Exhibitions
The Naphtali ben Yakov Pritzker American History Wing
Facing Freedom
Now Open
What does freedom mean? To whom should freedom be extended? How are denied rights gained? These are some of the questions the new American history exhibition explores. Based on the central idea that the history of the United States has been shaped by conflicts over what it means to be free, this new exhibition uses images, artifacts, and interactivity to explore familiar and not-so-familiar stories from the nation’s past. From women's suffrage and the formation of unions, to Japanese internment, to a local school boycott, the exhibition highlights some of the ways Americans have struggled over the true meaning of freedom.
Current Exhibitions
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Bessie Green-Field Warshawsky Gallery and Mazza Foundation Gallery
I Do! Chicago Ties the Knot
Open through January 3, 2011
Nearly every part of a wedding celebration is steeped in history and tradition, with religion, culture, family custom, and superstition having shaped the Big Day since the first couple said "I do." The exhibition explores an array of wedding traditions through costume, and how some of those traditions were standardized by Chicago retailers to create the wedding industry we know today.
Treasures
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Skyline Gallery
My Chinatown
Now Open
Chicago’s Chinatown is unmistakable, but what’s behind the ornate building facades and signs covered in Chinese characters? Who are the people who make our Chinatown such a distinct and vibrant neighborhood? This winter, the Chicago History Museum presents its first ever theater experience using the sights and sounds of Chicago’s most recognizable neighborhood to tell its most unfamiliar stories.
Treasures
Treasures
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KPMG and Paul and Katherine Snyder Community Gallery
Lincoln Park Block by Block
July 4, 2009 through September 6, 2010
Lincoln Park is a dynamic neighborhood and home of the Chicago History Museum. For 150 years, Lincoln Park residents and visitors have experienced some of the city’s most historic events—from the opening of the Chicago’s first public beach in 1895 to the riots of the late 1960s. Set on an oversized map, the exhibition invites you to discover the history, culture, and making of Lincoln Park. Share your memories with other visitors, and explore Lincoln Park—a place that constantly remakes itself with a nod to the past and an eye toward the future.
Treasures
Upcoming Exhibitions
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Check back this fall for news on our upcoming projects!
Treasures
Permanent Exhibitions
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Chicago: Crossroads of America
Discover the city's vast history in Chicago: Crossroads of America. Whether you are interested in Chicago's changing economy, challenging crises, diverse neighborhoods, groundbreaking innovations, or lively cultural scene, this exhibition is a must see!
> Learn more about Crossroads and preview highlights
Crossroads
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Konen Family Children's Gallery
Sensing Chicago
Use your five senses to explore Chicago, uncover the past, and discover that history is all around you. The Konen Family Children's Gallery invites families to ride a high-wheel bicycle, hear the Great Chicago Fire, catch a fly ball at Comiskey Park, smell the city's past, and be a Chicago-style hot dog.
Children's Gallery
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Tawani Foundation Diorama Hall
The Dioramas
Our much-loved dioramas have been restored and are better than ever! Visit the Tawani Foundation Diorama Hall to learn the story of Chicago's rise from a desolate frontier outpost in 1804 to the bustling city that hosted the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893. Engaging details invite you to look closely and put history into a larger context.