Chicago History Museum

An easy 5-stars. This is an excellent museum with amazing insights into Chicago past and present. From a home to the indigenous to a fur trading post for the French, British and then American, and then literally a key crossroads for the USA. The exhibits are well laid out and marked. There are a couple free hour long guided tours available for free, check local timings. Tickets are cheaper on Groupon so consider getting it there. Free bag / coat check to keep all your backpacks. A nice cafe on site. A gift store as well (was closed for maintenance the day we went). Parking is at 1730 N Stockton, bring your parking ticket for validation for $10 all day parking! PS: Disappointed that on the day we visited, the American History Wing was with a couple of nice exhibit sections were closed to the public. The Museum Store was interesting but was closed for maintenance that day as well.

This is a great museum to explore Chicago's amazing history! There are not extensive collections to see but rather art mixed with story boards making it more fun, informative and engaging! I loved the fashion exhibition! It was a nice mix of fashion throughout the ages! I also enjoyed that we could have fun taking pictures at the exhibits making it fun and interactive for the viewer!!

It was a very nice visit and learned the comprehensive history of Chicago as a city and its role in America. The exhibit was engaging and interactive which made learning fun and interesting. The museum was quiet and located in Lincoln Park which made it easy to take a nice stroll afterwards on a sunny day (we went on a rainy day 😞)

The Chicago History Museum offers a fascinating and comprehensive glimpse into the rich tapestry of Chicago’s past. Located in the heart of Lincoln Park, the museum boasts an impressive collection of exhibits that span from the city’s founding days to its modern-day evolution. One of the highlights is the interactive exhibits that engage visitors of all ages, making history both accessible and entertaining. The museum’s extensive collection includes historical photographs, artifacts, and multimedia presentations that vividly bring Chicago’s stories to life. Notable displays include exhibits on the Great Chicago Fire, the city’s architectural marvels, and its diverse immigrant communities. The museum’s architecture itself is worth a visit, with its historic building adding to the sense of stepping back in time. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, often providing insightful commentary or assistance. For those interested in Chicago’s history, culture, or architecture, this museum is a must-visit. It’s an educational and inspiring experience that deepens your appreciation for the city’s resilience and innovation.

If this review is helpful, please make sure you leave it a like 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽. March 4th, 2025, was the 188th birthday for Chicago. So, of course, I'd celebrate it by making a visit to the Chicago history museum. I am a true born and raised Chicago, lady ! This is always a treat. I love visiting the our number one first elevated train car. All of the amazing exhibits and artifacts from a history of a proud and beautiful metropolitan metropolis. Learning new things about the city. Although I'm very well aversed in my city. It's always great to find something new that you didn't know. Small little bits of history and facts that bring a smile to your face or bring a tear to your eye. The museum is not to be missed!! Just head on down to the corner of Clark and North Avenue.

The Chicago History Museum is an offers a great presentation of the city’s history. The exhibits are well arranged. It’s a great choice for anyone interested in learning more about the history of Chicago. I recommend grabbing tickets on Groupon ahead of time, as they are a bit cheaper than buying them directly from the museum.

Pricing a bit expensive at $17 even with a discount… but overall very worthwhile experience that dives into so many different aspects of Chicago history. I learned more than a handful of things from this museum. There’s also a LOT of exhibits so I would definitely prepare an afternoon to thoroughly soak in every piece of information. I really enjoyed the exhibit about the L, the dioramas, and Emmett Till. There was also an entire movie theater that was showing films about the Chicago fires and race riots. Would absolutely recommend.

This museum is a must-see for anyone curious about Chicago’s layered history. From architecture and immigration to political unrest and pop culture, it covers it all. The building is beautiful and the exhibits are well curated. Give yourself time — there’s more to take in than you might expect.

Add this to my list of favorite places in Chicago! I love the Chicago History Museum for it's robust collection of Chicago's greatest triumphs and tragedies and the incredible minutia in between. Very cool dioramas, diagrams, and authentic items from years past in an exquisite curation that will leave an impression on each person that visits. I especially love the current curation on Artivism (art activism) in Chicago. I took my students on a field trip here. It was really cool. Also, for teachers, check out their in-person professional development seminars!

