Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie

10/20/2026

We are so excited to have all of the 3rd graders in the Waukegan Public Schools visiting the museum again this year!

10/17/2026

🚀📚 STEP INSIDE THE IMAGINATION OF RAY BRADBURY! 📚🚀

“I was born in Waukegan in 1920 and had my second birth at the Carnegie Library in Waukegan.” — Ray Bradbury

Have you ever wondered where extraordinary worlds begin? For legendary author Ray Bradbury, it all started right here. Now, you can step directly into his brilliant mind at the immersive Ray Bradbury Library Exhibit, open at the beautifully restored Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie!

✨ What Awaits You:
🎥 Animated Storytelling: An exclusive animated short film exploring Bradbury’s life, imagination, and the library’s pivotal role in shaping his future.
⌨️ Rare Artifacts: See Bradbury’s actual typewriter, original manuscripts, and cherished personal items up close.
📚 Bradbury's Personal Library: Explore selections from his expansive personal book collection to discover the influences that inspired one of America’s greatest storytellers.
🌐 Bilingual Learning Access: Connect with Bradbury's legacy in both English and Spanish.

Come find your own inspiration where Ray found his!
📍 Where: 1 N. Sheridan Rd, Waukegan, IL
📅 When: Open Wednesday – Saturday

👇 Tag a fellow story lover who needs to go on this literary adventure with you!

10/15/2026

We are thrilled to see our special exhibit featured on WGN-TV! 📺✨

Our nation’s veterans are sharing deeply personal stories of healing, camaraderie, and community through art, photography, and nature. Presented by Brushwood Center, the "At Ease in Nature: Nature Holds Our Stories" exhibit highlights the powerful experiences of artists with a military connection, including Navy veteran Angela Walker and program coordinator Jessica Klinge, an Army reservist.

Come experience these moving pieces in person. The exhibit runs through October 24 at the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie and is included with museum admission.

👇 Watch the full feature here: WGN-TV

10/10/2026

Double your weekend plans with a trip to the Waukegan History Museums! 🏛️✨

Today is the perfect day to explore two of our incredible local gems:

Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie: Take a journey from the last ice age to the 21st century in a beautifully restored landmark, and check out our brand-new immersive Ray Bradbury Library exhibit!

Haines House Museum at Bowen Park: Step back into the late 1800s in one of Lake County's oldest surviving buildings—you can even see the actual bed Abraham Lincoln slept on when he visited Waukegan!

Special Limited-Time Exhibit: Don't miss the featured exhibition, At Ease in Nature: Nature Holds Our Stories presented by Brushwood Center at the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie. Plan your visit and find full details at waukeganhistorical.org.

10/05/2026

🌿 New Special Exhibition Opening Soon!

Join us at the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie for At Ease in Nature: Nature Holds Our Stories, running from October 7 to October 24, 2026.

Presented by Brushwood Center, this powerful exhibition brings together artwork, photography, and personal narratives created by artists with U.S. military connections—including current service members, Veterans, and their immediate families and caregivers.
Explore how our relationship with the natural world can hold memory, witness personal journeys, and offer a quiet space for reflection, resilience, and healing.

📍 Where: Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie, 1 N. Sheridan Rd., Waukegan, IL
📅 When: October 7 – October 24, 2026

Take a moment to pause, reconnect, and feel at ease. We hope to see you there!

09/25/2026

We love seeing our hometown hero celebrated! Thank you to the American Library Association's I Love Libraries website for featuring our new immersive Ray Bradbury Library Exhibit.

Have you visited yet? Come see the permanent exhibit in person and step inside his imagination at the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie!

Ray Bradbury, one of the most celebrated writers of the 20th century who gave us the classics “Fahrenheit 451,” “The Martian Chronicles,” “The Illustrated Man,” and so many more was born in Waukegan, Illinois, in 1920. And now, 126 years later, his hometown is celebrating him in grand fa...