CHICAGO (October 1, 2024) – The Chicago History Museum is proud to announce it is the recipient of the National Park Service’s (NPS) Save America’s Treasures grant. The funds of $454,607 will be used for the conservation treatment of nine costumes in the Museum’s collection, including garments worn by three presidents—George Washington, John Adams and Abraham Lincoln—as well as Mary Todd Lincoln. The project will be matched with $482,170 in nonfederal share.
“We are honored to be recipients of this grant, which will allow us to further conserve numerous historic garments in the Museum’s extensive costume collection,” said Chicago History Museum President Donald Lassere. “It is through our collections, including the costume collection, we are able to share Chicago stories from diverse perspectives and we are grateful to the National Park Service for this gift.”
With more than 50,000 costumes and textiles dating from the eighteenth century to the present, the Museum’s world-renowned Costume and Textiles Collection is noted for both its size and the quality of its holdings. Costume materials include work by distinguished designers such as Charles James, Paul Poiret, House of Worth, Chanel, House of Dior, Versace and Yves Saint Laurent. The collection also includes clothing worn by former presidents and first ladies, sports stars, celebrities and other luminaries, as well as by everyday Chicagoans. Together, these materials reflect the history of Chicago as an evolving urban center and document fashion history through the lens of Chicago and its people.
Administered by NPS in partnership with the Institute of Museums and Library Services, National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities, the Save America’s Treasures grants this year will fund 59 projects that will preserve nationally significant sites and historic collections in 26 states and the District of Columbia. Since 1999, the Save America’s Treasures program has provided over $405 million from the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) to more than 1,400 projects to provide preservation and conservation work on nationally significant collections, artifacts, structures and sites.
For more information on the Museum’s Costume and Textiles Collection, please visit: https://www.chicagohistory.org/collection/costumes-and-textiles/
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ABOUT THE CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM
The Chicago History Museum is situated on ancestral homelands of the Potawatomi people, who cared for the land until forced out by non-Native settlers. Established in 1856, the Museum is located at 1601 N. Clark Street in Lincoln Park, its third location. A major museum and research center for Chicago and U.S. history, the Chicago History Museum strives to be a destination for learning, inspiration, and civic engagement. Through dynamic exhibitions, tours, publications, special events and programming, the Museum connects people to Chicago’s history and to each other. The Museum collects and preserves millions of artifacts, documents, and images to assist in sharing Chicago stories. The Museum gratefully acknowledges the support of the Chicago Park District on behalf of the people of Chicago.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 430+ national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.