If you've been to Field Museum, MSI, Institute of Art, Shedd Aquarium, and are looking to satisfy your museum craving, this is a great option. You can get a discounted ticket on Groupon, and they also offer free tours to the public. The museum has two levels - the first one is mainly a theater and a diorama exhibit, while the second floor has a lot of artifacts about the history of Chicago from 1600-1700's and into the 21st century. What I liked in particular is that it covered multiple aspects - immigrants, industry, fashion, art, commerce, civil rights, architecture, famous people, and so much more. You'll definitely learn a lot - plan at least 3 hours. The only thing that could have improved the experience would be better designed plaques with text (or lighting). Some of them were hard to read because it was either too dark in the room or the text was white color on yellow / pale-blue background which didn't provide enough contrast. Other than that, this museum is definitely worth visiting!

I visited here with my son at 1pm on Sunday after leaving museum of contemporary art. We were using Go City pass. Check in was quick and easy. They have a free coat check which we utilized. They had two public tours that day. We saw the exhibits solo and not with the tour. This museum was large and had two floors. It's located near bus stops, if visiting and using public transportation. There was an exhibit for Emmitt Till that was very informative yet saddening. I'm glad there is a dedicated section for this tragedy. The Chicago fire exhibit was engaging, informative, and interactive. There was full size L train car in the exhibit. Normally, you could go inside but it was closed due to renovations. There were sooo many areas the touches on all the history of Chicago and it's fairly thorough. I really enjoyed the interactiveness and the various designs. It's more inviting and interesting vs traditional museums, especially for children. I highly recommend this. I wish I had allotted more time here.

The museum itself is incredible so many great exhibits. I learned something new every time I go there. But what I really love to do is go to the research library where you can look up anything about Chicago. The researchers there are really interested in your project and will help you. Maggie was helping me learn about the 1891 bldg I live in!

The museum was interesting especially about the history of people , places and things. Alot of things I didn't know about Chicago but was informed about at the museum. There are different exhibits from politicians , music , politics ,trains and clothing . So many things to see and read about . It's 2 levels to the museum, you won't get bored , plus there is a kid interaction area. It was a few feild trips there , and the kids seemed entertained. Overall great visit to learn about Chicago

For Indigenous Peoples' Day, I decided to visit this museum since I had the day off, and it was a free day! Honestly, you have to come see it for yourself, which is why I'm not posting any pictures--I don't want to spoil the experience for others. I'm glad I came on a free day because, to be honest, the museum was smaller than I expected, and it didn't have as much as I thought it would. We were able to walk through it in under an hour, so if I had paid full price, I might have been a bit disappointed. That said, for someone like me who's passionate about history, particularly African-American history and culture, it's a place I'd definitely bring my parents when they visit. My favorite exhibits were the train section and the jazz and blues exhibit. I loved the interactive aspect of the jazz portion, where you could participate in a "table conversation" with cards that made it feel like you were in the 1920s. The Chicago Fire exhibit was also interesting. The museum has a lot of interactive elements, which is why I'm giving it four stars. It would've gotten five if some of the exhibits or interactions weren't roped off or out of order.

Chicago History Museum was the DREAMIEST wedding venue in the world. We had an amazing experience working with Lynette and all of the museum staff. We started planning a year and a half before our actual wedding day, but Lynette was attentive every single step of the way. The day of was PERFECT, the museum was such a fun experience for our guests. We truly could not have imagined our day anywhere else.

The Chicago History Museum is a great encapsulation of the city's history from its early days to its fire, the World's Fair, and Abraham Lincoln's visit. Their displays are very engaging, and a full-sized train car and city dioramas were cool to see. It was disappointing to see signs for item removals. It's a fairly expensive museum for there to be empty cases for an exhibit that is not even that old, removed not for preservation but for rewriting history. There is also a sign in each exhibit about how the museum was on stolen lands, but no word if the museum is donating its profits or giving the land back. The sheer number of signs and requirements for the tour guide to read the sign was a bit overdone and no longer in the spirit of solely presenting facts. The exhibit on the fire was very thorough, and we luckily came when a tour was being offered. Our guide was very knowledgeable, and the exhibit itself was detailed and well-done. The other exhibits took less time, but everything was worth the walkthrough. The entire museum takes a few hours, and some of the exhibits are great. The gift shop is pretty bad with almost nothing with the museum's name on it. There's a small cafe on site, but if you hang onto your ticket, you can leave and reenter as needed. It's worth doing as a tourist, but I do hope the emphasis stays on presenting facts related to Chicago's history.

