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Tuesday 9:30am - 4:30pm Wednesday 9:30am - 4:30pm Thursday 9:30am - 4:30pm Friday 9:30am - 4:30pm Saturday 9:30am - 4:30pm Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Chicago History Museum

Name: Chicago History Museum
Address: 1601 N Clark Street, Chicago, IL, 60614, US
Telephone: (312) 642-4600
Rating: 4.5

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Chicago History Museum

The Chicago History Museum is a place of learning, discovery, creativity, and, of course, history.
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11/29/2023

Al Capone. H. H. Holmes. Leopold and Loeb. For all its architectural marvels and cultural richness, Chicago has a darker side to its history–one that unfolds through infamous true crime cases.

In our latest blog post, Ayah Elkossei of the shares about our abundant resources for those fascinated by the city’s criminal past. The newly available True Crime LibGuide is a digital treasure trove crafted by CHM staff to help you explore our holdings, such as images, archives and manuscripts, and published materials. https://ow.ly/81IG50Qcu0B Content warning: Some of the resources discuss heinous acts of violence and sexual assault, which may be distressing or triggering.

11/24/2023

Looking for the perfect present for the history lovers in your life? Give the gift of CHM membership this holiday season! From now through Saturday, January 6, all gift memberships are 20% off with code 23WIHOL. CHM members enjoy exclusive events, double discount weeks, and more! https://ow.ly/Iig150Q6w1M

Questions? Call Hannah Johnson, CHM member relations manager, at (312) 799-2113.

11/23/2023

Happy Thanksgiving from the Chicago History Museum! What’s on your menu today?

This Clifton House menu from November 25, 1858, offers selections from North American and European cuisines. European-style highlights include “Goose Livers, Sauce” (possibly similar to foie gras), “Maccaroni, with a Ragout of Chicken Livers” (pasta with chicken liver sauce, or ragù fegatini di pollo, is popular in northern Italy, particularly Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna), and “Blance Mange” (blancmange). There are seafoods that we can presume were brought in from the East Coast, such as oysters, clams, and shad, a fish typically found along the Atlantic coast. Note the caution with which the shellfish were served—there are no raw offerings. Instead, the clams were stewed, and the oysters were served escalloped, fried, and in soup or an aspic.

The menu lists plenty of local game, such as venison, squirrels, prairie chickens, and ducks. Dessert offerings include Roman Punch, a semifrozen concoction that has champagne and orange juice as its primary ingredients and was notable for the floating crown of meringue that adorned the top of the drink. The pastry offerings are equally robust and include a Charlotte Russe, a French pastry particularly popular in the American South comprising mousse poured into a ladyfinger-lined cake mold and topped with either preserves or fresh fruit. See more menus https://g.co/arts/64TQg522DqdUFbK4A

11/22/2023

in 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, TX, by Lee Harvey Oswald. Kennedy was the first Catholic US president and at 43, the youngest person to be elected president. The Kennedy family had ties to Chicago as owners of Merchandise Mart for over 50 years, and JFK visited the city numerous times, including attending the 1956 Democratic National Convention. In 1960, he participated in the presidential debate televised from WBBM-TV, CBS Chicago, and, according to political lore, it was mayor Richard J. Daley who worked the legendary Democratic machine on his behalf to win the election. As president, JFK visited Chicago in October 1962 to speak at the Cook County Democratic dinner at the Arie Crown Theater and again in March 1963 to officially dedicate O'Hare International Airport.

In the days following Kennedy's death, Chicagoans watched in shock and grief along with the rest of the world as Oswald himself was shot and killed in Dallas by Chicago native Jack Ruby and the state funeral of the second US president to be assassinated took place. https://ow.ly/gkqK50Q9XuI

11/15/2023

in 1969, photographer Declan Haun (1937–94) was in Washington, DC, capturing the Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam activities taking place. During the 1960s, Haun worked first as a staff photographer for the "Charlotte Observer" in North Carolina and later in Chicago as a freelancer for the picture agency Black Star. Haun’s ability to communicate the emotional tenor of the times in his photographs earned him contracts with leading national magazines, such as "Life," "Newsweek," and the "Saturday Evening Post."

