Elmhurst History Museum

06/02/2026

Drop into the museum for a new program in partnership with the Elmhurst Public Library, Summer Storytime at the Museum! 📚 On select Mondays from June – August, children, families, and caregivers are invited to visit us to enjoy stories and movement to boost literacy skills from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. ☀ Kids can enjoy a new story each month, explore the museum’s exhibits, and complete a craft!

📖 This month, enjoy a reading of “Players in Pigtails” by Shana Corey and themed crafts to accompany the story.

📆 Monday, June 22 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
📍 Outdoors at the Elmhurst History Museum
🎟 FREE to attend!

*Appropriate for children up to 8 years old, no registration required. Book and craft activity (while supplies last) changes monthly.

Visit us at the museum this summer to enjoy stories and movement to boost literacy skills in this lively storytime in partnership with the Elmhurst Public Library! Enjoy a new story each month at 10 a.m., then explore the museum’s exhibits and complete a craft (while supplies last). Appropriate fo...

05/29/2026

✨NOW OPEN✨ | History of Her: Women Who Shaped Chicagoland

Since its establishment in 1833, Chicago and its surrounding neighborhoods have watched generations of girls grow into influential leaders, innovators, and advocates for their communities. Our latest original exhibit, "History of Her: Women Who Shaped Chicagoland," explores the impact women and girls have had, and continue to have, in the Chicagoland area.

From trailblazing activists to ground-breaking artists, educators, athletes, and community pioneers, the exhibit features countless women’s stories, including Ida B. Wells, journalist, sociologist, educator, and early leader in the civil rights movement, Alta M. Hulette, the first female attorney admitted to the Illinois Bar, Ella Flagg Young, the first woman to serve as superintendent of Chicago Public Schools, Jane Addams, a leading figure in Progressive era social reform, Jane Byrne, Chicago’s first female mayor, US Senator Tammy Duckworth, Former First Ladies Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama, TV Personality Oprah Winfrey, All American Girls Baseball League athletes, and many, many more.

Visit the exhibition through August 9, 2026!

Thank you to our extraordinary exhibition sponsors: Feze Roofing, Dollars & Sense for Nonprofit Success, Slone Commercial, LLC, and the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation.

05/28/2026

Today's Throwback Thursday highlights the Elmhurst League of Women Voters marching in the 1964 Memorial Day parade on York Street. The local league dates back to 1932, encouraging civic engagement and participation in American democracy. The league is featured in photographs in our newest exhibition, "History of Her: Women Who Shaped Chicagoland," opening tomorrow!

05/27/2026

🚨 We just had ONE spot open up for the first week of this summer's Museum Explorers Summer Camp (Session 1: June 8 – 12)! 🚨 Sign up your camper before we sell out again!

🌞 Museum Explorers Camp is designed for children (entering grades 2 - 5) who like to engage in a variety of STEAM activities with an emphasis on learning, cooperation, fun, and creativity in a respectful atmosphere. The camp format is structured with daily lesson plans incorporating age-appropriate activities with scheduled outdoor playtime, special presentations, and visits to other museums in the area!

We also have a few more spots for Week 2 open this August! (The same curriculum will be presented during both sessions, so campers are invited to register for one or the other.) Learn more 👇

Museum Explorers Camp is designed for children (entering grades 2 - 5) who like to engage in a variety of STEAM activities with an emphasis on learning, cooperation, fun, and creativity in a respectful atmosphere. The camp format is structured with daily lesson plans incorporating age-appropriate ac...

05/26/2026

Get your tickets today for our "History of Her: Women Who Shaped Chicagoland" Gallery Talk with EHM Curator of Exhibits, Sarah Cox. Sarah will dive further into the stories of the remarkable women and girls featured in our latest original exhibition and explore the lasting impact they had, and continue to have, on the Chicagoland area. This is one you won't want to miss!

📆 Sunday, July 19
🕐 12 p.m.
🎟 FREE to Members, $8 Non-Members: Register Below!
📍 Elmhurst History Museum, 120 E Park Ave.