I've been here once but it was a memorable experience. Cost of admission is cheap. For adults it's $19 and they do have select free days for Illinois residents. From the name of the museum, people might find it less intriguing and would rather attend the bigger, more popular ones downtown. I can assure you that this one is far more interesting than the Adler Planetarium. I spent roughly 4-5 hours here, looking and reading everything that I wanted to look at. I don't want to give anything away but recommend you check out their website. They have tons of photo opportunities in the exhibits. It's located close to the Lincoln Park Zoo. For parking, you can either look for free parking close to the zoo or use an app like Spot Hero to find a guaranteed spot. Since this museum is not nearly as busy as the other ones, you can go anytime. It wasn't super crowded. When you finish, the Lincoln Park area has an excellent selection of restaurants.

A museum outside of the usual museum campus area by the Loop. Overall, I enjoyed the museum and the $17 ($19 for non-students and non-seniors) admission was worth it. Too bad one of the special exhibitions on the first floor was closed. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed the museum especially the exhibit related to the Chicago Fire of 1871 and how life was in Chicago back then.

Chicago has lots of very interesting history, so it's hard to get it all in one museum but this one tries anyway. It can be good for a few hours of fun and learning. The Chicago History Museum also has free admission at certain times for local residents, allowing them to avoid the kind of high prices. Look at some interesting artifacts from around the city. You can find many that are serious and not so serious so it's a good place for both adults and kids to look through. A pretty big museum because there's a lot of history to cover. It has some of the oldest stuff on the first floor. There's exhibits on the settlers and the digging of the canal and that kind of stuff. Also there's an exhibit of local sights and smells good for children. There's a big figure of a Chicago style hot dog and it documents the ingredients. More stuff is on the second floor. This covers the history of things like the Haymarket Riot and the Union Stock Yards. Of course there's a large exhibit about the fire. There's also exhibits on local sports. Good stuff if interested in the history of the city. It's kind of expensive but local residents can get free admission on certain days that happen every now and then. These are listed on the website.

Located in old village, a few miles out of the loop/tourist district, this is not the typical museum stop in Chicago. I wouldn't call it a must see, but if you want to know more about Chicago, it's history, neighborhoods, population, and how it became the city it is today, this would be a great start to your Chicago trip. The main reason I came here is to see the Lincoln death bed. There is also a section on Lincoln's Chicago. There is a prominent, poignant section on the Chicago fire. It tells the history, the rebuilding, and the long term effects on the city, but most impressively the exhibit displays artifacts from the fire: knickknacks, decor, melted buckets of nails, a burned hymnal, even cookies that burned so hot and fast that they turned to charcoal cookies. There was also a section on polish Chicago, which was so large and detailed that you'd really have to have an interest in the subject. There were sections on advancement of transport (trains, rail) as well as business (Sears, Montgomery Ward, Oscar Mayer etc). They covered several historical disasters in Chicago. They had a small superficial exhibit on race and civil rights, though it was whitewashed and weak. The Chicago blues section was pitiful and put together as an afterthought. Some displays were oversimplified and almost geared toward kids. There is an actual interactive kids section. If you want to know more about Chicago, this is the place to start. Admission is 19 bucks.

Seriously, how would anyone not rate this museum 5 stars?!? The Chicago history museum is an incredibly unique and amazing museum. The building is amazing by itself, but then you add in the awesome displays of history and relics, but also the stories and the personal connections and you will immediately feel like you are one of the people in the stories. I didn't grow up in Chicago. I've only been here a little over 8 years. But going to the Chicago History Museum and seeing the pictures, the displays and heating the stories...you will feel an instant connection to this unique and beautiful city. If you go to ANY one museum while visiting Chicago, it needs to be here.

Wow! Thank you to all the gifted and creative people and monetary support that created the most amazing walks through time and history of space, submarines and ships, the body, trains, environment, Christmas around the world, Chicago great fire and freedom of speech walk plus much more. Oh take a break and go have a famous delicious Stan doughnut and a bottle of sparkling water and that just saved the planet and ocean. Yay! You did your part before you leave.

