BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Chicago History Museum - ECPv6.15.12.2//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-WR-CALNAME:Chicago History Museum
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.chicagohistory.org
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Chicago History Museum
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/Chicago
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0600
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:CDT
DTSTART:20250309T080000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0600
TZNAME:CST
DTSTART:20251102T070000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0600
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:CDT
DTSTART:20260308T080000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0600
TZNAME:CST
DTSTART:20261101T070000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0600
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:CDT
DTSTART:20270314T080000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0600
TZNAME:CST
DTSTART:20271107T070000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260806T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260806T200000
DTSTAMP:20260807T182659
CREATED:20260430T185647Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260804T184937Z
UID:10000589-1786041000-1786046400@www.chicagohistory.org
SUMMARY:Author Talk | Chris Serb - "Eckie: Walter Eckersall and the Rise of Chicago Sports"
DESCRIPTION:Join us for an evening with Chicago author Chris Serb as he discusses his recent book Eckie: Walter Eckersall and the Rise of Chicago Sports (2025). Eckersall was an on-field football superstar whose athletics\, sports journalism\, and advocacy for Black athletes\, long before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier\, all set the stage for impacting the relationship between sport and society that we see today. \n$25; $20 members. \nThis program is part of CHM’s US at 250: Civic Action in Chicago efforts. Serb’s talk will include discussions of the ways Eckersall and sports generally can serve as vehicles for social change.  \n 
URL:https://www.chicagohistory.org/event/author-talk-chris-serb-eckie-walter-eckersall-and-the-rise-of-chicago-sports/
LOCATION:Chicago History Museum\, 1601 N. Clark St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60614\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2026/04/SDN-004921_pm.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260802T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260802T133000
DTSTAMP:20260807T182659
CREATED:20260513T193622Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T193622Z
UID:10000610-1785672000-1785677400@www.chicagohistory.org
SUMMARY:Walking Tour | Lincoln Park's Lost History
DESCRIPTION:From 1843 until the late mid-1860s\, what is now Lincoln Park and the Lincoln Park Zoo was the Chicago City Cemetery. After the park was named for Abraham Lincoln after his assassination\, graves were moved to more distant cemeteries\, but evidence of the cemetery’s past remains. On this walking tour guide and researcher Tony Szabelski\, explore the park’s history from the Couch Tomb to the tragic deaths along the High Bridge and the site of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. \nContent warning: Discussion of death by suicide in association with the High Bridge. \n$25; $22.50 members \nTour runs about 90 minutes\, begins at the Chicago History Museum\, and ends at 2122 N. Clark St. \nTour also includes free admission to the Chicago History Museum\, good for one week from tour date. \nMasks are optional for our outdoor walking tours. Learn more about our COVID-19 safety policies and procedures.c
URL:https://www.chicagohistory.org/event/walking-tour-lincoln-parks-lost-history-8-2-26/
LOCATION:Chicago History Museum\, 1601 N. Clark St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60614\, United States
CATEGORIES:City Tour,Walking Tour
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2025/04/Jaffee-History-Trail-Couch-Tomb_2022-for-feature.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260801T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260801T150000
DTSTAMP:20260807T182659
CREATED:20260522T213345Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260522T213345Z
UID:10000665-1785589200-1785596400@www.chicagohistory.org
SUMMARY:Film Screening | Birds Flying East (2024)
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://www.chicagohistory.org/event/film-screening-birds-flying-east/
LOCATION:Chicago History Museum\, 1601 N. Clark St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60614\, United States
CATEGORIES:Film Screening,Partner Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2026/05/SS26_BirdsFlyingEast_1200x600-1536x768-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260801T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260801T120000
DTSTAMP:20260807T182659
CREATED:20260513T201319Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T201319Z
UID:10000651-1785578400-1785585600@www.chicagohistory.org
SUMMARY:Walking Tour | Glitterati on the Gold Coast
DESCRIPTION:As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence\, we’re also taking time to consider the ways people in the United States practice democracy through civic action\, including by making art\, establishing community\, and cultural expression. \nJoin a CHM History Buff volunteer guide and whisk away to a time when Chicago’s rich and famous caroused on the coast. “Gold Coast” refers to a stretch of expensive lakefront property occupied by the city’s wealthiest residents. Before the opening of the Michigan Avenue Bridge (now DuSable Bridge) in 1920\, it was isolated from the downtown business district and home to only a few wealthy families\, such as the McCormicks\, Palmers\, and Ryersons. \nThe area soon became the heart of the upper crust of Chicago society. Sociologist Harvey Warren Zorbaugh\, who claimed that college boys returning from the East Coast dubbed the area the “Gold Coast\,” immortalized it in his book The Gold Coast and the Slum: A Sociological Study of Chicago’s Near North Side (University of Chicago Press\, 1929; reprint 1983). The density of wealth in the Gold Coast buffered it against the deterioration that threatened other portions of the North Side in the 1950s. \nGaze at ornate architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan\, step onto a rare wood-block alleyway\, and take in Chicago’s early mansions\, including the Archbishop’s Residence. \n$25\, $22.50 members  \nTour runs 1.5 to 2 hours. Meet at the Chicago History Museum. \nTour also includes free admission to the Chicago History Museum\, good for one week from tour date. \nMasks are optional for our outdoor walking tours. Learn more about our COVID-19 safety policies and procedures.
URL:https://www.chicagohistory.org/event/walking-tour-glitterati-on-the-gold-coast-8-1-26/
LOCATION:Chicago History Museum\, 1601 N. Clark St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60614\, United States
CATEGORIES:City Tour,Walking Tour
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2023/06/Walking-Tour-Gold-Coast-architecture.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260725T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260725T150000
DTSTAMP:20260807T182659
CREATED:20260522T212244Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260522T212244Z
UID:10000664-1784984400-1784991600@www.chicagohistory.org
SUMMARY:Film Screening | The Frog and the Water (2025)
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://www.chicagohistory.org/event/film-screening-the-frog-and-the-water/
LOCATION:Chicago History Museum\, 1601 N. Clark St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60614\, United States
CATEGORIES:Film Screening,Partner Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2026/05/SS26_TheFrogandtheWater_1200x600-1536x768-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260725T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260725T120000
DTSTAMP:20260807T182659
CREATED:20260513T192628Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T192628Z
UID:10000650-1784973600-1784980800@www.chicagohistory.org
SUMMARY:Walking Tour | Glitterati on the Gold Coast
DESCRIPTION:As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence\, we’re also taking time to consider the ways people in the United States practice democracy through civic action\, including by making art\, establishing community\, and cultural expression. \nJoin a CHM History Buff volunteer guide and whisk away to a time when Chicago’s rich and famous caroused on the coast. “Gold Coast” refers to a stretch of expensive lakefront property occupied by the city’s wealthiest residents. Before the opening of the Michigan Avenue Bridge (now DuSable Bridge) in 1920\, it was isolated from the downtown business district and home to only a few wealthy families\, such as the McCormicks\, Palmers\, and Ryersons. \nThe area soon became the heart of the upper crust of Chicago society. Sociologist Harvey Warren Zorbaugh\, who claimed that college boys returning from the East Coast dubbed the area the “Gold Coast\,” immortalized it in his book The Gold Coast and the Slum: A Sociological Study of Chicago’s Near North Side (University of Chicago Press\, 1929; reprint 1983). The density of wealth in the Gold Coast buffered it against the deterioration that threatened other portions of the North Side in the 1950s. \nGaze at ornate architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan\, step onto a rare wood-block alleyway\, and take in Chicago’s early mansions\, including the Archbishop’s Residence. \n$25\, $22.50 members  \nTour runs 1.5 to 2 hours. Meet at the Chicago History Museum. \nTour also includes free admission to the Chicago History Museum\, good for one week from tour date. \nMasks are optional for our outdoor walking tours. Learn more about our COVID-19 safety policies and procedures.
