Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie

08/28/2026

Congratulations on a great start to the school year! Bring Waukegan history to life with new field trip programs at the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie. Students can explore local history while practicing real historian skills.

New offerings include:
*Geography and Native Americans (Grades 1–2)
*The Underground Railroad (Grades 4–5)
*Ray Bradbury Short Stories (Middle School)

Schools may also schedule exhibit tours at the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie or visits to the Haines House Museum at Bowen Park. Learn more at Waukegan Historical Society and Waukegan Park District websites.

08/26/2026

Thank you to Dr. Jonathan R. Eller (advisor and retired director of the Ray Bradbury Center) for a wonderful member-only program on Ray Bradbury for the Waukegan Historical Society. Drawing from a 25-year friendship and his biographical trilogy, Dr. Eller shared intimate stories, rare insider insights, and answered fantastic questions from our audience.

Want access to our next member event? Join the Waukegan Historical Society today!

08/26/2026

The Waukegan Historical Society has opened an immersive, permanent Ray Bradbury Library exhibit at the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie—housed in the very room where the legendary author first discovered the magic of books. Read the full feature at Chicago Tribune.

Lori Nerheim, the president of the historical society, said the library was where Bradbury discovered “the magic of books.”

08/22/2026

🚀 Celebrate Ray Bradbury's birthday with a new exhibit at the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie! 🚀

Did you know the world-renowned author grew up right here in Waukegan?

Step into "Green Town" today and celebrate his legacy at the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie! We are officially open, and in honor of Ray’s birthday, admission is completely FREE today.

Come explore our immersive, brand-new Ray Bradbury Library Exhibit. Discover the local roots that inspired Dandelion Wine, marvel at historic artifacts, and dive deep into his timeless literary genius.

📍 Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie
📅 Open Today, Saturday, August 22, 11AM - 3PM
🎟️ FREE Admission

Bring the family and get inspired. See you there! 📚✨

08/03/2026

📸 Waukegan: Then & Now! 📸

UPDATE AUGUST 5, 2026:
This program has been canceled due to low enrollment.
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Step back in time and capture the present with us! Join us on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie.

We are heading out for a short walking tour of downtown Waukegan to explore local history. We will hand you a Polaroid camera to snap photos of the sights along the way! After the walk, we will head back to the museum and match your new Polaroid pictures with old historic photos from our collection. Help us create a cool side-by-side public display!

Register at waukeganparks.org/history

07/31/2026

Congratulations to Waukegan’s very own, Eleanor Taylor Bland, on her posthumous induction into the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame.

Ms. Bland (1944-2010) was an award-winning and inspiring African American author best known for her Marti MacAlister police procedural novels. MacAlister, a widowed Black police detective, was named after a Waukegan street, and the novels take place in a fictionalized Waukegan known as Lincoln Prairie. Bland created stories about real people and their challenges.

Eleanor Taylor Bland, who was born in Boston, came to Waukegan in the early 1960s. In addition to writing her popular crime series, Bland gave back to her community by serving on the board of the Waukegan Public Library and as chair of the Friends of the Waukegan Public Library.

Bland’s induction into the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame will be held on Saturday, August 1 at Woodson Regional Library in Chicago. Each year, a select group of writers are inducted into the Hall of Fame in recognition of their contributions to Chicago's literary culture. Inductees are selected based on their body of work and its impact on the city and its literary culture.

07/22/2026

It was a pleasure for the Waukegan Historical Society to support the 31st Annual Partners in Parks Golf Outing, hosted by the Waukegan Park District and the Waukegan Parks Foundation. Thank you to everyone who stopped by our table to learn about our mission and share their support! It was an absolutely beautiful day to be out at the historic Bonnie Brook Golf Course.