National Hellenic Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1983 |
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| Location | 333 South Halsted Street Chicago, Illinois 60661 United States |
| Collection size | ~18,000 Artifacts ~10,000 Archival Items 200 Oral Histories |
| Visitors | 7,000 - 11,000 (Yearly Average) |
| Public transit access | Chicago Blue Line Halsted Street Station |
| Area | 40,000 square feet (3,700 m2) |
The National Hellenic Museum is a special place in Chicago. It celebrates the amazing history and culture of Greeks and Greek-Americans. It's one of the oldest museums in America focused on this topic.
The museum used to be called the Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center. You can find it in Chicago's Greektown, right where Halsted and Van Buren Streets meet. In December 2011, the museum moved into a brand new building. This was a big moment for the Greek community in Chicago! The museum helps everyone understand the rich traditions of both ancient and modern Greece. It also shares the stories of Greek immigrants who came to America.
Contents
Discovering the Museum's History
The National Hellenic Museum started in 1983. Back then, it was known as the Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center. It has a long and interesting history in Chicago.
In 1992, the museum opened its first official building. This was on Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago. A few weeks before that, another Greek museum opened in Salt Lake City. That one was the very first museum to focus on Greek customs and history in the U.S.
In July 2004, the Chicago museum moved to a new spot. This was at 801 S. Adams Street, still in Chicago’s Greektown area.
Then, in 2009, the museum changed its name. It became the National Hellenic Museum. It also got a new logo that included the Greek key design. They created a new goal, or mission statement, which is: "Connecting generations through Greek history, culture, and art."
Finally, in 2011, the museum moved to its current home. This building was built just for the museum. It's located at 333 South Halsted Street, right in the middle of Chicago's Greektown.
Exploring the New Museum Building
In 2005, work began on the new museum building. It was planned to be a key part of Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley’s plan to improve Greektown. The new building is very modern and covers about 40,000 square feet.
Inside, you'll find many cool things:
- Spaces for both permanent and changing exhibition halls.
- A library and a special center for archival research. This is where old documents are kept and studied.
- Classrooms for kids of all ages to learn.
- An oral history center. Here, you can listen to stories from Greek immigrants.
The museum also has a rooftop terrace. It features three gardens and offers amazing views of the Chicago skyline. This is a great spot to visit during the warmer months!
Architect Demetrios Stavrianos designed the new National Hellenic Museum. The building was finished in 2011. Its grand opening happened on December 10, 2011.
The Oral History Project: Sharing Stories
The National Hellenic Museum has a special project called the Oral History Project. This project collects and records the life stories of people who are Greek or Greek-American. It helps us understand what it was like for Greek immigrants coming to America.
Between 1890 and 1920, about 450,000 Greeks came to America. They were part of a large group of immigrants from Eastern Europe. Today, Greek Americans live all across the United States. The Oral History Project has more than 300 individual stories. These stories are recorded on hundreds of hours of film and audio tape. They come from Greeks and Greek-Americans all over the country.
Amazing Collections to See
The National Hellenic Museum has a huge collection of items. These items cover thousands of years of Greek history. You can see pieces from every time period, from 1200 BCE (that's before common era) all the way to today.
A big part of the collection shows the experience of Greek-American immigrants. You can find things like:
- Handmade textiles (fabrics).
- Traditional traditional costumes.
- Musical instruments.
- Original photographs.
The Library and Archives
The National Hellenic Museum's Library and Archives is a treasure trove of information. It has over 10,000 books, magazines, and other documents. The library has books about Greek history, culture, language, and religion. You can even find very rare books from the 17th and 18th centuries!
The archives also hold many old Greek-American newspapers and magazines. There are also collections of handwritten letters and early manuscripts. It's one of the largest collections of Greek-language newspapers in the United States.
Exciting Exhibitions to Explore
The National Hellenic Museum hosts many different exhibitions each year. These shows cover all parts of Greek history, culture, and art.
Exhibitions You Might See:
- Lives Afloat: The Greek Refugee Crisis (2015-2017)
- George Kokines: Layers Revealed
- Change: The Story of Coins
- Reaching for the American Dream: The Legacy of Greek Immigration
- The Story of Greek Independence
Past Exhibitions Have Included:
- Sweet Home Chicago: The Story of America's Candy Capital
- Aegean: Creation of an Archipelago (about islands)
- Transcending Boundaries: The Art of Anthony Quinn
- The Street is My Gallery (about street art in Athens)
- Monumental (a hands-on exhibit about Greek architecture)
- The Periklean Akropolis: From Antiquity To Modernity
- The Greek Monsters
- From Memory: Giorgios Rigas
- Threads of Tradition
- The Holocaust In Greece
- Gods, Myths, And Mortals
Fun Events at the Museum
The National Hellenic Museum holds smaller events every week or month. These can include cocktail receptions, dinner receptions, brunches, and holiday parties. But they also have a few big events each year:
- Annual Gala – This is the museum's main yearly event to raise money. It includes dinner, music, dancing, and auctions. There are also special performances and speeches.
- Kouzina – At this event, chefs from Chicago show off their skills. They prepare delicious Mediterranean cuisine. You can try different appetizers, salads, main dishes, desserts, and beverages. This event also features music and drinks.