URL:https://www.chicagohistory.org/event/walking-tour-glitterati-on-the-gold-coast-7-25-26/
LOCATION:Chicago History Museum\, 1601 N. Clark St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60614\, United States
CATEGORIES:City Tour,Walking Tour
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2023/06/Walking-Tour-Gold-Coast-architecture.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260721T203000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260721T221500
DTSTAMP:20260807T182659
CREATED:20260518T151323Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260522T212417Z
UID:10000660-1784665800-1784672100@www.chicagohistory.org
SUMMARY:Movies in the Parks | The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks (2022)
DESCRIPTION:As we commemorate 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence at CHM\, we are asking questions about our nation’s democracy in progress. Are all people in our city equal? What happens when workers\, people of color stand up for their rights? How do we honor the Indigenous stewards of the land we now call Chicago? What can we do to create a “more perfect union” today in Chicago and the United States? \nJoin us as we explore these questions and more with a screening of The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks (2022\, dirs. Johanna Hamilton and Yoruba Richen). Best known for her refusal to give up her bus seat in Montgomery\, Alabama as an act of defiance in 1955\, sparking the Montgomery bus boycott\, Rosa Parks continued her civic action throughout her life and has inspired generations of people committed to racial justice. \nAll Movies in the Parks screenings are free and open to the public and are provided in partnership with the Chicago Park District. Closed captioned. All films begin shortly after sunset. This film is estimated to begin at 8:30 PM and has a runtime of 96 minutes.
URL:https://www.chicagohistory.org/event/movies-in-the-parks-rebellious-life-of-mrs-rosa-parks/
LOCATION:Chicago History Museum\, 1601 N. Clark St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60614\, United States
CATEGORIES:Film Screening,Free Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2026/05/Rosa-Parks.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260718T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260718T120000
DTSTAMP:20260807T182659
CREATED:20260513T192509Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T192509Z
UID:10000649-1784368800-1784376000@www.chicagohistory.org
SUMMARY:Walking Tour | Glitterati on the Gold Coast
DESCRIPTION:As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence\, we’re also taking time to consider the ways people in the United States practice democracy through civic action\, including by making art\, establishing community\, and cultural expression. \nJoin a CHM History Buff volunteer guide and whisk away to a time when Chicago’s rich and famous caroused on the coast. “Gold Coast” refers to a stretch of expensive lakefront property occupied by the city’s wealthiest residents. Before the opening of the Michigan Avenue Bridge (now DuSable Bridge) in 1920\, it was isolated from the downtown business district and home to only a few wealthy families\, such as the McCormicks\, Palmers\, and Ryersons. \nThe area soon became the heart of the upper crust of Chicago society. Sociologist Harvey Warren Zorbaugh\, who claimed that college boys returning from the East Coast dubbed the area the “Gold Coast\,” immortalized it in his book The Gold Coast and the Slum: A Sociological Study of Chicago’s Near North Side (University of Chicago Press\, 1929; reprint 1983). The density of wealth in the Gold Coast buffered it against the deterioration that threatened other portions of the North Side in the 1950s. \nGaze at ornate architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan\, step onto a rare wood-block alleyway\, and take in Chicago’s early mansions\, including the Archbishop’s Residence. \n$25\, $22.50 members  \nTour runs 1.5 to 2 hours. Meet at the Chicago History Museum. \nTour also includes free admission to the Chicago History Museum\, good for one week from tour date. \nMasks are optional for our outdoor walking tours. Learn more about our COVID-19 safety policies and procedures.
URL:https://www.chicagohistory.org/event/walking-tour-glitterati-on-the-gold-coast-7-18-26/
LOCATION:Chicago History Museum\, 1601 N. Clark St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60614\, United States
CATEGORIES:City Tour,Walking Tour
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2023/06/Walking-Tour-Gold-Coast-architecture.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260718T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260718T120000
DTSTAMP:20260807T182659
CREATED:20260513T132347Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T132347Z
UID:10000635-1784368800-1784376000@www.chicagohistory.org
SUMMARY:Walking Tour | Historic Old Town
DESCRIPTION:As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence\, we’re also taking time to consider the ways people in the United States practice democracy through civic action\, including by making art\, establishing community\, and cultural expression \nThe Chicago History Museum sits on the edge of Old Town\, a neighborhood rich in history. The Chicago area was home to the Potawatomi\, whose villages were built on these lands. After they were forcibly removed\, German farmers settled there to make their homes. Since then\, it has served as an enclave for Puerto Rican migrants\, a home to the first gay rights organization in the US\, as well a vibrant arts scene. \nJoin CHM volunteer Carol Fitzgibbons to explore stories of recovery from the 1871 Great Chicago Fire and the neighborhood as the center of Chicago bohemianism in the 1960s and ’70s. Highlights include a post-Fire shelter cottage\, the Midwest Buddhist Temple\, numerous historic residences\, and St. Michael’s Church\, one of only seven buildings to survive the fire. \n$25\, $22.50 members  \nTour runs 1.5 to 2 hours. Meet at the Chicago History Museum.  \nTour also includes free admission to the Chicago History Museum\, good for one week from tour date. \nMasks are optional for our outdoor walking tours. Learn more about our COVID-19 safety policies and procedures.  