Chicago has such a rich history and this museum did a great job of capturing it all. It's located a little more north of Chicago near Lincoln Park but it's only a short bus ride away. There were two floors and most of the stuff to see was on the second floor. The admission pricing is as followed (as of June 2022): - Adults 22-64 ($19) - Seniors 65+ ($17) - In state children 0-18 (free) - In state students 19-22 ($17) - Out of state children 0-12 (free) - Out of state students 13-22 ($17) One of the biggest events in Chicago history was of course the Chicago Fire. The exhibit detailed where it started in the O'Leary's barn, how fast it spread day by day, and the life of residents in 1871 when this all happened. There was a ton to read and I really liked how all the descriptions were both in English and Spanish. If you don't want to read you can also reserve tours and the guides will give more interesting tidbits, such as things about the real items that survived the fire. We also saw the lamp that started the Iroquois theater fire that killed 600 because the doors opened inward and not outward. Along with the Chicago Fire exhibit, we saw the actual bed that Lincoln died on, a timeline of Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and his speeches in Chicago, a history of Chicago architecture, and Chicago entertainment such as sports, theater, and music. I also found out that the following were invented in Chicago (along with many others): the bowling ball, the tennis ball, Morton salt, and the Weber grill. We spent about two hours here because there was just so much to read and explore. If you can make the time for the trip up north, I'd highly recommend checking this museum out.

We visited the Chicago history museum this week. They have a fantastic exhibit on the Polish community and on the Chicago fire. Thats pretty much it. The Lincoln and MLK exhibits were just pictures and plaques with no supporting artifacts. They felt like walking through a wiki page. The steam engine was fantastic. The sports and worlds fair exhibits were good but left me wanting more. The jazz/blues exhibit was also less than i expected. This museum has great potential. They skim the surface on a few topics when a deeper dive on a great flagship Chicago historic topic would be much more satisfying.

I recently attended a lecture on climate change which echoed my sentiments about climate change diasters and settlement of people. Beth Gibbons was the presenter from the American Society of Adaptation Professionals. I do believe that the government should step in and use incentives to draw people out of dangerous climate areas and designate the areas as temporary vacation spots or have areas for nature preserves. The amount of money for disaster recovery is more money over time than relocating families and businesses. Imagine the children's story of the three pigs. Only the brick house is able to survive the big bad wolf. We feel bad for the other two houses but a well built house over the long term is more practical.q Why do tax payers have to pay for other people's poor choices? I am not looking forward to more people moving to the area. I believe the Great Lakes is a limited and precious resource and we have not been the best stewards of the environment. The museum itself is very interesting which presents history in fun presentations. I encourage people to come and learn about history. We are doomed to repeat it if we don't learn from history.

There are better & bigger museums in Chicago but for a high-level intro to Chicago history and culture this museum will do just fine. Some of the exhibits contradicted each other's facts and others felt more politically focused / espousing viewpoints than historical facts. It's an okay museum to kill a couple hours but I'd recommend other museums in Chicago over this one.

All things of Chicago's tumultuous, fascinating past. If you're from Chicago, you will be nodding at the familiar lore in the city's history. If you're not from Chicago, you will marvel at the sometimes horrific events, inventions, diversity and occupations which have made the city what it is today. Fee to enter. Give yourself time to browse.

While it doesn't always get the attention that is given to The Art Institute, the Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium, or the Adler Planetarium, the Chicago History Museum offers a wonderful collection of history and artifacts from hundreds of years of Chicago's timeline. There's something for everyone here. I particularly liked the exhibit on the Great Chicago Fire, including the maps that show how fast it ravaged the city. The dioramas were also so amazingly detailed. The museum is located right on the edge of Lincoln Park, so it is easily accessible from the Zoo. Don't miss out on this opportunity to envision the future of Chicago by learning from its past.