These photographs are part of the Declan Haun Archive, which CHM acquired through the generosity of the photographer’s estate in 2002. The archive includes most of Haun’s original negatives, slides, personal and professional papers, and a selection of his original prints. See more of Declan Haun’s images: https://ow.ly/YFL750Q7UUC

11/11/2023

Today marks Poland's National Independence Day, which commemorates Poland becoming an independent nation again in 1918 after World War I and the collapse of the Russian, German, and Austro-Hungarian Empires. In the 19th century, Polish immigrants in Chicago looked to each other for support and aid, which resulted in the creation of fraternal groups. The three major national organizations were based in Chicago: Polish Roman Catholic Union of America (1873), Polish National Alliance (1880), and Polish Women’s Alliance (1898). They organized support for the Polish independence movement and wartime relief for the Polish people. Learn more about these organizations and others in "Back Home: Polish Chicago." https://ow.ly/c49A50Q6vCE

11/08/2023

“The whole idea of the American Indian is a concept that was invented by Europeans to designate the native people from North America. . . . Partly it’s a myth. The American Indian is a myth that doesn’t exist. Poncas exist. Ojibwe people exist. Seminoles exist. Cherokees exist.”

In November 1971, Studs Terkel spoke with Roger Buffalohead, a Ponca tribe member and educator, scholar, and activist, about Native American history and creating space at universities to study Indigenous history from the Indigenous perspective. In their conversation, they discuss how history is interpreted, rationalized, and often distorted through myths that persist into contemporary times. Buffalohead points out that more than 400 distinct cultures in North America were reduced to merely a few symbols and often discussed only in terms of their material social contributions. Listen to the full conversation:
https://ow.ly/RYov50Q5H9g // Roger Buffalohead, the Institute of the American West photograph collection,1886‒1985. Courtesy of the University of Utah, J. Willard Marriott Library.

11/06/2023

In observance of Thanksgiving, the Chicago History Museum will close at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 22, and will reopen on Friday, November 24. The Abakanowicz Research Center will be closed starting Wednesday, November 22, and will reopen on Tuesday, November 28. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. https://ow.ly/XP9C50Q45C6

11/03/2023

Don't clown around—it's the last weekend to experience "Haunted Dolls 2: The Riddles of the Wayward Spirit"! Find the dolls, solve the riddles with your knowledge of Chicago history, and stop the wayward spirit's sinister plan before Sunday, 11/5. https://ow.ly/8m0s50Q40Qo // Clown doll, c. 1930. Gift of Lucy Fairbanks. 1989.668.1.

11/01/2023

On November 1 and 2, ***os (Day of the Dead) is celebrated in Mexico. Renowned for bright, elaborate ofrendas (altars) installed in homes and businesses, the holiday is a time of remembrance, celebration, and veneration for those who have passed. On a typical ofrenda one can expect to find things like calaveras (sugar skulls), cempazúchitl (marigold flowers), pan de mu**to (bread for the dead), and other mementos that represent and honor those to whom the ofrenda is dedicated, such as this tortillera (tortilla maker) figurine (c. 1990) by Ms. Elena Duran. Made out of cardboard and painted by hand, it depicts another ancestral tradition in Mexican culture passed down from generation to generation—the art of handmade corn tortillas. Today, Día de los Mu***os celebrations across Chicago are plentiful and serve as a visual reminder of the rapid growth of the city’s Mexican American population. https://ow.ly/bRF750Q363M

10/31/2023

Happy Halloween! Chicago's Graceland Cemetery is many things, such as a certified arboretum and a masterclass example of the garden cemetery movement popularized across the United States in the 19th century. But most notably to Chicagoans, the hallowed grounds are the final resting place for an extensive list of Chicago elites and eccentrics, including Louis Henri Sullivan, Potter and Bertha Honoré Palmer, Charles Wacker, and Daniel H. Burnham, who is buried alongside his wife, Margaret, on their own private island inside the cemetery. Learn more in our latest blog post: https://ow.ly/eNvm50Q2Oga