URL:https://www.chicagohistory.org/event/walking-tour-historic-old-town-7-18-26/
LOCATION:Chicago History Museum\, 1601 N. Clark St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60614\, United States
CATEGORIES:City Tour,Walking Tour
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2023/06/Walking-Tour-Old-Town-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260711T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260711T143000
DTSTAMP:20260807T182659
CREATED:20260522T211430Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260522T211924Z
UID:10000663-1783774800-1783780200@www.chicagohistory.org
SUMMARY:Film Screening | Portrait of a Certain Orient (2024)
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://www.chicagohistory.org/event/film-screening-portrait-of-a-certain-orient/
LOCATION:Chicago History Museum\, 1601 N. Clark St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60614\, United States
CATEGORIES:Film Screening,Partner Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2026/05/SS26_PortraitofaCertainOrient_1200x600-1536x768-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260711T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260711T120000
DTSTAMP:20260807T182659
CREATED:20260513T192408Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T192408Z
UID:10000648-1783764000-1783771200@www.chicagohistory.org
SUMMARY:Walking Tour | Glitterati on the Gold Coast
DESCRIPTION:As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence\, we’re also taking time to consider the ways people in the United States practice democracy through civic action\, including by making art\, establishing community\, and cultural expression. \nJoin a CHM History Buff volunteer guide and whisk away to a time when Chicago’s rich and famous caroused on the coast. “Gold Coast” refers to a stretch of expensive lakefront property occupied by the city’s wealthiest residents. Before the opening of the Michigan Avenue Bridge (now DuSable Bridge) in 1920\, it was isolated from the downtown business district and home to only a few wealthy families\, such as the McCormicks\, Palmers\, and Ryersons. \nThe area soon became the heart of the upper crust of Chicago society. Sociologist Harvey Warren Zorbaugh\, who claimed that college boys returning from the East Coast dubbed the area the “Gold Coast\,” immortalized it in his book The Gold Coast and the Slum: A Sociological Study of Chicago’s Near North Side (University of Chicago Press\, 1929; reprint 1983). The density of wealth in the Gold Coast buffered it against the deterioration that threatened other portions of the North Side in the 1950s. \nGaze at ornate architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan\, step onto a rare wood-block alleyway\, and take in Chicago’s early mansions\, including the Archbishop’s Residence. \n$25\, $22.50 members  \nTour runs 1.5 to 2 hours. Meet at the Chicago History Museum. \nTour also includes free admission to the Chicago History Museum\, good for one week from tour date. \nMasks are optional for our outdoor walking tours. Learn more about our COVID-19 safety policies and procedures.
URL:https://www.chicagohistory.org/event/walking-tour-glitterati-on-the-gold-coast-7-11-26/
LOCATION:Chicago History Museum\, 1601 N. Clark St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60614\, United States
CATEGORIES:City Tour,Walking Tour
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2023/06/Walking-Tour-Gold-Coast-architecture.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260704T183000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260704T193000
DTSTAMP:20260807T182659
CREATED:20260617T193616Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260625T163900Z
UID:10000677-1783189800-1783193400@www.chicagohistory.org
SUMMARY:Americana Concert Band Performance
DESCRIPTION:The Americana Concert Band returns to the Chicago History Museum for a free outdoor concert featuring patriotic favorites and an inspiring spoken-word performance by an Abraham Lincoln reenactor. Seating will be available on the Museum plaza\, and guests are also welcome to bring lawn chairs or blankets and relax in the park. After the concert\, take a short stroll to North Avenue Beach and cap off the evening with the city’s popular Navy Pier fireworks display. \nFree; RSVP requested. Museum will be open for bathroom access.  \nSpecial Thanks to our Independence Day Sponsors\nKate and Gil Arias\nThe Guild of the Chicago History Museum\nHelen Melchoir\nMusic Performance Trust Fund \n  
URL:https://www.chicagohistory.org/event/americana-concert-band-performance/
LOCATION:Chicago History Museum\, 1601 N. Clark St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60614\, United States
CATEGORIES:Free Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2026/06/Americana-Band.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260704T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260704T140000
DTSTAMP:20260807T182659
CREATED:20260615T200155Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260630T153633Z
UID:10000676-1783159200-1783173600@www.chicagohistory.org
SUMMARY:Civic Season 2026 | Independence Day – July 4
DESCRIPTION:The Chicago History Museum collaborates with local community leaders\, artists\, and youth to set the stage every summer for Civic Season in partnership with Made By Us. Instead of a single commemorative event on Independence Day\, our programming starts Juneteenth and continues with Civic Saturdays all leading toward our final program on Independence Day. \nIncluded with general admission\, which is FREE for Illinois residents on this day. \n  \n10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. – Arts and Crafts for Social Change  \nChicago has a long history of protest and civic action. Come contribute to this history by making your own art to let the public know what matters to you. There will be button making\, protest sign making\, and even a chance to write letters to local\, state\, and even federal elected officials! 2nd floor\, Elizabeth Morse Genius Room \nThen\, show off your patriotic spirit and come get your face painted by Party Picasso and Face Painting by Valery with Independence Day-themed designs! \n  \n10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. – Fun in the Sun Outdoor Activities \nJoin us for family-friendly games to kick the day off right! Great for young children and adults alike. Outdoor plaza\, east side of Museum \n  \n10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. – Reopening of Facing Freedom \nAs part of our US at 250 celebrations this year\, we’ve updated our longstanding exhibition Facing Freedom! Come explore this powerful exhibition that explores Chicago’s and the nation’s past\, asking the question: What can we do for freedom? 1st floor\, Facing Freedom \nWhile you explore the gallery\, join our museum educators for fun activities helping you consider the ways you can fight for freedom in your own lives and communities. \n  \n10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. – Our 250th Wish Wall \nWhat is your wish for the nation’s future? Across the nation\, hundreds of communities in partnership with Made by Us are hosting Wish Walls to invite visions for our nation’s future. Let others know your wish by leaving a message on CHM’s digital Wish Wall. 1st floor\, Guild Gallery \n  \n11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. – Art as Civic Action | Arts Making with Chava Mancera \nWant to have your voice heard through art? What would you like political leaders to know your wishes for the nation’s birthday? Join Chava Mancera to create artistic responses celebrate the holiday and advocate for an even better future! 1st floor\, Holleb Learning Center \n  \n11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. – Freedom Song Sing-Along with Lenny Marsh and Friends \nMusic has long been used to unite people. Connect with your fellow Chicagoans through songs of freedom led by Lenny Marsh and Friends! 2nd floor\, Morse Genius Chicago Room \n  \n12:00–2:00 p.m. – Poems While You Wait  \nCome get your own\, unique poem typed in 10–15 minutes typed by a professional poet on a typewriter right in before your eyes! All poems are free and can be of any topic\, especially those related to civic engagement\, independence\, and justice for all. 2nd floor\, Jo Baskin Minow Balcony Gallery \nPoems While You Wait supports Rose Metal Press\, a 501(c)3 non-profit independent publisher of literary hybrid genres specializing in flash fiction and nonfiction; prose poetry; novels-in-verse or book-length linked poems; and more! \n  \n1:00–2:00 p.m. – US at 250 Trivia \nWhat do you know about the nation’s history? Test your knowledge with trivia celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Individuals or small groups are welcome\, and there will be prizes for the top winners! 2nd floor\, Morse Genius Chicago Room
URL:https://www.chicagohistory.org/event/civic-season-2026-independence-day-july-4/
LOCATION:Chicago History Museum\, 1601 N. Clark St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60614\, United States
CATEGORIES:Civic Season
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot-2023-12-11-at-11.00.50-AM-scaled.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260703T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260703T200000
DTSTAMP:20260807T182659
CREATED:20260608T181109Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260625T162738Z
UID:10000672-1783101600-1783108800@www.chicagohistory.org
SUMMARY:Member Event | Preview of "Facing Freedom"
DESCRIPTION:CHM members are invited to an exclusive preview of the newly refreshed Facing Freedom exhibition before it opens to the public! \nThis reimagined permanent exhibition has been updated to include stories and perspectives that more fully reflect the diverse communities that have shaped our city and driven meaningful change. Be among the first to experience new interactive features and discover two brand-new stories that deepen and expand the exhibition’s impact. \nThe evening includes special presentations from key Museum staff who played a vital role in the refresh\, including Peter T. Alter\, the Gary T. Johnson Chief Historian and Director of the Studs Terkel Center for Oral History. Gain unique behind-the-scenes insights into the research\, collaboration\, and vision behind the exhibition’s transformation. \nGuests will have time to explore Facing Freedom and all Museum exhibitions\, enjoy refreshments\, and celebrate this special reopening with fellow members. \nFree for members; RSVP required. \nThank you to the Guild of the Chicago History Museum for sponsoring the refresh of Facing Freedom and making this event possible.
