Welcome to the Chicago History Museum
EXPLORE OUR FEATURED EXHIBITIONS
Designing for Change: Chicago Protest Art of the 1960s–70s
Chicago activists in the 1960s and ‘70s used design to amplify their visions of a more just world and to fight for social change.
Learn MoreInjustice: The Trial for the Murder of Emmett Till
In 1955, the murder of Emmett Till, a Black teenager from Chicago, and the subsequent criminal trial in Mississippi attracted international attention and sparked the Civil Rights Movement.
Learn MoreFacing Freedom in America
From women’s suffrage and the formation of labor unions, to Japanese internment and a local school boycott, the exhibition highlights some of the ways Americans have struggled over rights and freedoms.
Learn MoreOPENING OCT. 25! Aquí en Chicago
Aquí en Chicago traces the lives of Latino/a/e communities that have maintained a persistent cultural presence and flourished in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.
Learn MoreEXPLORE OUR FEATURED EXHIBITIONS
Designing for Change: Chicago Protest Art of the 1960s–70s
Chicago activists in the 1960s and ‘70s used design to amplify their visions of a more just world and to fight for social change.
Learn More
Injustice: The Trial for the Murder of Emmett Till
In 1955, the murder of Emmett Till, a Black teenager from Chicago, and the subsequent criminal trial in Mississippi attracted international attention and sparked the Civil Rights Movement.
Learn More
Facing Freedom in America
From women’s suffrage and the formation of labor unions, to Japanese internment and a local school boycott, the exhibition highlights some of the ways Americans have struggled over rights and freedoms.
Learn More
OPENING OCT. 25! Aquí en Chicago
Aquí en Chicago traces the lives of Latino/a/e communities that have maintained a persistent cultural presence and flourished in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs.
Learn MoreWHAT’S HAPPENING AT CHM?
Explore the city with our expert guides, delve into our exhibitions through thematic programs, or discover Chicago history through family-friendly activities.
Aquí en Chicago
The Chicago History Museum’s new project, Aquí en Chicago, celebrates the historically persistent cultural presence of Latine communities in Chicago. Follow along as the project evolves.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Join us for a screening of Walls of Respect: Norman Parish and the Parish Art Gallery, followed by a discussion with Norman Parish III, a son of the artist, and artist Richmond Jones, whose work was shown in Parish Gallery and who appears in the documentary. Learn more
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Join professional guide and local resident Eduardo Arocho on a walk through Humboldt Park. Learn more
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Led by Mike McMains of Tours with Mike, this tour explores the businesses and organizations in the Northalsted (formerly Boystown) area in Lakeview. Learn more
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Join CHM volunteer Carol Fitzgibbons to explore stories of recovery from the 1871 Great Chicago Fire and when Old Town was the center of Chicago bohemianism in the 1960s and ’70s. Learn more
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Delve into Chicago’s crime history with Richard Lindberg, author of the best-selling Return to the Scene of the Crime: A Guide to Infamous Places in Chicago (1999) and 19 other books. Learn more
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Join guide Mike McMains of Tours with Mike to discover Chicago’s hidden LGBTQIA+ stories from the 19th century to today while exploring the city’s downtown area. Learn more
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Join a CHM History Buff volunteer guide and whisk away to a time when Chicago’s rich and famous caroused on the coast. Learn more
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Join artist and educator Juarez Hawkins for a lively historical tour of the murals along the Metra underpasses linking Hyde Park Boulevard and Cornell Avenue in Hyde Park, one of the city’s most engaging neighborhoods. Learn more
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LEARN AND CONNECT WITH CHM
CHM strives to be a destination for learning, inspiration and civic engagement. Through dynamic exhibitions, tours, programs, digital resources, and special events, the Museum connects people to Chicago’s history and to each other.
ABAKANOWICZ RESEARCH CENTER
Home to the Chicago History Museum’s archives, manuscripts, photographs, and more, the Abakanowicz Research Center (ARC) is one of the premier research facilities in Chicago. With free admission, the ARC helps fulfill the Museum’s mission to be a destination for learning and to connect people to Chicago’s history. We look forward to welcoming you!
Learn MoreSupport the Museum
SUPPORT OUR MISSION BY BECOMING A MEMBER
Membership offers ways to engage with others who love the city of Chicago and its history and opportunities to interact with our award-winning staff. Enjoy free admission, behind-the-scenes experiences, special discounts, and more!
Film Screening and Discussion | Walls of Respect: Norman Parish and the Parish Art Gallery
Join us for a screening of Walls of Respect: Norman Parish and the Parish Art Gallery, followed by a discussion with Norman Parish III, a son of the artist, and artist Richmond Jones, whose work was shown in Parish Gallery and who appears in the documentary. Learn more
BUY TICKETSWalking Tour | Paseo Boricua and Humboldt Park
Join professional guide and local resident Eduardo Arocho on a walk through Humboldt Park. Learn more
BUY TICKETSOUT at CHM Walking Tour | North Side LGBTQIA+ Stories
Led by Mike McMains of Tours with Mike, this tour explores the businesses and organizations in the Northalsted (formerly Boystown) area in Lakeview. Learn more
BUY TICKETSWalking Tour | Historic Old Town
Join CHM volunteer Carol Fitzgibbons to explore stories of recovery from the 1871 Great Chicago Fire and when Old Town was the center of Chicago bohemianism in the 1960s and ’70s. Learn more
BUY TICKETSBus Tour | North by Northwest: Infamous Places in the Land Approaching O'Hare
Delve into Chicago’s crime history with Richard Lindberg, author of the best-selling Return to the Scene of the Crime: A Guide to Infamous Places in Chicago (1999) and 19 other books. Learn more
BUY TICKETSOUT at CHM | Downtown LGBTQIA+ Stories Walking Tour
Join guide Mike McMains of Tours with Mike to discover Chicago’s hidden LGBTQIA+ stories from the 19th century to today while exploring the city’s downtown area. Learn more
BUY TICKETSWalking Tour | Glitterati on the Gold Coast
Join a CHM History Buff volunteer guide and whisk away to a time when Chicago’s rich and famous caroused on the coast. Learn more
BUY TICKETSWalking Tour | Hyde Park Murals
Join artist and educator Juarez Hawkins for a lively historical tour of the murals along the Metra underpasses linking Hyde Park Boulevard and Cornell Avenue in Hyde Park, one of the city’s most engaging neighborhoods. Learn more
BUY TICKETS