10/26/2023

Which Doll are you? 👻🎃 Take our BuzzFeed quiz to find out which creepy, historical doll from our collection you most resemble! Then, come visit the Chicago History Museum, solve the riddles on our scavenger hunt, and find your doll-pelganger before Sunday, November 5! https://www.buzzfeed.com/chicagohistorymuseum/which-haunted-doll-are-you-ju9twreb7

10/25/2023

Latinx, Latine, Latino, Latin@, Latin, Brown, Chicano, Hispanic. Over the years, people of Latin American heritage have described themselves in a lot of different ways, and others have described them still differently. It can be confusing for everyone and difficult to stay up to date and feel like you’re using the “right” terminology. The fact is that there’s no definitive “right” answer, but there are important considerations to make when deciding what word to use.

In our latest blog post, CHM curator of civic engagement and social justice Elena Gonzales writes about the history and definitions of various descriptors of people of Latin American heritage and explains why CHM is shifting from using “Latino/a/x” to using “Latine.” https://ow.ly/n3jp50Q0hAS

10/24/2023

Become a member today and go on our spine-chilling Haunted Dolls scavenger hunt! Save 20% and get 2 FREE months. Offer valid until November 30, 2023, and excludes All Star level. Use code 23FAMEMFB or call (312) 642-4600. http://chicagohistory.org/MEMBERSHIP

10/22/2023

Sixty years ago, on October 22, 1963, a coalition of civil rights groups staged Freedom Day, a mass boycott and demonstration against segregated schools and inadequate resources for Black students in Chicago. Almost half of the city’s public school students skipped class, leaving many schools on the South and West Sides virtually empty.

The climax of Freedom Day was the march to the downtown office of the Chicago Board of Education. Thousands took to the streets, carrying signs that voiced their frustrations. Many targeted Superintendent Ben Willis. Police met the protestors and prevented them from entering the Chicago Board of Education building. The protest ignited other demonstrations, each demanding an end to segregation in Chicago.

See more in our exhibition "Facing Freedom in America": https://ow.ly/ZNvF50PZ7sO

10/19/2023

Last Friday we had the honor of sharing highlights from the Museum’s costume collection with fashion designer Christian Siriano. The visit included several pieces featured in Ebony Fashion Fairs, a rainbow of pleated Delphos gowns, and highlights from our Christian Lacroix items. Siriano is the 2023 recipient of the Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum Costume Council’s prestigious Presidents’ Circle Award.

See more items from the Costume Collection here: https://images.chicagohistory.org/costume-and-textiles-collection/

10/18/2023

After the Philippine-American War (1899–1902), Chicago was one of the US cities where ambitious, young Filipino men attended elite universities. They not only participated in campus life, but also in the local labor force and contributed to major movements as many settled in Chicago after immigration laws completely excluded Asians.

Filipino workers also played an unintentional role in negotiations between the Brotherhood of the Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP) and the Pullman Company. To intimidate African American porters from joining the Brotherhood, the Pullman Company hired Filipino workers as replacements and published takedown articles to pit them against their African American coworkers. A Chicago Daily News article published on April 7, 1944, insisted that the BSCP discriminated against Filipinos. In a scathing open letter dated April 19, 1944, Milton Webster, vice president of the BSCP and lead negotiator, dispelled the notion that the Brotherhood discriminated against Asian workers. Learn more in our latest blog post: https://ow.ly/pVLg50PYbfI

10/13/2023

Move over M3GAN, Billy, and Chucky, these dolls are the real deal! This , come scare yourself silly on our scavenger hunt, "Haunted Dolls 2: The Riddles of the Wayward Spirit"! https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyWEQ6Frd5u/