Really glad we stopped at this Museum on our trip to Chicago. I was there for the Marathon but stumbled across the fact that I was in Chicago for the 150th Anniversary of the Great Fire which burned from October 8th-10th 1871. I had seen on the news that the Chicago History Museum opened up an exhibit to commemorate the anniversary, so we made it a point to get there after the marathon. We went on a Tuesday and it wasn't too busy at all. My favorite exhibit was the Fire exhibit. There are so many interesting facts and lots of artifacts of items that survived the fire (coins, nails, cookies!). I also appreciate how they lay it out and detail on maps how much the fire spread in a short amount of time. Also, this exhibit was very kid-friendly as well. You can tell they built it to have various hands-on kids activiites incorporated into it. I appreciated seeing a dad explain the events to his son as we were walking along. They also had a whole Abraham Lincoln exhibit. I thought it would be focused on Abe's time in Chicago, but it was more about people he knew when he stayed in the city. They also have the bed on which Lincoln died, so I thought that was very cool. Aside from that, we also went to an exhibit in the downstairs which was a little more focused on civil rights (I wasn't really seeing the Chicago connection). All told, a solid museum to represent the city's history. I wish I could have stayed longer and seen a few more exhibits. Would definitely recommend to anyone staying in the city for a long weekend.

Our first time at the museum and my husband and I learned a lot about Chicago that we did not know after visiting the history museum. We are from out of town and it was great to learn about another city.

The Chicago history museum is one focused on all things Chicago from the Native Americans land through the best of time and worst as Chicago developed to the amazing city it is. The three story Museum is loaded with amazing information, artifacts and much more. There are also a few galleries which have special exhibits throughout the year. It's great for the whole family and would highly recommend a visit. Honestly if your from Chicago it is a must see. I have lived here all my life and learned a lot from my time visiting the Chicago History Museum.. It's a great visit for visitors and locals and if you are a student 18 or younger in Illinois it's free. Seniors are discounted. To top it off the CHM is located in one of my favorite neighborhoods. The beach, plenty of restaurants, Second City, lighthouse and plenty more are all within walking distance. Easy parking nearby to boot.

Chicago gets a lot of bad publicity but, lordy, sure gets its museums right. The Chicago History Museum reminds me that the city was (and continues to be) remarkably fertile ground for commerce and innovation. The exhibits have unexpected delights -- the first elevated train carriage, for example, or an early steam engine. It covers more painful events, such as the 1968 riots or a tangled racial history. I lucked out with a tour guide -- the name rhymes with Winslow -- who knew his stuff.

My husband was walking home after a meeting. He stopped in the museum because he needed to use the restroom. The guard inside the front door refused to allow him to use the restroom. My husband even offered to buy a bottle of water so he could access the bathroom. The guard again refused his request. There were no people around so it wasn't the case that he was taking someone else's place. We had been members of the museum for years and even paid for a membership for my mother when she was here. I am troubled by this arbitrary, belligerent, and uncaring behavior by this nonprofit organization that proclaims to be a "destination for civic engagement." Yet it won't allow a well-dressed older gentleman access to take care of a basic human need. Shame on you History Museum.

An absolutely educational, visually stimulating, well designed and organized museum which gives the visitor a great understanding of Chicago history! The exhibits are separated yet flow into each other with purposeful stories helping you gain appreciative understanding of the beginnings and how the present culture of Chicago has evolved. A must visit/ see visitor destination!

Chicago has so many great museums, and I enjoyed our visit to this one that focuses on the history of the city. There is a lot of information about the Chicago fire. We also saw the bed that Lincoln died in, which I wasn't expecting to see here.

Much better museum than I thought it was going to be. Not a kids museum by any means a far as im concerned. They did have two kid areas but most of the exhibits were beyond kids I'd say younger then teen years. Exhibits about the Chicago Fire, Abraham Lincoln. Martin Luther King, Native Americans, The Train Car is cool but you can't go inside. Love the dioramas of Chicago. Gift shop was Meh. Cafe had a variety of food but we didn't eat there. You do get free admission if you are a member of the National Museum of Mexican Art ( which we are ).

2-story museum where a sizable majority is on the 2nd floor. Good-sized section with a walk-through of Chicago's main events and lifestyle starting with the founding over 200 years ago to the present. A separate section on Chicago retailers. A big exhibit on the Chicago fire of 1871. They have a kids' hands-on play area; not very big. Very informative; yet not a lot of hands on stuff. Good way to spend about 2-3 hours learning about Chicago. When we went; there was a big temporary exhibit on Polish Chicago (there are more Polish people in Chicago than any other city outside of Poland).