URL:https://www.chicagohistory.org/event/member-event-preview-of-facing-freedom/
LOCATION:Chicago History Museum\, 1601 N. Clark St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60614\, United States
CATEGORIES:Member Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2026/06/CHM_FacingFreedom_MemberPreview_WebBanner_1500x650_Opt1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260701T083000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260702T170000
DTSTAMP:20260807T182659
CREATED:20260526T152755Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260526T153147Z
UID:10000669-1782894600-1783011600@www.chicagohistory.org
SUMMARY:2026 NCSS TPS Methods Academy - Midwest
DESCRIPTION:The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) is proud to invite methods professors\, doctoral students\, and classroom teachers to a special free professional learning institute this summer! Educators will engage in inquiry using the C3 Framework and the Library of Congress’ digital primary sources at CHM on July 1‒2\, 2026. \nThe NCSS Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) Methods Academy Institute brings together social studies methods professors\, pre-service\, and in-service teachers to pilot chapters from the newly released set of methods texts\, Teaching with Primary Sources to Prepare Students for College\, Career\, and Civic Life. Participants will have the opportunity to join a cohort of educators to develop and publish model curriculum inquiries that can be adapted for their methods courses and classroom curricula\, using these free online texts and other Library of Congress resources. \n \nAgenda\nWednesday\, July 1 (8:30 a.m.‒5:00 p.m. CT): a high-level overview of the project\, introduction of sample chapters from the methods text for instructional use with pre-service teachers\, and in-depth how-to teach with primary sources for the Library of Congress using the online methods text under development \nThursday\, July 2 (8:30 a.m.‒5:00 p.m. CT): construct model curriculum inquiries using text chapters on how to teach with primary sources from the Library’s vast digital collections \nAttendees will:\n\nReceive an in-depth\, high-level overview of the published texts\nExplore the instructional use for curriculum integration\nConstruct social studies inquiries using digital primary sources from the Library of Congress\nGet a certificate of completion for your time
URL:https://www.chicagohistory.org/event/2026-ncss-tps-methods-academy-midwest/
LOCATION:Chicago History Museum\, 1601 N. Clark St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60614\, United States
CATEGORIES:Educator Workshop
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2017/09/Teachers-slide.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260627T130000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260627T143000
DTSTAMP:20260807T182659
CREATED:20260522T210916Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260522T211108Z
UID:10000662-1782565200-1782570600@www.chicagohistory.org
SUMMARY:Film Screening | The Three Urns (2026)
DESCRIPTION:
URL:https://www.chicagohistory.org/event/film-screening-the-three-urns/
LOCATION:Chicago History Museum\, 1601 N. Clark St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60614\, United States
CATEGORIES:Film Screening,Partner Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2026/05/SS26_TheThreeUrns_1200x600-1536x768-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260627T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260627T150000
DTSTAMP:20260807T182659
CREATED:20260615T195527Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260623T212858Z
UID:10000675-1782558000-1782572400@www.chicagohistory.org
SUMMARY:Civic Season 2026 | Civic Day - June 27
DESCRIPTION:The Chicago History Museum collaborates with local community leaders\, artists\, and youth to set the stage every summer for Civic Season in partnership with Made By Us. Instead of a single commemorative event on Independence Day\, our programming starts Juneteenth and continues with Civic Saturdays all leading toward our final program on Independence Day. \nIncluded with general admission\, which is FREE for Illinois residents on this day. \n  \n11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. – League of Women Voters\nWant to learn more about voting in Chicago? Need to register to vote in Illinois? Come speak with the amazing volunteers from League of Women Voters to talk more about the importance of voting and civic life and register to vote on-site! 2nd floor\, Jo Baskin Minow Balcony Gallery \n11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. – Hands-On History – Arts Activation with Chava Mancera\nCome make your own art with teaching artist Chava Mancera to celebrate civic action and the nation’s Latino/a/e communities! Share your creations with other visitors or take it home to impress your friends and family. 1st floor\, Holleb Learning Center \n11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. – Arts and Crafts for Social Change \nChicago has a long history of protest and civic action. Come contribute to this history by making your own art to let the public know what matters to you. There will be button making\, protest sign making\, and even a chance to write letters to local\, state\, and even federal elected officials! 1st floor\, Holleb Learning Center \n1:00–2:30 p.m. – “Corridos of the Semiquincentennial: Voice of Courage and Hope”\nThis musical storytelling project developed by Sones de México Ensemble honors eight national heroes through the creation and performance of eight new traditional Mexican corridos. Corridos are epic ballads and heroic tales that date back to the 1840s. They narrate stories and celebrate remarkable acts of courage and defiance from a folk perspective. \nJoin us for a family-friendly presentation of these and other corridos\, narrated in Spanish and English by Juan Díes and members of the ensemble\, that combines live music\, storytelling\, projected visuals\, and audience interaction. \nThis program is sponsored by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts | America 250. \n11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. – Capstone Clique & West Side Love Map\nA Westside-based collaborative of local artists and community advocates\, Capstone Clique focuses on historic preservation of the West Side and the production of public-facing and interactive art\, building awareness and spreading appreciation for the Westside. In partnership with local organizations and CHM\, Capstone Clique developed monthly programs featuring the screening of their documentary Love Letter to the Westside\, the “West Side Love Map\,” an interactive mapping project to collect residents’ memories of key West Side places and spaces\, and an unfurling of West Side-focused materials from CHM’s collection. \nJoin us to see the amazing work this group has co-created with community members and engage in your own hands-on arts activities\, too! 1st floor\, Guild Conference Room \nIn addition to this day’s full slate of programming\, CHM is excited to partner with Illinois Humanities\, the Illinois America 250 Commission\, and StoryCorps Studios to host the “Illinois Voices 240 Community Recording Day.” Come to CHM and record a time-capsule conversation with other Illinoisans. Let future generations know who you are\, what you care about\, and what you think is important about this moment in our country’s history. Recorded conversations will be archived at the Library of Congress!