10/11/2023

At the 1933–34 A Century of Progress International Exposition, visitors were wowed by two professional dancers at the Mexican Village. The husband-and-wife dance team of Alfredo Cano and Bertha “Rosita” Musquiz enchanted audience members with their bright and intricate garments and traditional Mexican dances, bailes folkloricos, which often tell intricate stories and legends as part of the performance. In our latest blog post, learn more about the 1933–34 world’s fair and the impact it had on Alfredo and Rosita’s dancing career: https://ow.ly/ZKBB50PVlNH // Studio portrait of Alfredo Cano and Bertha “Rosita” Musquiz, c. 1930. CHM, ICHI-183252; Larry Karns Cleveland, photographer

10/10/2023

In October 1848, a small group of Chicagoans witnessed the “Pioneer” on its inaugural run as it pulled from the city’s first railway station, near the intersection of present-day Canal and Kinzie Streets. The “Pioneer” has long remained, in the words of one commentator, the “historic symbol of the coming of the railroads” to Chicago and the nation, transforming both in challenging and enduring ways. For our latest blog post, CHM director of exhibitions Paul Durica writes about the locomotive’s significance in Chicago’s railroad history and the winding journey it took to our “Chicago: Crossroads of America” exhibition: https://ow.ly/axNR50PVcjh

10/08/2023

It's !🥟 The word “pierogi” is the plural form of pieróg, the Polish word for filled dumplings. Pierogi can be sweet or savory, and fillings can include potato, cheese, sauerkraut, ground meat, mushrooms, and fruits such as berries. Celebrate at CHM by learning about Chicago’s Polish communities in “Back Home: Polish Chicago,” enjoying the pierogi lunch special* at the North & Clark Café, and picking up a cookbook with 50+ pierogi recipes at the Museum Store! https://ow.ly/yiaV50PTf0P *Normally Fri. & Sat. only.

10/06/2023

Today, we remember Dick Butkus, who died yesterday at age 80. Born in Chicago on December 9, 1942, Butkus played his entire career in Illinois, from Chicago Vocational High School to the University of Illinois to the Chicago Bears. Known for his fierce tackling, the legendary linebacker will be remembered as one of the greats. As a Bear, he amassed 22 interceptions, 27 recovered fumbles, and played in eight Pro Bowls. After his playing career, Butkus went on to be a broadcaster and actor. His no. 51 jersey was retired by the Bears in 1994. You can read more about this history of the Chicago Bears on CHM’s blog: https://www.chicagohistory.org/bears100/

📷: HS football player Dick Butkus w/ his mother, Emma, father, John, and Chicago Vocational coach Bernie O'Brien at the Butkus home, Nov. 29, 1959. ST-17500189-E1, Chicago Sun-Times collection, CHM. Butkus (51) assists Tony McGee as they halt the progress of Cowboys running back Calvin Hill in the season opener at Soldier Field, Sept. 16, 1973. STM-036299392, Bob Langer/Chicago Sun-Times.

10/04/2023

in 1979, the first Polish-born pope, John Paul II, arrived in Chicago. The city's Polonia embraced him as the Holy Father and a world leader in the struggle against communism. Many Chicagoans took pride in his ability to reach different audiences, speak many languages, and address important issues within the Church. He made multiple stops during his short visit, including at Holy Name Cathedral, St. Peter’s in the Loop, Provenance of God in Pilsen, Five Holy Martyrs—where he celebrated an 8 a.m. outdoor mass in his native Polish—and Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary South. The highlight of his visit, however, was the outdoor mass he gave in Grant Park on the afternoon of October 5, which an estimated 1.2 million people attended. As the first—and thus far only—pope to visit Chicago, John Paul II has had an enduring presence in the city. See more about his visit in our exhibition Back Home: Polish Chicago: https://ow.ly/TW9p50PT1Vl

10/03/2023

"On October 3rd, he asked me what day it was." 💅👑 https://ow.ly/xHow50PSt3j

09/29/2023

Happy to you and your loved ones!🥮 Celebrated in East and Southeast Asian countries and by their overseas communities, the holiday coincides with the full moon and the traditional time of harvest. It is widely considered the second most important holiday after the Lunar New Year, which means it is a time for family gatherings. Mid-Autumn Festival emphasizes family unity and thanksgiving, and celebrations include lighting lanterns, burning incense, dances, and, of course, moon cakes. // Margrette Yuen dancing a Chinese folk dance at a Moon Festival, Chicago, Aug. 6, 1982. STM-038207582, Don Bierman/Chicago Sun-Times. See more images: https://ow.ly/O4qT50PRhYk #中秋節