The Chicago History Museum is a gigantic fun place. Interesting exhibits that do not sugarcoat anything. It was cool looking at the trolley and the train. I really like the diorama room where you can look at models that make it seem like your back in time. All the museum staff are kind, nice, and respectful.

On 04/09/2024, I was invited into a meeting at a short notice with an agenda. I attended the meeting with no seat available for me. There was a total of 5 people at this meeting. Willie Smith, Deborah Kern, Cheryl Obermeyer, John Russick, Terri Boxer and myself. This man mistreats women. I attended a meeting with John Russick 04/09/24 where he and his friends mistreated me. He disrespected me in every way possible. Do not support this man! I created a seat for myself in a position where the sun beamed directly on me. I asked about the seating and John Russick interrupted and said everything was fine and the seating was not important. During this meeting, John Russick immediately started yelling at me regarding Accounting information on my computer. John Russick stared at me with an intimidating demeanor throughout the meeting. Again, Cheryl tried to find errors but none existed. As the meeting progressed the tone remained the same and the tension was thick. Everyone kept their heads in their electronic gadget and ignored the abuse I was facing. I removed myself and walked to the bathroom while John Russick's eyes followed me. John Russick is a horrible man and he isaffiliatedd with ChicagoMuseumm.

Anyone who knows me knows I studied and majored in history while in college. I wanted to understand how culture, people, economics, politics developed. As a former history student, that love of learning never left me. Here at the Chicago History Museum, we get a first hand glimpse of the interesting history of this awesome city. Nicknamed the "Crossroads of America", this exhibit covers sports, politics, music, retail, meat packing history, and various industries. This museum even contains a showcase devoted to the gangland and the infamous Al Capone. Another pivotal point includes a dedication to the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The exhibit design allows visitors to walk around easily. The details in the dioramas provide a solid lesson of how Chicago emerged from a lonely town to a world class city. I found this experience perfect. I learned more about Chicago in one visit. Come to the Chicago History Museum. Bring family, families, friends or even a date. Learn. Explore. Discover.

The Chicago History Museum is a gem regarding the historical information but the entrance for handicap patrons is inconvenient. My Dtr had to go inside and open the door for me to enter. If I was alone, how would I get in if no one was there to assist? Please provide better access for mobility impaired patrons. Aleta R.

The Chicago History Museum's Walking Trail is now OPEN! Celebrating and acknowledging Chicago and its people who have and continue to be RESILIENT! This year is a focus inside and outside of the museum regarding "The Great Chicago Fire".... which occurred on October 8, 1871-it is a topic that is still presently remembered and discussed 150 years later! According to the Chicago Architecture Center (in Chicago) "An estimated 300 people died and 100,000 were left homeless by the three-day inferno that erased 2,100 acres of the city. The center of Chicago and the heart of the business district were wiped out. Yet, over the next 20 years, the city's population grew from 300,000 to 1 million people. 150 years after the fire, historians are still debating the impact of the Great Fire on Chicago's development." Source: "The Great Chicago Fire." https://www.architecture.org/programs-events/the-great-chicago-fire/ The Chicago History Museum and the Chicago Architecture Center have teamed up to provide educational and thought provoking opportunities for people of all ages to learn about this historical impact and learn about how it continues to impact the history and architecture of Chicago. They have a bus tour which is continuously "sold out" that I hope will reopen more opportunities soon to meet the "demand." FYI-The Chicago History Museum has also expanded the outside cafe outdoor seating and nicely set up signs and sacred spaces for people to explore through Lincoln Park and the trail that was established and opened to the public October 2021!

This is a very good museum of the history of Chicago (a pleasant surprise as we meant to go to another museum) and reflective of overall American history. Don't miss the kids section for some fun activities, young or old!

I liked the entry discount for BOA customers. It had been over a decade since my last visit and I thought the exhibits were significantly improved. The staff was engaged and very helpful anytime we had a question. I wish the off street parking had been more reasonable but I don't know how much control the museum has over those costs. My son enjoyed the train displays. I wish I had more time to explore the Lincoln area since that was definitely new from my last visit. Husband just said he enjoyed it more than he anticipated and said the displays were very aesthetically pleasing. Our rating is 4/5 stars.

