Welcome to the Chicago History Museum
EXPLORE OUR FEATURED EXHIBITIONS
Selections from the Costume Collection
Treasured Ten:
Selections from the Costume Collection
Stephen Burrows, Scotty Piper, Patrick Kelly, Willi Smith, and Barbara Bates—from CHM's clothing collection of more than 50,000 pieces, 10 never-been-exhibited ensembles were selected to tell the remarkable stories of these 5 designers.
Learn MoreCity on Fire: Chicago 1871
A rapidly growing city built of wood. A summer-long heat wave. An exhausted and misdirected team of firefighters. Racial, social, and economic tensions bubbling just below the surface. All Chicago needed was a spark.
Learn MoreVivian Maier: In Color
Vivian Maier: In Color is a multimedia exhibition featuring 65 color images made during her time as a suburban Chicago nanny from the 1950s to 1970s, most of which have never been display, as well as film clips, quotations, and sound bites.
Learn MoreChicago: Crossroads of America
Take a close look L car no. 1, visit a jazz club, picture yourself in the fashions of a Marshall Field's store window, and explore Chicago's history through a series of galleries that highlight artifacts from the Museum’s remarkable collection.
Learn MoreEXPLORE OUR FEATURED EXHIBITIONS
Treasured Ten:
Selections from the Costume Collection
Stephen Burrows, Scotty Piper, Patrick Kelly, Willi Smith, and Barbara Bates—from CHM's clothing collection of more than 50,000 pieces, 10 never-been-exhibited ensembles were selected to tell the remarkable stories of these 5 designers.
Learn More
City on Fire: Chicago 1871
A rapidly growing city built of wood. A summer-long heat wave. An exhausted and misdirected team of firefighters. Racial, social, and economic tensions bubbling just below the surface. All Chicago needed was a spark.
Learn More
Vivian Maier: In Color
Vivian Maier: In Color is a multimedia exhibition featuring 65 color images made during her time as a suburban Chicago nanny from the 1950s to 1970s, most of which have never been display, as well as film clips, quotations, and sound bites.
Learn More
Chicago: Crossroads of America
Take a close look L car no. 1, visit a jazz club, picture yourself in the fashions of a Marshall Field's store window, and explore Chicago's history through a series of galleries that highlight artifacts from the Museum’s remarkable collection.
Learn MoreSelections from the Costume Collection
WHAT’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.
Bus Tour | Chicago Blues
On this tour with guide Wayne Galasek, discover how the Delta blues came to Chicago during the Great Migration and evolved into its own distinct sound.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Take a closer look at one of America’s last great railway terminals, which bustles with activity day and night. Find out why it was once called “a city within a city” and learn the hidden stories that go unseen by thousands each day.
Tour runs 1.5–2 hours.
As per the CDC, masks are recommended inside transportation hubs, such as stations, for people over age 2.
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After opening on Christmas Day 1865, the Union Stock Yard made Chicago the “Hog Butcher for the World.” In its heyday from the Civil War era through the 1920s, Chicago processed more meat than anywhere else in the world. Fueled by the colonialist expansion of railroads and the country’s rapid population growth spurred by European immigration, the stockyards provided meat products as well as jobs across the country.
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Walk through Pilsen with local guide Luis Tubens and get the larger meaning behind the artwork in Chicago’s capital of Mexican cultures. The tour weaves the history of Pilsen with vibrant large-scale murals and lived personal experiences.
Tour runs 1.5 to 2 hours.
Masks are optional for our outdoor walking tours. Learn more about our COVID-19 safety policies and procedures.
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Join professional guide and local resident Eduardo Arocho on a walk through Humboldt Park, which has been home to Chicago’s Puerto Rican community since the 1960s. This thought-provoking tour explores the history of the iconic West Side neighborhood through the public art proudly displayed along the six blocks of Division Street (Paseo Boricua) and in Humboldt Park.
Tour runs approximately 90 minutes.
Learn MoreTake a closer look at one of America’s last great railway terminals, which bustles with activity day and night. Find out why it was once called “a city within a city” and learn the hidden stories that go unseen by thousands each day.
Tour runs 1.5–2 hours.
As per the CDC, masks are recommended inside transportation hubs, such as stations, for people over age 2.
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!
Walking Tour | Union Station
Take a closer look at one of America’s last great railway terminals, which bustles with activity day and night. Find out why it was once called “a city within a city” and learn the hidden stories that go unseen by thousands each day.
Tour runs 1.5–2 hours.
As per the CDC, masks are recommended inside transportation hubs, such as stations, for people over age 2.
Learn MoreBus Tour | Exploring Chicago’s Union Stock Yard
After opening on Christmas Day 1865, the Union Stock Yard made Chicago the “Hog Butcher for the World.” In its heyday from the Civil War era through the 1920s, Chicago processed more meat than anywhere else in the world. Fueled by the colonialist expansion of railroads and the country’s rapid population growth spurred by European immigration, the stockyards provided meat products as well as jobs across the country.
Learn MoreWalking Tour | Pilsen Murals
Walk through Pilsen with local guide Luis Tubens and get the larger meaning behind the artwork in Chicago’s capital of Mexican cultures. The tour weaves the history of Pilsen with vibrant large-scale murals and lived personal experiences.
Tour runs 1.5 to 2 hours.
Masks are optional for our outdoor walking tours. Learn more about our COVID-19 safety policies and procedures.
More InfoWalking Tour | Paseo Boricua and Humboldt Park
Join professional guide and local resident Eduardo Arocho on a walk through Humboldt Park, which has been home to Chicago’s Puerto Rican community since the 1960s. This thought-provoking tour explores the history of the iconic West Side neighborhood through the public art proudly displayed along the six blocks of Division Street (Paseo Boricua) and in Humboldt Park.
Tour runs approximately 90 minutes.
Learn MoreWalking Tour | Union Station
Take a closer look at one of America’s last great railway terminals, which bustles with activity day and night. Find out why it was once called “a city within a city” and learn the hidden stories that go unseen by thousands each day.
Tour runs 1.5–2 hours.
As per the CDC, masks are recommended inside transportation hubs, such as stations, for people over age 2.