09/28/2023

Hey there, Wintrust Bank Chicago and The Moody Church, it's ! to a view of our neighbors at the northwest corner of North Avenue and Clark Street in 1973. The Moody Church was designed by John R. Fugard of Fugard & Knapp and is partly based on the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. Construction began in 1924 and took one year, with the dedication ceremony taking place in November 1925. In stark contrast is the modernist North Federal Savings Bank, now home to Wintrust, which was designed by Mitsuru Otsuji of Naess & Murphy and completed in 1961. See more photographs of Old Town: https://ow.ly/6Sgq50PQKnv // CHM, ICHi-038902; 📷: Sigmund J. Osty

09/24/2023

From sundown Sunday to sundown Monday is , the holiest day in Judaism. Along with Rosh Hashanah and Sukkot, it is one of the Jewish High Holidays and is also known as the “Day of Atonement.” The day comprises fasting, which includes no eating or drinking and other forms of self-denial as a way of seeking closeness to G-d, and is typically spent in prayer communally, until the breaking of the fast at sunset with a meal that marks an end to this solemn time and transitions to a time of celebration. Communal prayers and orders of service for the High Holidays are written in specialized books known as machzors.

This edition, created for Yom Kippur, was published in 1907 in Vilnius (Wilno, Vilna) during the Russian Empire, as indicated by the Cyrillic script at the bottom of its frontispiece. Vilnius was an important historic center of publishing for the Ashkenazi Jewish community. The publisher of this edition, the Romm family printing house, was one of the largest Eastern European printers of the 19th century and was significant to the development of Hebrew and Yiddish literature. The Romm publishing business operated continuously for more than 120 years until its closure in 1940 under the Soviet conquest. You can find it in "Back Home: Polish Chicago," where you can learn more about the history of the Chicago area’s Polish communities from the mid-1800s to today: https://ow.ly/YuOE50POMsA // Machzor, 1907, courtesy of Daniel Pogorzelski.

09/21/2023

🎵Do you remember the 21st night of September?🎵 These Chicago Sun-Times photographs show Earth, Wind & Fire performing at Chicago Stadium on February 5, 1978. It was something of a homecoming for the band, which was first formed in Chicago as the Salty Peppers in 1969 by Maurice White (1941–2016). And located about a mile from Chicago Stadium, Crane Tech High School is the alma mater of Verdine White, Maurice's half-brother and fellow EWF member.

Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Maurice White moved north after high school to study at Roosevelt University's Chicago Musical College. He had drumming jobs on the side and eventually became a studio percussionist with legendary Chicago label Chess Records. At Chess, White played with such notables as Etta James, Willie Dixon, and Ramsey Lewis. He joined Ramsey Lewis Trio in 1967 and left in 1969 to compose songs and commercials in the Chicago area with two friends, Wade Flemons and Don Whitehead. They got a recording contract with Capitol and called themselves the “Salty Peppers." After moving to Los Angeles and signing a new contract with Warner Bros., Maurice, a Sagittarius, changed the band’s name to "Earth, Wind & Fire" after the three elements in his astrological chart. They would go on to win numerous industry awards, including six Grammys and four American Music Awards. See more images: https://ow.ly/u2uX50POlzT

09/20/2023

Vienna Beef, Juicy Fruit, Cream of Wheat. Could be a grocery list or a list of foods that debuted at the 1893 world's fair and continue to be enjoyed by many today.

