Chicago History Museum

The Chicago History Museum is the city’s most important institution for preserving the stories that shaped Chicago and the United States. The museum holds millions of artifacts, photographs, documents, and other historical materials. Its exhibitions explore everything from the Great Chicago Fire and the World’s Columbian Exposition to immigration, civil rights, politics, fashion, and everyday life. The museum’s history stretches back to 1856, which makes it one of the oldest museums in Chicago.

The museum was originally established as the Chicago Historical Society just 19 years after Chicago became a city. At the time, Chicago was growing rapidly into a major commercial center; the society’s founders recognized the importance of recording the city’s history before it disappeared. The Society collected books, manuscripts, paintings, and historical objects, building an enormous collection that would eventually become important resources for researchers and the public.

The institution faced a devastating setback during the Great Chicago Fire of October 1871. The fire destroyed the Society’s building and most of its collection. Rather than abandoning the project, the Society began rebuilding its collections through donations, acquisitions, and preservation work.

As Chicago grew, the Historical Society expanded its collections beyond the city’s early years. The organization began to acquire materials connected to national political figures, architecture, and social movements. One particular figure in its collection was Abraham Lincoln, whose political career was closely connected to Chicago. Although Lincoln lived in Springfield, he visited Chicago frequently; the city played a very important role in his rise to the presidency. The museum’s Lincoln collection brought quite a bit of attention and became one of its most recognizable features, helping connect the history of Chicago to the history of the United States.

The museum’s current building in Lincoln Park opened in 1932. It was designed by the architectural firm Graham, Anderson, Probst and White. The building has since been expanded and renovated to accommodate the museum’s growing collections and changing approach to exhibitions.

In 2006, the institution adopted the name Chicago History Museum, reflecting the switch to a public education center rather than a society. Its mission combines collecting and preserving historical materials and making those materials accessible through exhibitions, educational programs, and public events. The museum also operates the Abakanowicz Research Center, where researchers can explore archival collections.

The museum explores some of the more difficult parts of Chicago’s past. Its exhibition examines racial inequality, labor struggles, political conflict, and the ongoing fight for civil rights. For example, its exhibit Injustice: The Trial for the Murder of Emmett Till examines the murder of Emmett Till, a Black teenager from Chicago. The trial drew international attention and helped push the Civil Rights Movement. By connecting national events to Chicago’s community, the museum has always demonstrated how their local experiences shape broader historical change.

The museum presents Chicago history through more interactive and family-friendly experiences. Sensing Chicago invites visitors to explore the city through their senses, while Imagining Chicago: The Dioramas use detailed miniature scenes to depict the city’s transformation. These exhibits make the museum accessible to visitors of different ages and backgrounds, offering ways to engage with history beyond reading text panels. Its collection also includes objects connected to Chicago’s cultural life, from fashion and entertainment to sports and neighborhood traditions.

The Museum continues to develop new exhibitions that connect historical collections to contemporary questions. In 2026, its US at 250: Civic Action in Chicago marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence through exhibitions, public programs, and installations by local artists responding to important founding documents. Another upcoming exhibition, Threads of a Nation: Preserving Presidential Clothing, opens on October 24, 2026. It explores the work involved in preserving garments and accessories associated with figures including George Washington, Martha Washington, John Adams, and Abraham Lincoln. Marie Todd Lincoln’s dress from that fateful night at Ford Theater will even be on display.

Today the Chicago History Museum remains important for understanding the city’s past and its connection to the rest of the country. Its collections on display and behind the scenes preserve evidence of Chicago’s growth, its diversity, its achievements and conflicts. The museum continues the work its founders began in 1856, making sure that the stories of Chicago and its people are preserved for generations.

Author Review:

The Chicago History Museum was one of the first museums I looked at when I started at DePaul, and it is such a fun place to visit. It is free admission for DePaul students with ID. I think it is a great museum for all ages because there is so much variety. I enjoy the rotating exhibits because they give me a reason to come back and see something new. I have volunteered with the museum, and the staff have been some of the most wonderful people. From DePaul’s Lincoln Park Campus, the museum is about a 20 minute walk, or a shorter trip by bus, making it a very easy outing from campus!

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