Chicago History Museum facts for kids
Clark Street facade of the Chicago History Museum
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| Established | April 1856 |
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| Location | 1601 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois 60614 |
| Type | History Museum |
| Visitors | 240,000 (2013) |
| Owner | Chicago Historical Society |
| Public transit access | Bus: 22, 36, 37, 72, 73, 151, 156 |
The Chicago History Museum is a cool place where you can learn all about the history of Chicago! It's run by the Chicago Historical Society (CHS), which started way back in 1856. Their main goal is to study and share Chicago's past.
Since the 1930s, the museum has been located in Lincoln Park. You can find it at 1601 North Clark Street, right where it meets North Avenue. This area is part of the Old Town Triangle neighborhood. For a long time, people just called it the CHS. But in September 2006, they officially changed their public name to the Chicago History Museum.
Contents
History of the Museum
Much of the Chicago Historical Society's first collection was sadly lost in the terrible Great Chicago Fire of 1871. But just like the city itself, the museum managed to rebuild and grow stronger. One very important document lost in that fire was Abraham Lincoln's final handwritten copy of the Emancipation Proclamation. Lincoln had given it to a nurse named Mary Livermore to help raise money for a Civil War Soldiers' Home in Chicago.
After the fire, the Society started collecting new items. These were stored in a building owned by J. Young Scammon, a well-known lawyer and member of the society. But, unbelievably, this building and the new collection were also destroyed by another fire in 1874!
After two fires, the Chicago Historical Society decided to build a special fireproof building. It was built on the same spot as their original building, at 632 North Dearborn Street. This new building opened in 1896 and was home to the society for 36 years. Later, this building was recognized as an important historical place and added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Important Collections
Charles F. Gunther, a famous collector from Chicago, gave some items to the historical society. In 1920, the society bought the rest of his huge history collection. This was a big step, as it helped the society become more than just a research place; it became a public museum.
Many items in Gunther's collection were about Abraham Lincoln and the American Civil War. These include Lincoln's actual deathbed and other furniture from the room where he passed away in the Petersen House. The collection also has clothes that Lincoln and his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, supposedly wore on the night he was assassinated.
Another amazing item in the collection is the table where General Robert E. Lee signed his surrender to General Ulysses S. Grant in 1865. This official act ended the American Civil War at the McLean House in Appomattox, Virginia.
In 2010, the museum was honored by being included in the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame.
The Museum Building
After 36 years in the building on North Dearborn Street, the museum and its library moved to their current home in Lincoln Park. The oldest part of the museum was designed by Graham, Anderson, Probst & White. It was built in 1932 by the WPA, which was a government program that created jobs during the Great Depression. The goal was to make more space for public exhibits.
The museum building, which has a classic Federal style, has been made bigger twice. The first addition was in 1972 and was designed by Alfred Shaw and Associates. It was covered in light-colored limestone.
The second addition was built in 1988 by Holabird and Root. This time, they also changed the outside of the earlier addition to red brick. This made all three parts of the building look like one unified structure. Both new parts were added to the west side of the 1932 building. This meant the original entrance, which faced Lincoln Park, stayed the same. However, the main entrance for visitors was moved to the newer western addition, facing Clark Street. This modern 1988 part also has more exhibition rooms, the museum's gift shop, and a public cafe.
What to See and Do
The Chicago History Museum explores both Chicago's story and the history of America. The exhibits mostly use items from the museum's own collection, which has about 22 million pieces!
Main Exhibitions
- Chicago: Crossroads of America: This huge exhibit, covering 16,000 square feet, shows how Chicago grew and how it influenced American history. It features nearly 600 objects that tell the stories of people and events from the last 200 years.
- Facing Freedom: This exhibit looks at eight different times in American history when people fought for freedom, from the 1850s to the 1970s.
- Abraham Lincoln Alcoves: These special areas focus on Lincoln's election, his leadership during the Civil War, and his assassination. Nearby, the Portrait Gallery shows what Chicago was like during Lincoln's time.
- Sensing Chicago: This fun exhibit invites children to use their senses to explore the past. You can touch, hear, and even smell parts of Chicago's history!
- Tawani Foundation Diorama Hall: Here you'll find beautifully restored dioramas. These detailed 3D models show Chicago's journey from a small frontier outpost to the busy city that hosted the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893.
- Chicago Room: This room overlooks a plaza in Lincoln Park. It displays a wonderful collection of stained glass art.
Special Exhibits and Projects
The museum also has temporary exhibitions that change often. These shows feature items from the collection, covering many different topics. You might see Chicago art, learn about the history of LGBTQ+ Chicagoans, or explore the city's fashion history.
In 2013, the Chicago History Museum started a special project. They asked the public for ideas for a future exhibition. Then, people voted on the most popular ideas to choose one main topic. This was the first time an American museum used "crowdsourcing" (getting ideas from a large group of people) to decide on an exhibition!
Unique Collections
On January 19, 2006, the very first passenger car from Chicago's 'L' train system was moved to its new home at the Chicago History Museum. This train car, called L Car #1, started running in 1893. Passengers could ride it from the Loop to Hyde Park for just 5 cents to visit the World's Columbian Exposition. The car was carefully restored to look just like it did in 1893. It was then lifted through a special opening in the museum's second-floor wall. Inside, you can see its beautiful mahogany wood, rattan seats, and etched glass windows.
L Car #1 is displayed alongside the Pioneer, which was the very first locomotive (train engine) to operate in Chicago. A newly designed exhibit space for both the car and the locomotive opened on September 30, 2006.
The museum has Chicago's most important collection of items related to local history. Its large research library has books, old papers, paintings, sculptures, and photos. It's open to everyone, including students working on school projects. The museum's costume collection is huge, with over 50,000 pieces! It includes clothing from the 18th century to today, featuring fancy designer clothes and items worn by famous Chicago residents.
Programs and Resources
The museum offers many programs, publications, and online resources about Chicago and American history. This includes the Encyclopedia of Chicago, which is available in print and online. The museum also has a Chicago Fire mobile app. It's like a 400-page book with over 350 pictures from the museum's collection. The app can even use GPS to show you photos of nearby places from the time of the Great Chicago Fire.
The museum also publishes Chicago History magazine. This magazine is written by historians and has lots of pictures. It explores Chicago's interesting past and the people who shaped it. Plus, more than 50,000 images from the museum's collection have been put online as part of Explore Chicago Collections.
Every year, the Chicago History Museum celebrates important Chicagoans and organizations with its Making History Awards.
Images for kids
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The building that was home to the Chicago Historical Society from 1896 to 1932.
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The first passenger car to operate on Chicago's 'L' train system in 1893.
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Pioneer, the first locomotive to operate in Chicago.
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A poster from the museum's collection that was shared after the Great Chicago Fire.
See also