The World’s Columbian Exposition (WCE) opened Chicago’s doors to millions and allowed the US to show off what it had to offer. While replete with memorable architecture and technological innovations, the many culinary offerings throughout the White City and the Midway Plaisance enticed and enchanted visitors' palates. In our latest blog post, we highlight some of the foodstuffs that got their starts at the WCE: https://ow.ly/U3GU50PNV2v

09/19/2023

It's !🗳️ Voting is a right for most US citizens, but in order to vote you must be registered. If you're not registered or if you can't remember, you can check or get set up at https://vote.gov/ // Harold Washington voting on election day, Chicago, April 12, 1983. CHM, ICHi-036028

09/18/2023

four years ago, students from the Rudy Lozano Leadership Academy (Instituto Justice and Leadership Academy, IJLA), an alternative school on the city’s West Side, took a field trip to the Chicago History Museum (CHM) as part of their history class. What was supposed to be an enriching experience left many in the class feeling like the Museum had erased their history after finding next to no representation of Latinos’ history other than a lowrider parked in the Museum’s lobby. Under the direction of their teacher and longtime activist Anton Miglietta, the students returned to CHM and protested the lack of representation in the Museum’s galleries and archival holdings. Their protests were successful, with CHM administration acknowledging the institution’s shortcomings and agreeing to install an exhibition on the history of Latinos in Chicago.

That promised exhibition, , will open in fall 2025 under the direction of CHM curator of civic engagement and social justice Dr. Elena Gonzales. Beyond just being a physical exhibition, Aquí also encompasses several other internal and external efforts, including paid summer internships for Chicago-area youth, posts on the CHM blog, a series of community collections workshops, and a rethinking of and building upon CHM’s current in-house educational initiatives to further support CHM staff and personnel to be stronger allies in serving this community’s needs.

To learn more about this work and critical museum observation, check out this conversation between Dr. Gonzales and Dr. Emmanuel Ortega of UIC in our latest issue of Chicago History magazine: https://ow.ly/IhOf50PMXGK

09/13/2023

If you were about to embark on a two-week trip to a place you'd never been, how many outfits would you bring? In 1893, the general advice given to women heading to the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago was that “two or three dresses with extra shirtwaists will be sufficient to carry for the stay of a few weeks at the fair.” Now that's a real capsule wardrobe!

Learn more about the clothes people wore and saw at the world's fair once they made it to Chicago: https://ow.ly/KRJ850PKPga

09/06/2023

On this day in 1860, Laura Jane Addams was born in Cedarville, Illinois. Perhaps best known for cofounding Hull-House settlement house, she had an unwavering commitment to improving social conditions, particularly in urban areas. Issues such as housing, pollution, public health, and child welfare, she argued, were of particular concern to women living in modern industrial cities, and she took a practical model of social reform, which included expanding work opportunities, improving housing conditions, supporting stricter child-labor laws, and protecting working women. She also advocated for women’s suffrage, particularly in city elections, so women could be an even greater force in urban reform. Learn more in our online experience : Chicago Women and the Vote. https://ow.ly/HTI050PIukw

📷: Jane Addams sits on the steps of the terrace at Hull-House with a group of children, Chicago, 1932. CHM, ICHi-009374

09/04/2023

New on the blog. This Labor Day, learn about Polish-born labor leader John Kikulski, his work in the Chicago stockyards labor movement, and how his life was tragically cut short at age 43. You can see more about Kikulski in our exhibition "Back Home: Polish Chicago." Read the post: https://ow.ly/gU0A50PGUUJ

09/02/2023

It’s still as far as we're concerned!☀️ These Chicago Sun-Times photographs show kids taking their creativity to the sands of North Avenue Beach (1974) and Montrose Beach (1997) to build fabulous castles and sea creatures.

Did you know Chicago’s waterfront was primarily devoted to commerce and industry before it was used for recreation purposes? Near the end of the 19th century, concerns over cleaner water and environments and changing industrial patterns marked a move toward increased leisure use of Chicago's waterways. The 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition led to the development of the east side of Jackson Park. In 1896, the city began extending Grant Park into Lake Michigan with landfill, a project that became a model for much of the lakefront. The Burnham Plan, published in 1909, prescribed the expansive recreational development of the lakefront and the Chicago River.

Landfill extensions continued on the lakefront throughout the 1920s but slowed during the Great Depression. By 1934, Chicago’s 22 separate park commissions were consolidated into the Chicago Park District. Supported by President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, the Park District made many park improvements, including the Montrose to Foster landfill extension and a major extension to North Avenue. This additional land eventually became the beaches we know and love today.

