Today marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans voiced their demand for a healthy, sustainable environment in massive coast-to-coast rallies. In Chicago, thousands gathered in Civic Center Plaza (now the Richard J. Daley Center) and colleges, universities, and schools held demonstrations, protests, and talks opposing the deterioration of the environment. Peruse images from our Chicago Sun-Times Photo Collection of Earth Day’s inaugural year in Chicago. Explore photos.

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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 now at 1601 N. Clark Street in Lincoln Park, its third location. As 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. To share Chicago stories, the Museum collects and preserves millions of artifacts, documents, images and other items that are relevant to the city’s history. The Museum gratefully acknowledges the support of the Chicago Park District on behalf of the people of Chicago.