URL:https://www.chicagohistory.org/event/civic-season-2026-civic-day-june-27/
LOCATION:Chicago History Museum\, 1601 N. Clark St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60614\, United States
CATEGORIES:Civic Season
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot-2023-12-11-at-11.00.50-AM-scaled.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260627T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260627T120000
DTSTAMP:20260807T182659
CREATED:20260513T185532Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T185532Z
UID:10000647-1782554400-1782561600@www.chicagohistory.org
SUMMARY:Walking Tour | Glitterati on the Gold Coast
DESCRIPTION:As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence\, we’re also taking time to consider the ways people in the United States practice democracy through civic action\, including by making art\, establishing community\, and cultural expression. \nJoin a CHM History Buff volunteer guide and whisk away to a time when Chicago’s rich and famous caroused on the coast. “Gold Coast” refers to a stretch of expensive lakefront property occupied by the city’s wealthiest residents. Before the opening of the Michigan Avenue Bridge (now DuSable Bridge) in 1920\, it was isolated from the downtown business district and home to only a few wealthy families\, such as the McCormicks\, Palmers\, and Ryersons. \nThe area soon became the heart of the upper crust of Chicago society. Sociologist Harvey Warren Zorbaugh\, who claimed that college boys returning from the East Coast dubbed the area the “Gold Coast\,” immortalized it in his book The Gold Coast and the Slum: A Sociological Study of Chicago’s Near North Side (University of Chicago Press\, 1929; reprint 1983). The density of wealth in the Gold Coast buffered it against the deterioration that threatened other portions of the North Side in the 1950s. \nGaze at ornate architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan\, step onto a rare wood-block alleyway\, and take in Chicago’s early mansions\, including the Archbishop’s Residence. \n$25\, $22.50 members  \nTour runs 1.5 to 2 hours. Meet at the Chicago History Museum. \nTour also includes free admission to the Chicago History Museum\, good for one week from tour date. \nMasks are optional for our outdoor walking tours. Learn more about our COVID-19 safety policies and procedures.
URL:https://www.chicagohistory.org/event/walking-tour-glitterati-on-the-gold-coast-6-27-26/
LOCATION:Chicago History Museum\, 1601 N. Clark St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60614\, United States
CATEGORIES:City Tour,Walking Tour
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2023/06/Walking-Tour-Gold-Coast-architecture.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260627T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260627T120000
DTSTAMP:20260807T182659
CREATED:20260513T132013Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T185715Z
UID:10000634-1782554400-1782561600@www.chicagohistory.org
SUMMARY:Walking Tour | Historic Old Town
DESCRIPTION:As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence\, we’re also taking time to consider the ways people in the United States practice democracy through civic action\, including by making art\, establishing community\, and cultural expression. \nThe Chicago History Museum sits on the edge of Old Town\, a neighborhood rich in history. The Chicago area was home to the Potawatomi\, whose villages were built on these lands. After they were forcibly removed\, German farmers settled there to make their homes. Since then\, it has served as an enclave for Puerto Rican migrants\, a home to the first gay rights organization in the US\, as well a vibrant arts scene. \nJoin CHM volunteer Carol Fitzgibbons to explore stories of recovery from the 1871 Great Chicago Fire and the neighborhood as the center of Chicago bohemianism in the 1960s and ’70s. Highlights include a post-Fire shelter cottage\, the Midwest Buddhist Temple\, numerous historic residences\, and St. Michael’s Church\, one of only seven buildings to survive the fire. \n$25\, $22.50 members  \nTour runs 1.5 to 2 hours. Meet at the Chicago History Museum.  \nTour also includes free admission to the Chicago History Museum\, good for one week from tour date. \nMasks are optional for our outdoor walking tours. Learn more about our COVID-19 safety policies and procedures.  
URL:https://www.chicagohistory.org/event/walking-tour-historic-old-town-6-27-26/
LOCATION:Chicago History Museum\, 1601 N. Clark St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60614\, United States
CATEGORIES:City Tour,Walking Tour
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2023/06/Walking-Tour-Old-Town-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260620T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260620T150000
DTSTAMP:20260807T182659
CREATED:20260612T224230Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260615T195306Z
UID:10000671-1781953200-1781967600@www.chicagohistory.org
SUMMARY:Civic Season 2026 | Civic Day - June 20
DESCRIPTION:The Chicago History Museum collaborates with local community leaders\, artists\, and youth to set the stage every summer for Civic Season in partnership with Made By Us. Instead of a single commemorative event on Independence Day\, our programming starts Juneteenth and continues with Civic Saturdays all leading toward our final program on Independence Day. \nIncluded with general admission\, which is FREE for Illinois residents on this day. \n11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. – League of Women Voters \nWant to learn more about voting in Chicago? Need to register to vote in Illinois? Come speak with the amazing volunteers from League of Women Voters about the importance of voting and civic life and register to vote on-site! 2nd floor\, Jo Baskin Minow Balcony Gallery  \n11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. – Hands-On History | Arts Activation with Chava Mancera  \nMake your own art with teaching artist Chava Mancera to celebrate civic action and the LGBTQIA+ community! Share your creations with other visitors or take it home to impress your friends and family. 1st floor\, Holleb Learning Center \n 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. – Arts and Crafts for Social Change \n1st floor\, Guild Conference Room \n2:00–3:00 p.m. – LGBTQIA+ Leadership: A Talk with Antonio King \nJoin us as we welcome Antonio King\, the City of Chicago’s first ever Director of LGBTQ+ Affairs\, as he discusses his experiences working with the city’s LGBTQIA+ community\, the importance of this landmark new role\, and the critical moment we are currently in as it impacts gender and sexual minorities locally and beyond. 1st floor\, Guild Conference Room
URL:https://www.chicagohistory.org/event/civic-season-2026-civic-day-june-20/
LOCATION:Chicago History Museum\, 1601 N. Clark St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60614\, United States
CATEGORIES:Civic Season
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2026/06/Screenshot-2023-12-11-at-11.00.50-AM-scaled.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260620T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260620T120000
DTSTAMP:20260807T182659
CREATED:20260513T185336Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T185336Z
UID:10000646-1781949600-1781956800@www.chicagohistory.org
SUMMARY:Walking Tour | Glitterati on the Gold Coast
DESCRIPTION:As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence\, we’re also taking time to consider the ways people in the United States practice democracy through civic action\, including by making art\, establishing community\, and cultural expression. \nJoin a CHM History Buff volunteer guide and whisk away to a time when Chicago’s rich and famous caroused on the coast. “Gold Coast” refers to a stretch of expensive lakefront property occupied by the city’s wealthiest residents. Before the opening of the Michigan Avenue Bridge (now DuSable Bridge) in 1920\, it was isolated from the downtown business district and home to only a few wealthy families\, such as the McCormicks\, Palmers\, and Ryersons. \nThe area soon became the heart of the upper crust of Chicago society. Sociologist Harvey Warren Zorbaugh\, who claimed that college boys returning from the East Coast dubbed the area the “Gold Coast\,” immortalized it in his book The Gold Coast and the Slum: A Sociological Study of Chicago’s Near North Side (University of Chicago Press\, 1929; reprint 1983). The density of wealth in the Gold Coast buffered it against the deterioration that threatened other portions of the North Side in the 1950s. \nGaze at ornate architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan\, step onto a rare wood-block alleyway\, and take in Chicago’s early mansions\, including the Archbishop’s Residence. \n$25\, $22.50 members  \nTour runs 1.5 to 2 hours. Meet at the Chicago History Museum. \nTour also includes free admission to the Chicago History Museum\, good for one week from tour date. \nMasks are optional for our outdoor walking tours. Learn more about our COVID-19 safety policies and procedures.