Great overview of the history of Chicago in this family friendly museum. Established as the Chicago Historical Society in 1856, much of the original collection, including the final draft of Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1871. After a second fire in 1874 burned more acquisitions, a fireproof museum was constructed. The current museum is a 1932 WPA building that houses many great collections including dioramas, a kid friendly movie, Lincoln's deathbed, and a streetcar. A one hour guided tour gives a great overview of the history of Chicago (aka the French translation of the Miami-Illinois Indian word "shikaakwa" meaning stinky onion) from its trade origins through the Great Fire of 1871, sports wins and losses, the Civil Rights Movement and more. We used our Burke Museum passes/ROAM/NARM to cover the $19 entry fees and the coat room was free.

The history museum is a fun visit. I think to thoroughly take in everything, you would need 2 hours. We came an hour before closing so we had to rush through some things. The permanent exhibits were great, I especially liked learning about the companies and products that started in Chicago. The temporary exhibits were okay but not that closely related to learning about Chicago history. The 2nd floor has a beautiful space that I believe is rented out for events. It's decorated with gorgeous chandeliers and stained glass window panes from the early 1900s.

Lovely museum near Lincoln Park does a great job telling the whole, changing, chaotic and unique story of this amazing city. Veterans get in free, but even if we didn't, the museum admission pride is WELL WORTH the expense. There is literally something for everyone to see and enjoy here at the museum: sports lovers, blues aficionados, history buffs, modern history fans, technological advancement, those who like crime and crime fighting, civil rights exhibits, rise and fall of the packing industry, architecture nerds - they got what you want. 5 immerse yourself in history stars

I fricken loved this museum! We went at 3 and they closed at 5 and we prbly got to see half of it. The fire exhibit was really well done. It immerses you in the time and place and explains how it spread. As i went in October they had a 'haunted doll scavenger hunt' (haunting is subjective but they were all antique) and that was surprisingly fun. I hope to go again on my next visit!

It was great for me be back in Chicago because I got to visit the Chicago Historical Museum fka Society. I didn't get to do as much touring as I thought on this visit home but stopping here was an integral part. I have so many fond memories of visiting here and learning about the city that shaped and molded a lot of my being. Of the countless times that I've been here this was the first time that I ever went on a tour. Our tour was about 45 minutes and was led by a gentleman named David. He was knowledgeable and told us some things that I didn't know. I hope he wasn't annoyed by me asking questions and dropping my own trivial tidbits but I wanted to learn more and also share some things with the rest of the people that were on the tour. If you want to know about multi-faceted aspects Chicago's history in one place, then this is it. Starting right from the beginning up to present day there's something for everyone. Although I'm a Sox fan that has been here many times it was cool seeing the Cubs memorabilia from breaking the curse. In that moment I had to fly the W. It was nice seeing some of the newer exhibitions like the History of the Blues (closing August 2019) - with its interactive musical institutions and succint but fascinating presentation of this important Chicago story this is a must see. I've always appreciated that this museums displays and tells many stories of the ingredients that make Chicago. No matter where I live it will always be Sweet Home Chicago. Parking is validated to get you a discounted rate of $10 vs. $19.

Great informative place. Lots of infographics and reading of the panels. Good history of America in the context of Chicago. Not very large. Good to spend a few hours.

Bottom Line: The ideal first stop for visitors to Chicago and a museum Chicagoans can be proud of. I loved this museum! It was one of my favorite stops in Chicago along with Wrigley Field and the Garfield Park Conservatory. The museum has the bed that President Lincoln died in and the most amazing dioramas I've ever seen. But the real reason to visit this museum is for the "Chicago: Crossroads of America" exhibit. Chicago has lots of great history from serving as a fur trading post in the late 1700s to the Cubs winning the World Series in 2016. Those events and everything in between are recounted at this museum. The exhibit celebrates Chicago's triumphs like rebuilding after the great fire and remembers the city's troubles like the Haymarket Riot. The things Chicago is famous for are covered like the meat packing industry and the 1893 World's Fair. Lesser known Chicago history is covered too like the deadly sinking of the Eastland steamer and the beloved Riverview amusement park. Chicago's history is not just the city's history as many events helped shape American's attitudes, feelings and actions. The museum has a movie about exploring Chicago that seems it would be a hit with kids. The museum has a nice gift shop on the first floor and there is also a coffee shop.

