A session where audience members can learn more about Ali and his use of music to connect with community.

Member Event | Conservation Chat
2026-03-05 14:00 - 15:00 | Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL, 60614, United States
CHM members are invited to an exclusive talk with Julie Benner, assistant conservator for costume and textiles, and Michael Hall, costume mount maker, about Museum conservation projects and industry practices. An informal Q&A will follow the discussion.
Free; RSVP required.

Partner Event | Exploring the Archives: Chicago History Museum
2026-03-07 11:00 | Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL, 60614, United States

Curator-Led Gallery Tour of “Aquí en Chicago“: Women’s History Month Edition
2026-03-07 14:00 - 14:45 | Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL, 60614, United States
Chicago has been home to Latino/a/e communities since the 1800s. Their descendants have actively carried on and protected Latino/a/e cultural heritages and traditions. Today they stand firm in the face of systems and policies of oppression and remain Here in Chicago—Aquí en Chicago.
Join Elena Gonzales, curator of civic engagement & social justice, for our women’s history tour of Aquí en Chicago to learn more about the remarkable Latinas in the exhibition and some of the many forms of Latina identity. And remember, women’s history is for everyone!
Meet at the entrance of Aquí en Chicago.
Included with general admission; RSVP required.

The Guild Presents | Women of "Aquí en Chicago"
2026-03-10 17:00 - 19:00 | Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL, 60614, United States
Presented in partnership with the International Women’s Forum, the Guild of the Chicago History Museum invites you to an exclusive behind-the-scenes evening in celebration of Women’s History Month.
Did you know that nearly one-third of Chicago’s residents are Latino/a/e? Come explore the rich history and impact of this vibrant community through the Chicago History Museum’s newest exhibition, Aquí en Chicago.
After a self-guided walk through the gallery, join us for a presentation with CHM curator of civic engagement and social justice Elena Gonzales sharing stories of the remarkable women featured in Aquí en Chicago. The evening concludes with a reception.
$50 per ticket.
Schedule
4:00 p.m. – Aquí en Chicago open for self-guided exploration
5:00 p.m. – Doors open – Drinks Served
5:30 p.m. – Presentation begins
6:15 p.m. – Reception begins – Drinks & Heavy Hors d’oeuvres
7:00 p.m. – Evening concludes
Underwriting opportunities are available. Contact Darcy Evon, Guild 4th Vice President Development, at darcyevon@gmail.com for more information.
Thank You to Our Underwriters
Darcy Evon
Catherine Grahn
As of January 15, 2026

The Costume Council Presents | A Fascinating Evening with Kokin: Milliner to the Stars and Legends in their Own Minds
2026-03-19 18:00 - 21:00 | The Fortnightly of Chicago, 120 E. Bellevue Place, Chicago, IL, 60611
The Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum invites you to join them for a stylish and story-filled evening celebrating internationally acclaimed hat designer Kokin, whose designs have crowned some of the most iconic moments in Clueless, Pretty Woman , Sex and the City, Dr. T & the Women, and more.
Guests will enjoy a curated hat fashion show, followed by an intimate Q&A with Kokin—and the opportunity to purchase his designs during the event. 10% of all proceeds will benefit The Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum.
Expect an evening that’s equal parts fascinating, captivating, and impeccably crowned.
$125; $100 Costume Council members. Costume Council members are limited to 5 tickets.

Artist Talk | Vida Sačić
2026-03-19 19:00 - 20:30 | Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL, 60614, United States
Join us for a talk by Chicago-based artist Vida Sačić on her work as a visual artist, educator, and the ways she grounds her work in lived experience.
Hear about her installation, Self-Evident: A Letterpress Exploration of the Declaration of Independence, currently on view at the Museum, which features immigrant responses to language drawn from the Declaration of Independence. She will discuss the project’s conceptual framework and material processes, exploring how letterpress printing, historical typography, and contemporary voices intersect in the work. The talk will also reflect on themes of immigration, authorship, collective narrative, and print as both a historical and living medium.
Prior to her talk, be sure to view Self-Evident in our main lobby. This work is the first of four installations in 2026 celebrating US at 250: Civic Action in Chicago featuring works by Chicago artists that respond to four founding documents of the United States: the Declaration of Independence, US Constitution, Northwest Ordinance, and the Thirteenth Amendment.
Free and open to the public. RSVP requested.