"History of Her: Women Who Shaped Chicagoland" opens this Friday, May 29!

Join Curator of Exhibits, Sarah Cox, for an exclusive guided tour of the museum’s latest exhibit, History of Her: Women Who Shaped Chicagoland! In this celebration of the ways that girls and women, both then and now, continue to shape the world around them, Sarah will explore the early pioneers wh...

05/23/2026

We're less than one week away from the opening of "History of Her: Women Who Shaped Chicagoland"! We couldn't be more excited to debut this fabulous show, which will feature the stories of over 70 women who have had an immense impact on the Chicagoland area, from athletes and politicians, to artists, social workers, and many more.

✨ Explore the exhibit yourself beginning Friday, May 29!

The biggest cultural event in the Chicago area this year promises to be the opening of the Obama Presidential Center June 19. Designed by the New York-based Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects | Part...

05/22/2026

🎶 Rock the Night Away with Us! 🎶

Join us at the Museum this evening for our first 4th Fridays Summer Concert of the season! 🎉 We’re thrilled to kick off the series with the electrifying One Foot in the Groove, whose horn-driven classic rock will have you dancing in no time! 🎺💃🕺

🕖 Time: 7 - 8:30 p.m.
🎟️ Admission: FREE!
🪑 Pro Tip: Bring your own seating and get comfy!

🎤 Check out more details and the full concert lineup on our website: https://bit.ly/4cKoSYc

A huge shoutout to our amazing supporters: The Dr. Virginia R. Stewart Memorial Fund, Feze Roofing, Elmhurst Living Magazine, and Dollars & Sense for Nonprofit Success! 🙌

See you tonight! 🌟✨

https://www.elmhursthistory.org/event/4th-fridays-concert%3a-one-foot-in-the-groove/1090/

Join us for our 2nd Annual Fourth Fridays Summer Concert Series on the Elmhurst History Museum's new outdoor bandshell!​ May 22: One Foot in the Groove, 7 - 8:30 p.m. Horn-Driven Classic Rock June 26: Illinois Brass Band, 7 - 8:30 p.m. Brass Music, from classical to jazz to popular July 24: The Ir...

05/21/2026

With commencement ceremonies held this past weekend, today's Throwback Thursday highlights the York Community High School campus as it was in 1929, looking northeast via airplane. The school building was only nine years old at that point. Other sights to note is the mostly empty Elmhurst College campus area at top right and the undeveloped College View Terrace subdivision behind the school--three years earlier, the area was home to the Elmhurst Golf Club.

05/19/2026

As the ’25-’26 school year wraps up, we’re thrilled to share a project some of our local Elmhurst CUSD 205 6th grade students have been working on this past semester. Churchville Middle School 6th graders explored how second-wave civilizations still influence our world today and created digital museum panels for the Elmhurst History Museum!

Check out their work at elmhursthistory.org through the end of the month! 🎓

https://www.elmhursthistory.org/articles/post/d205-6th-grade-project-ancient-civilizations-modern-impact/

During the Spring 2026 semester of social studies, Mrs. Carney and Ms. Ocampo’s 6th grade classes at Churchville Middle School explored the lasting legacies of second-wave civilizations. Investigating

05/16/2026

During our upcoming “History of Her: Women Who Shaped Chicagoland” exhibit, we’re partnering with Papel Arcano to host a journaling workshop at the museum!

Historically, journals and diaries have provided first-hand accounts of everything from large events to mundane moments. Today, journaling is still a fantastic method to keep track of your own history. The workshop will introduce attendees to the basics of journaling, such as types of supplies, an overview of popular techniques, and how to get over the fear of the blank page, including prompts and time to practice journaling!

📆 July 25
🕐 12 - 2 p.m.
📍 Elmhurst History Museum
🎟️ $45 (journaling supplies included with ticket!)

Interested in learning how to preserve your most cherished memories? Join us for a beginner-friendly journaling workshop in partnership with Elmhurst-based Papel Arcano. Historically, journals and diaries have provided first-hand accounts of everything from large events to mundane moments. Today, jo...