We came here on a school field trip... and was not what I was expecting. There were some interactive moments, but there were a lot of static displays that would be of some interest to an adult but did not, on any level, really engage the kids. As a school field trip, one would expect the museum to work on having a tour guide or anything really that would guide the students from display to display. Instead, as parents, we were left to our own devices to wander the museum with the kids and figure it out along the way. Talk about a LONG day. The two interesting parts were (1) the Chicago Adventure movie. As an adult, I was bored. But the kids (5th graders) seemed to like it. The other interesting part was the original L car. There actually was a guide there who talked about the car, what Chicago was like back then and engaged the kids. I have another kiddo that wasn't on the field trip, but we won't be returning to this museum.

Just sending a shout out to James in reception who is the most wonderfully helpful person I've ever met in my life. Thank you James for helping out an unprepared kid during the history fair! Also the museum is cool. Check it out.

I was excited to visit the Chicago History Museum on Saturday. I absolutely enjoyed my visit. If you have an account with Bank Of America. BOA offers free visits to a few of the Museums across the Chicagoland Area the first weekend of each month. It is a great way to learn about the History of Chicago. During, my visit I learned some interesting history about Chicago. The exhibits were nicely displayed. Even though the museum only has 2 floors. It is has some informative and interesting information about each exhibit. There are security guards standing around on both floors to help direct you or answer any questions you might have about the museum. After, the visit there is a cute little store and café on the first floor on the side Great for all ages and a nice mini weekend family trip. The staff was helpful and friendly. I had a fun and fascinating visit here at the Chicago History Museum.

The Chicago History Museum is a great half-day diversion from the bustle of downtown Chicago, and well worth the visit. I'm no museum connoisseur, so to me, most art and science museums look pretty alike to me, but this type of museum is obviously unique because you can only get it in Chicago! The staff here are knowledgeable and the exhibits are well-designed and though out. You'll get a great backstory on Chicago here, and bonus points for being close to Chicago Pizza And Oven Grinder Co when you're done!

If you love my hometown Chicago like I do, this museum is a must see. I learn more about this city every time I visit. Many of the other reviews here do a great job of introducing you to all it has to offer. I want to use mine to show how a membership can offer you an even richer experience. I became a member a few years ago. Mainly so I could attend the four special exhibit openings each year. Each is launched with a fun party. There's usually a band, food and open wine bar... all set in the period of the exhibit. And there's a short lecture explaining the exhibit and how it's curated. The current special exhibit is Silver Screen to Mainstream... which showcases fashions from Paris, New York, Chicago and Hollywood. It tracks how Hollywood's glamorous reach extended to all classes in the 1930s through the 1940s. My favorite part of the launch party was the swing band. The museum is housed in a moderrnized historic building in Lincoln Park, in a lush park setting. I recommend that you visit the website to plan your visit, so you're sure to make time for the most important attractions. Most of the museum's exhibits are not interactive, so not a lot of appeal for little kids. But there's a special area set aside just for them, with activity based learning. Ample discount parking a few blocks away in Lincoln Park. And a terrific store and cafe that are much better than you'll find at most museums this size.

This museum is great!! I LOVE history and this museum is rich with all of Chicago's history, the good, the bad, and the ugly. (The ugly actually made me ready-eyed.) It's not very big so you can get thoroughly through the whole thing in a couple of hours. I learned so many interesting things and loved every minute of it! Parking is easy whether you park in the lot or on the street near by. There's a store and a cafe inside that are worth checking out. If you have kids with you, there is a part of the museum specifically for them. Start upstairs!!! There is a Groupon for the museum, making an already fairly inexpensive outing even cheaper. The staff was very nice and the volunteers are ready to help direct you and answer any questions you may have. If you're in town on business this is a good way to spend some free time without spending a ton of money. It's also across the street from Lincoln Park which is a another fun must-do in Chicago. The more time I spend in this city the more I love it!!!