URL:https://www.chicagohistory.org/event/walking-tour-glitterati-on-the-gold-coast-6-20-26/
LOCATION:Chicago History Museum\, 1601 N. Clark St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60614\, United States
CATEGORIES:City Tour,Walking Tour
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2023/06/Walking-Tour-Gold-Coast-architecture.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260619T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260619T210000
DTSTAMP:20260807T182659
CREATED:20260511T204340Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260614T174321Z
UID:10000632-1781892000-1781902800@www.chicagohistory.org
SUMMARY:The Guild Presents | A Celebration of Liberty
DESCRIPTION:The Guild of the Chicago History Museum warmly welcomes you to A Celebration of Liberty featuring award-winning filmmaker  Sarah Botstein and WTTW’s Geoffrey Baer. This not-to-be-missed event is in anticipation of the grand reopening of our Facing Freedom exhibition on July 4\, 2026. \nCocktail attire – Revolutionary garb optional. Questions? Contact Kimberly Bill\, Development Events Manager\, at (312) 799–2112 or kbill@chicagohistory.org  \nTickets\n$5\,000 Star-Spangled Benefactor | Premium Table for 10\nIncluding Pre-Gala Exclusive Champagne Reception plus Private Tour of the new exhibition for 10 \n$2\,500 Broad Stripes Sponsor | Four Tickets\nIncluding Pre-Gala Exclusive Champagne Reception plus Private Tour of the new exhibition for 4 \n$500 Bright Stars Benefactor | One Ticket\nIncluding Pre-Gala Exclusive Champagne Reception plus Private Tour of the new exhibition for 4 \n$350 Individual Patriot | One Ticket \nUnable to join us? Support the Guild with a gift. \n Make a Gift\n\nSchedule\n6:00 p.m. – Cocktail reception\n7:00 p.m. – Conversation with Sarah Botstein and Geoffrey Baer\n8:15 p.m. – Seated dinner \nCelebration Co-Chairs:\nConnie Barkley & Erica Meyer \nCommittee Members:\nMelissa Babcock\, Rebecca Bathke\, Darcy Evon\, Rhonda Marcucci\, Lynn Orschel\, Scottie Perry\, Sally Sprowl \nHonorary Chair:\nLiz Stiffel
URL:https://www.chicagohistory.org/event/the-guild-presents-a-celebration-of-liberty/
LOCATION:Chicago History Museum\, 1601 N. Clark St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60614\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2026/05/CHM_Guild250_WebBanner_2.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260616T203000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260616T223000
DTSTAMP:20260807T182659
CREATED:20260518T151102Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260522T213116Z
UID:10000659-1781641800-1781649000@www.chicagohistory.org
SUMMARY:Movies in the Parks | To Wong Foo\, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar (1995)
DESCRIPTION:As we commemorate 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence at CHM\, we are asking questions about our nation’s democracy in progress. Are all people in our city equal? What happens when workers\, people of color\, or members of the LGBTQIA+ community stand up for their rights? How do we honor the Indigenous stewards of the land we now call Chicago? What can we do to create a “more perfect union” today in Chicago and the United States? \nJoin us for an evening outside for Movies in the Parks as we screen To Wong Foo\, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar. Featuring Patrick Swayze\, Wesley Snipes\, and John Leguizamo\, this 1995 comedy film directed by Beeban Kidon centers civic action through the everyday strategies of confronting violence and discrimination while living one’s full\, authentic life. \nTo Wong Foo depicts the power of intersectional coalitions in daily life for three gender-bending gay men of different racial\, ethnic\, and socioeconomic backgrounds traveling across the country to compete in the “Drag Queen of America” pageant. They face racist and homophobic challenges along the way\, all the while building deep and meaningful relationships with members of a small town. \nTo Wong Foo stands as a film that challenges our very assumptions of how we can all live and work together to build a stronger community that values and embraces our differences as sources of power. \nAll Movies in the Parks screenings are free and open to the public and are provided in partnership with the Chicago Park District. Closed captioned. All films begin shortly after sunset. This film is estimated to begin at 8:30 PM and has a runtime of 1 hour and 49 minutes.
