Welcome to the Chicago History Museum
EXPLORE OUR FEATURED EXHIBITIONS
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 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
From women’s suffrage to a local school boycott, this exhibition asks the question: What can we do for freedom?
Learn MoreUS at 250: Carlos Flores & Deon Reed
From April to June, see portable, altar-inspired monuments by artists Carlos Flores and Deon Reed in response to the Northwest Ordinance.
Learn moreEXPLORE OUR FEATURED EXHIBITIONS
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 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
From women’s suffrage to a local school boycott, this exhibition asks the question: What can we do for freedom?
Learn More
US at 250: Carlos Flores & Deon Reed
From April to June, see portable, altar-inspired monuments by artists Carlos Flores and Deon Reed in response to the Northwest Ordinance.
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.
US at 250: Civic Action in Chicago
On the 250th anniversary of our nation’s Declaration of Independence, we’re asking questions about our nation’s democracy in progress.
Learn More![Untitled-2 [Recovered]](https://www.chicagohistory.org/app/uploads/2026/01/USat250_Logo_stack_color-white-border-1280x1279.jpg){kind=logo}
UPCOMING EVENTS
CHM members are invited to an exclusive preview of the newly refreshed Facing Freedom exhibition before it opens to the public. The evening includes presentations by key staff members, including Peter T. Alter, the Gary T. Johnson Chief Historian and Director of the Studs Terkel Center for Oral History. Learn more
RSVP
Join author and historian Bernard Turner on this van tour to discover the ways African Americans shaped the history and culture of this South Side neighborhood. Learn more
BUY TICKETS
Join professional guide and local resident Eduardo Arocho on a walk through Humboldt Park, the center of Puerto Rican culture in both Chicago and the US Midwest. Learn more
BUY TICKETS
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 TICKETS
Experience the grandness of Pilsen’s murals with poet and multidisciplinary artist Luis Tubens. The public art on railroad viaducts, buildings, and doors shows an evolution of the community’s Mexican identity, heritage, and activism. Learn more
BUY TICKETS
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 TICKETS
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!
Member Event | Preview of Facing Freedom
CHM members are invited to an exclusive preview of the newly refreshed Facing Freedom exhibition before it opens to the public. The evening includes presentations by key staff members, including Peter T. Alter, the Gary T. Johnson Chief Historian and Director of the Studs Terkel Center for Oral History. Learn more
RSVPVan Tour | Bronzeville
Join author and historian Bernard Turner on this van tour to discover the ways African Americans shaped the history and culture of this South Side neighborhood. Learn more
BUY TICKETSWalking Tour | Paeso Boricua and Humboldt Park
Join professional guide and local resident Eduardo Arocho on a walk through Humboldt Park, the center of Puerto Rican culture in both Chicago and the US Midwest. 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 | Pilsen Murals
Experience the grandness of Pilsen’s murals with poet and multidisciplinary artist Luis Tubens. The public art on railroad viaducts, buildings, and doors shows an evolution of the community’s Mexican identity, heritage, and activism. 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 TICKETS