Learn more about Chicago’s waterfront: http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/1326.html

08/30/2023

From genealogists to journalists, from Chicago Metro History Day participants to emeriti professors, and from architects to house historians, CHM reference librarian Lesley Martin has helped thousands of researchers in her nearly three decades at the Chicago History Museum. As she approaches retirement this October, we’ve asked her to reflect on her time as an editor and librarian at CHM in a special staff spotlight blog post: https://ow.ly/FOXK50PFA2t

CHM reference librarian Lesley Martin (right) with patrons in the Abakanowicz Research Center, 2015. Photograph by CHM staff.

08/26/2023

August 26 is the feast day for Our Lady of Częstochowa, the Black Madonna of Poland. The icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is now housed at the Jasna Góra Monastery in Częstochowa, Poland, is believed by many to have been painted by Saint Luke the Evangelist and has been a symbol of Polish Catholicism, suffering, and perseverance for centuries. The monastery is a pilgrimage site for thousands every year, and the feast day is marked by a special mass and a procession of the icon through the streets of Częstochowa.

More locally, Our Lady of Częstochowa has a church dedicated to her in the neighboring town of Cicero, first established by Polish immigrants in 1892 who wanted mass in their own language without having to travel into Chicago. What began as a simple wooden church in 1895 is now a vibrant trilingual parish that hosts mass in Polish, English, and Spanish, serving Polish American and Mexican American faithful.

This set of images from our Chicago Sun-Times photograph collection represents a pivotal commemorative moment for Chicago’s Polish Catholic community. In August 1982, a crowded sanctuary welcomed Archbishop Joseph L. Bernardin to commemorate the 600th anniversary of Our Lady of Częstochowa as Poland’s holiest icon. The congregation heard messages of solidarity, including the archbishop’s prayer for the “people of Poland [to be blessed with] the freedom and dignity they have longed for and so much deserve.”

You can learn more about the history of Chicago’s Polish communities in our exhibition “Back Home: Polish Chicago.” https://ow.ly/Fu2C50PECKu

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Videos

It's 1871 and a fire has broken out on DeKoven Street in Chicago! But you can't call 9-1-1 like you can today. Instead, use the nearest metal fire alarm box, if you have a key, that is. Metal fire alarm boxes were located throughout the city. The boxes were locked, and only certain citizens were given keys to open them. See how these fire alarm boxes worked. You can learn more about the Great Chicago Fire, which began on this day in 1871, in our exhibition "City on Fire: Chicago 1871." https://www.chicago1871.org/ #Chicago1871

#CHMGivingDay is almost here! Honor our city's resiliency with a gift that ensures Chicago's history is shared for generations to come.

Join us this Monday, January 17 as we commemorate the legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in a day filled with family-friendly activities. #MLK2022 www.chicagohistory.org/event/mlkday2022

The wait is over! The City on Fire: #chicago1871 exhibition is now open. Get tickets at chicago1871.org

Exhibition Sneak Peek: Learn more about Joseph and Anna Hudlin in "City on Fire: #Chicago1871" when it opens October 8. https://www.chicago1871.org

Everything is slowly coming together for the City on Fire: Chicago 1871 exhibition. We are excited to share this teaser clip with you. Full video coming soon! #chicago1871

Join us for our August walking tours. Visit and learn more about Union Station, the murals in Hyde Park and Pilsen, the glitterati of the Gold Coast, and the Hollywood history of the Sheffield neighborhood. Purchase tickets at chicagohistory.org/events #chicagoneighborhoods #chicagotour #ChicagoHistory

Do you have any weekend plans? How about you join us for our guided Chicago neighborhood tours? Purchase tickets at: www.chicagohistory.org/events #WalkingTour #chicagotour #chicagoneighborhoods

Mark your calendars for the opening of our newest exhibition, City on Fire: Chicago 1871, on Friday, October 8, which commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire. #chicago1871 #chicagohistory #greatchicagofire