URL:https://www.chicagohistory.org/event/movies-in-the-parks-to-wong-foo/
LOCATION:Chicago History Museum\, 1601 N. Clark St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60614\, United States
CATEGORIES:Film Screening,Free Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2026/05/To-Wong-Foo-Thanks-for-Everything-movie-still.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260616T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260616T200000
DTSTAMP:20260807T182659
CREATED:20260602T162136Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260615T211844Z
UID:10000670-1781632800-1781640000@www.chicagohistory.org
SUMMARY:Costume Council Annual Meeting | Exclusive Preview & Fall Exhibition Announcement
DESCRIPTION:During the annual meeting\, the Executive Committee of the Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum will present a comprehensive overview of the past year and a preview of the exciting plans ahead. This is a wonderful opportunity for members to learn more about the Council’s work and see the meaningful impact their generous support has made on the costume collection we are all committed to preserving. \nFollowing the annual meeting\, guest curator Olivia Mahoney and CHM costume collection manager Jessica Pushor will offer members and guests a special first look at CHM’s highly anticipated fall exhibition—including the first public reveal of its title. \nThe exhibition will feature a remarkable selection of historic garments worn by George Washington\, John Adams\, and Abraham and Mary Lincoln\, all drawn from CHM’s costume collection. The exhibition explores the vital work of conservation and the ongoing effort to preserve these remarkable pieces for future generations—a mission at the heart of the Costume Council. \nThe exhibition will open to the public on October 24\, 2026. Costume Council members and their guests will enjoy an early celebration at the opening reception on Friday\, October 23\, 2026 — please save the date! \nCostume Council members: Please arrive at 5:30 p.m. as the annual meeting starts promptly at 6:00 p.m. Enjoy some drinks and light bites prior to the meeting. \nGuests and friends: You’re warmly welcome to arrive at 6:30 p.m. for the presentation. \nSchedule\n6:00 p.m. – Annual meeting business (Costume Council members only)\n6:30 p.m. – Presentation by Olivia Mahoney and Jessica Pushor\n7:15 p.m. – Closing Reception
URL:https://www.chicagohistory.org/event/costume-council-annual-meeting-exclusive-preview-fall-exhibition-announcement/
LOCATION:Chicago History Museum\, 1601 N. Clark St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60614\, United States
CATEGORIES:Costume Council
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2026/05/Threads-of-a-Nation-conservators-dressing-mannequin.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260613T123000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260613T150000
DTSTAMP:20260807T182659
CREATED:20260120T163438Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260601T152052Z
UID:10000567-1781353800-1781362800@www.chicagohistory.org
SUMMARY:Partner Event | Dave Truitt Film Series - “Holding Pattern”
DESCRIPTION:The Chicago History Museum is proud to host the FREE premiere screening of the documentary film Holding Pattern\, an unprecedented chronicle and intimate portrait of the conflict surrounding the proposed third Chicago airport. \nFor over 20 years\, filmmakers Tom Desch (Walkable USA\, An American Home) and Brian Kallies (Lincoln Is Crying\, Gaming Wall Street) have documented the ongoing saga of a proposed third Chicago airport and its impact on communities in Chicago’s Southland and exurbs near Peotone\, Illinois. Immediately following the screening\, former Fox News Chicago reporter Mike Flannery will moderate a panel discussion with: \n\nTom Desch\, director/writer/producer\nBrian Kallies\, producer/writer/editor\nJohn Davies\, executive producer\nDelmarie Cobb\, airport proponent and long-time political strategist and analyst\nJudy Ogalla\, anti-airport activist and Will County Board Official\n\nSince 1985\, plans for a third major airport in Chicago’s far south suburbs (full footprint would be larger in land area than New York’s Manhattan Island) have increasingly gained momentum. Proponents of the airport claim it would alleviate air congestion\, meet growing passenger demand\, and create thousands of much needed jobs in the economically struggling Southland. Anti-airport activists decry the plan as a potential environmental disaster\, the destruction of irreplaceable farmland\, and a waste of millions of taxpayer’s dollars. Still in play\, this political football has spanned the administrations of seven Illinois governors and as many Chicago mayors. \nFree; RSVP required. \nThe screening of the documentary Holding Pattern is underwritten by the DAVE TRUITT Historical Documentary Series. \nQuestions? Contact Eric Miller\, development coordinator\, at miller@chicagohistory.org or (312) 799-2110. \nAbout the Film\nThe 56-minute Holding Pattern documentary frames this ongoing battle through the lens of two anti-airport activists\, George Ochsenfeld and Judy Ogalla; and two airport proponents\, political pundit Delmarie Cobb and former Park Forest\, IL mayor John Ostenburg. Over the course of 20+ years\, the filmmakers take an up-close and personal look at how the airport project has impacted the lives of Ochsenfeld and Ogalla\, their personal relationships\, and their evolution from citizens to activists to politicians. Cobb and Ostenburg\, who have championed the airport for decades\, address the political complexities of the project\, and explain why they believe eminent domain (the government’s power to seize private land for public use) is justified and could change thousands of lives for the better. \nHolding Pattern is executive produced by veteran television showrunner and documentary filmmaker John Davies whose many national credits include the WTTW Chicago productions Sneak Previews\, Wild Chicago\, Heroes on Deck\, and The First Jetliner. The documentary is also executive produced by Robert Bied\, President of Captain Dave’s Foundation and The Chicago Marine Heritage Society.
URL:https://www.chicagohistory.org/event/partner-event-dave-truitt-film-series-holding-pattern/
LOCATION:Chicago History Museum\, 1601 N. Clark St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60614\, United States
CATEGORIES:Film Screening,Free Event,Partner Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2025/12/HOLDING-PATTERN.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260611T190000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260611T203000
DTSTAMP:20260807T182659
CREATED:20260430T165214Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260604T152745Z
UID:10000631-1781204400-1781209800@www.chicagohistory.org
SUMMARY:Member Event | Author Talk - Will Quam\, "Fire and Clay"
DESCRIPTION:Take a closer look at the bricks around you—what histories are hiding in plain sight\, waiting to be uncovered? \nCHM members are invited to join Brick of Chicago’s Will Quam as he discusses his forthcoming book\, Fire and Clay: How Bricks Reveal the Hidden History of Chicago. Rebekah Coffman\, Curator of Religion and Community History at the Chicago History Museum\, will moderate the conversation and the following Q&A. Light refreshments will be served. \nEvent Update: Due to popular interest\, this event will now conclude at 8:30 p.m. instead of 8:00 p.m. Following the discussion\, Will Quam will stay for a special book-signing* opportunity. We hope you’ll join us for the talk and the chance to meet the author afterward! \n*Limited copies of Fire and Clay are available for purchase in the Museum Store. \nFree for members; RSVP required.
URL:https://www.chicagohistory.org/event/member-event-author-talk-fire-and-clay-with-will-quam/
LOCATION:Chicago History Museum\, 1601 N. Clark St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60614\, United States
CATEGORIES:Member Event
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2026/04/Fire-and-Clay-photo-Feature.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260531T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260531T133000
DTSTAMP:20260807T182659
CREATED:20260505T185337Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260507T161815Z
UID:10000594-1780228800-1780234200@www.chicagohistory.org
SUMMARY:Walking Tour | Lincoln Park's Lost History
DESCRIPTION:From 1843 until the late mid-1860s\, what is now Lincoln Park and the Lincoln Park Zoo was the Chicago City Cemetery. After the park was named for Abraham Lincoln after his assassination\, graves were moved to more distant cemeteries\, but evidence of the cemetery’s past remains. On this walking tour guide and researcher Tony Szabelski\, explore the park’s history from the Couch Tomb to the tragic deaths along the High Bridge and the site of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. \nContent warning: Discussion of death by suicide in association with the High Bridge. \n$25; $22.50 members \nTour runs about 90 minutes\, begins at the Chicago History Museum\, and ends at 2122 N. Clark St. \nTour also includes free admission to the Chicago History Museum\, good for one week from tour date. \nMasks are optional for our outdoor walking tours. Learn more about our COVID-19 safety policies and procedures.