Commemorative Day | Women’s History Month
2026-03-28 11:00 - 15:00 | Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL, 60614, United States
As we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence this year, we at the Chicago History Museum are centering civic action and what it takes to build and maintain democracy all year long. There are many ways we all fight for a better world, including using the arts to make statements and fight for change.
March is Women’s History Month. This year at CHM, we’re taking this time to think more critically about the history of women making change through the arts. Join us for a day of hands-on arts-making celebrating women in history and in our own lives. Then join us in the afternoon for a dual performance of two fabulous Chicago singers, Amy Lowe and Shawn Christopher, as they sing us all into action!
Included with general admission.
Schedule
11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Button Making for Social Change
Create your own buttons to honor Women’s History Month and wear them proudly inside and outside the museum. Draw images of important people and moments in women’s history or show your support for a cause that matters to you today! Great for all ages!
Designing for Protest: Make Your Own Protest Sign
Chicago has a long history of protest and civic action. Figures like Ida B. Wells, Jane Addams, Lucy Parsons, and Pearl Hart all engaged in civic action both in public and behind the scenes.
Show your support for the history of women’s activism by making your own protest sign. See some examples of feminist artivism (activism + art) in our exhibition Designing for Change: Chicago Protest Art of the 1960s–70s and then come design your own protest art to let others know what matters to you!
12:00–1:00 p.m.
Hands-On Relief Printing Workshop with Vida Sačić
Design your own simple typographic compositions using foam and cardboard backing, then experiment with hand-printing techniques to produce your own prints. Learn about foundational ideas in typography and relief printmaking in an accessible and tactile way to create and print your own message.
This workshop is led by artist Vida Sačić, whose current work is featured in the US at 250: Civic Action in Chicago art installation in our main lobby.
This workshop is designed with youth and adults alike in mind. Participants of all ages are encouraged to join.
1:00–3:00 p.m.
Music Making Change: Amy Lowe and Shawn Christopher
Celebrate women making change through the arts with back-to-back performances by two amazing musical performers, Amy Lowe and Shawn Christopher. A fun time for people of all ages!

Educator Workshop | Lifting Student Voices in the Classroom and Beyond
2026-04-11 09:30 - 12:30 | Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL, 60614, United States
In 2019, educator Anton Miglietta brought his students from Instituto Justice and Leadership Academy in Pilsen to CHM on a field trip. What they experienced was a harmful lack of Latino/a/e representation in the Museum’s exhibitions. The students decided to demand accountability and change.
In this workshop, Miglietta describes how his students’ protest led to our exhibition Aquí en Chicago and the profound impact it had on his teaching. Miglietta champions lifting student voice and choice in curriculum and will share practical resources and strategies to use in your own classroom.
Free; advance reservations required. Recommended for teachers of grades 6–12. 3 PD hours.

Member Event | Author Talk - "Clout City" with Dominic Pacyga
2026-04-15 14:00 - 15:00 | Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL, 60614, United States
CHM members are invited to an exclusive talk with historian Dominic Pacyga on his newest book, Clout City: The Rise and Fall of the Chicago Political Machine. A Q&A will follow the discussion.
Free; RSVP required.

Partner Event | Chicago Interfaith Trolley Tour
2026-04-26 13:00 - 17:30 | IL

Partner Event | Dave Truitt Film Series - “Holding Pattern”
2026-06-13 12:30 - 15:00 | Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL, 60614, United States
In the late 1960s, a massive third Chicagoland airport was proposed on land occupied by cornfields and farmhouses in Chicago’s rural south exurbs. Despite millions of dollars and more than 30 years of planning, this airport has yet to materialize. The proposal itself has created deep divisions in the region. One side perceives the airport as an anchor to its much needed economic salvation. The other views it as an engine of urban sprawl and the destruction to their way of life.
Join us for the world premiere of the documentary film, Holding Pattern, which explores this divisive issue through the stories of four believers—two airport supporters and two of its strongest opponents.
Free; RSVP required.
The screening of the documentary Holding Pattern is underwritten by the DAVE TRUITT Historical Documentary Series.
Questions? Contact Eric Miller, development coordinator, at miller@chicagohistory.org or (312) 799-2110.