URL:https://www.chicagohistory.org/event/walking-tour-lincoln-parks-lost-history-5-31-26/
LOCATION:Chicago History Museum\, 1601 N. Clark St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60614\, United States
CATEGORIES:City Tour,Walking Tour
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2025/04/Jaffee-History-Trail-Couch-Tomb_2022-for-feature.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260523T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260523T120000
DTSTAMP:20260807T182659
CREATED:20260513T185109Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T185109Z
UID:10000642-1779530400-1779537600@www.chicagohistory.org
SUMMARY:Walking Tour | Glitterati on the Gold Coast
DESCRIPTION:As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence\, we’re also taking time to consider the ways people in the United States practice democracy through civic action\, including by making art\, establishing community\, and cultural expression. \nJoin a CHM History Buff volunteer guide and whisk away to a time when Chicago’s rich and famous caroused on the coast. “Gold Coast” refers to a stretch of expensive lakefront property occupied by the city’s wealthiest residents. Before the opening of the Michigan Avenue Bridge (now DuSable Bridge) in 1920\, it was isolated from the downtown business district and home to only a few wealthy families\, such as the McCormicks\, Palmers\, and Ryersons. \nThe area soon became the heart of the upper crust of Chicago society. Sociologist Harvey Warren Zorbaugh\, who claimed that college boys returning from the East Coast dubbed the area the “Gold Coast\,” immortalized it in his book The Gold Coast and the Slum: A Sociological Study of Chicago’s Near North Side (University of Chicago Press\, 1929; reprint 1983). The density of wealth in the Gold Coast buffered it against the deterioration that threatened other portions of the North Side in the 1950s. \nGaze at ornate architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan\, step onto a rare wood-block alleyway\, and take in Chicago’s early mansions\, including the Archbishop’s Residence. \n$25\, $22.50 members  \nTour runs 1.5 to 2 hours. Meet at the Chicago History Museum. \nTour also includes free admission to the Chicago History Museum\, good for one week from tour date. \nMasks are optional for our outdoor walking tours. Learn more about our COVID-19 safety policies and procedures.
URL:https://www.chicagohistory.org/event/walking-tour-glitterati-on-the-gold-coast-5-23-26/
LOCATION:Chicago History Museum\, 1601 N. Clark St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60614\, United States
CATEGORIES:City Tour,Walking Tour
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2023/06/Walking-Tour-Gold-Coast-architecture.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260523T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260523T120000
DTSTAMP:20260807T182659
CREATED:20260513T131627Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T185613Z
UID:10000633-1779530400-1779537600@www.chicagohistory.org
SUMMARY:Walking Tour | Historic Old Town
DESCRIPTION:As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence\, we’re also taking time to consider the ways people in the United States practice democracy through civic action\, including by making art\, establishing community\, and cultural expression. \nThe Chicago History Museum sits on the edge of Old Town\, a neighborhood rich in history. The Chicago area was home to the Potawatomi\, whose villages were built on these lands. After they were forcibly removed\, German farmers settled there to make their homes. Since then\, it has served as an enclave for Puerto Rican migrants\, a home to the first gay rights organization in the US\, as well a vibrant arts scene. \nJoin CHM volunteer Carol Fitzgibbons to explore stories of recovery from the 1871 Great Chicago Fire and the neighborhood as the center of Chicago bohemianism in the 1960s and ’70s. Highlights include a post-Fire shelter cottage\, the Midwest Buddhist Temple\, numerous historic residences\, and St. Michael’s Church\, one of only seven buildings to survive the fire. \n$25\, $22.50 members  \nTour runs 1.5 to 2 hours. Meet at the Chicago History Museum.  \nTour also includes free admission to the Chicago History Museum\, good for one week from tour date.  \nMasks are optional for our outdoor walking tours. Learn more about our COVID-19 safety policies and procedures.  
URL:https://www.chicagohistory.org/event/walking-tour-historic-old-town-5-23-26/
LOCATION:Chicago History Museum\, 1601 N. Clark St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60614\, United States
CATEGORIES:City Tour,Walking Tour
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2023/06/Walking-Tour-Old-Town-scaled.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Chicago:20260521T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/Chicago:20260521T210000
DTSTAMP:20260807T182659
CREATED:20260420T174314Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260521T195944Z
UID:10000588-1779386400-1779397200@www.chicagohistory.org
SUMMARY:The Costume Council Presents | Legends of Chicago Drag
DESCRIPTION:The Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum invites you to step into the spotlight and celebrate the dazzling artistry\, creativity\, and cultural impact of drag in Chicago! \nJoin us for live drag queen performances\, including a special tribute to iconic female impersonator Chilli Pepper\, and a lively panel discussion emceed by Chicago nightlife entrepreneur Mark Liberson featuring: \n\nMimi Marks\, Miss Continental 1992\nJim Flint\, founder of The Baton Show Lounge and Miss Continental\nMz Ruff N Stuff\, Chicago’s Beauty Queen\nOwen Keehnen\, historian\n\nEnjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres\, as well as music provided by Mister Wallace. \n$125 general admission; $100 Costume Council members. Limit 5 tickets per Costume Council member.  \nCo-Chairs\nDavid Jude Greene\, Aaron Shirley\, Joseph Niz \nHost Committee\nBrannon Ayers\, Chip Hendon\, Lizzy Lopez\, Frank Rubel \nThis event is made possible by generous cornerstone sponsorships. \nThank You to Our Sponsors!  \nBrannon Ayers                    \n       \nDavid Mordini           Frank Rubel     Sally Schwartz \nMary Shearson     Aaron Shirley          \nFor financial and in-kind sponsorship opportunities\, please contact Kimberly Bill\, Development Events Manager\, kbill@chicagohistory.org
URL:https://www.chicagohistory.org/event/the-costume-council-presents-legends-of-chicago-drag/
LOCATION:Chicago History Museum\, 1601 N. Clark St.\, Chicago\, IL\, 60614\, United States
CATEGORIES:Costume Council
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2021/05/Exhibition-GAC-Drag-in-the-Windy-City-banner-scaled-e1695916203289.jpg
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR