Upcoming Events
Virtual Teacher Book Club
Join our book club designed just for educators! This year, we’re reading “Chicago’s Great Fire: The Destruction and Resurrection of an Iconic American City” by Carl Smith. Though the book was not written expressly for teen readers, Smith’s writing style makes it approachable for middle and high school students and provides a wealth of content knowledge about not just the city before and after the fire, but also the lives of the people who called Chicago home and the inequities of recovery.
Family Events | Fire in Boomtown
Saturday, April 9, 2022 at 1:00–1:45 p.m.
Saturday, June 18, 2022 at 1:00–1:45 p.m.
Saturday, July 23, 2022 at 1:00–1:45 p.m.
Join musicians and storytellers Amy Lowe and Megan Wells for a musical mix of commentary, theater, and history as they recount the story of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Hear about the resiliency of Chicagoans as they rebuilt and recovered following the losses from the tragic fire. Be sure to visit City on Fire: Chicago 1871 while you’re here!
Free with general admission; no RSVP required.
Virtual Teacher Workshop | Righting a Wrong: Investigating the Catherine O’Leary Legend
For 150 years, Catherine O’Leary has been unfairly blamed for starting the Great Chicago Fire. In this educator workshop, join us on Zoom as we investigate how the myth started, why it has persisted, and the lessons we can draw from it. Explore the lived experience of the O’Leary family and what life was like for new immigrants and longtime Chicago residents during the late nineteenth century. We’ll seek answers through examining historic materials ranging from Mrs. O’Leary’s testimony—and that of others—during the postfire investigation to illustrations that depict her. By the conclusion of the session, you’ll have resources and strategies to take back to your classroom so your students can conduct their own investigation to right this historic wrong.
$25; 3 PD hours. Participants will be emailed a Zoom link a few days prior to the workshop.
Family Events | Designing for Healthy Communities
Saturday, February 19, 2022 at 12 p.m.
Saturday, March 19, 2022 at 12 p.m.
Saturday, May 21, 2022 at 12 p.m.
What would your ideal community have in it to keep residents safe and healthy? A fire station? A hospital?
Get creative with the design collective Chicago Mobile Makers and try your hand at designing with community in mind. Workshops will encourage participants to think about problem solving through design. Families will work together to build a custom city that works for all people. As the day progresses, the designed cities will grow and take new forms as more perspectives are included in the process! Discover how Chicago was redesigned and rebuilt following the Great Chicago Fire in the City on Fire: Chicago 1871 exhibition, then grab your hard hat and use your curiosity about our city’s built environment to design a healthy community.
Free with general admission; no RSVP required
Author Talk | Black Heroes of the Fire: The History of the First African American Fire Company in Chicago, Fire Engine Company 21
Fire Engine Company 21 was Chicago’s first organized, paid African American firefighting company. The history of the company amplifies the social and economic changes from enslavement to freedom in the African American community and the political change that paved the way for African American firefighters.
Join us for a conversation on the impact of Fire Engine Company 21 and the legacy of African American firefighters in Chicago. Speakers include:
Dekalb Walcott Jr., Black Heroes of Fire author and Chicago Fire Department battalion chief (Ret.)
James Winbush, Chicago Fire Department captain (Ret.)
Dr. Christopher Reed, professor emeritus of history at Roosevelt University
Sherry Williams, founder and president of the Bronzeville Historical Society
Free to all; RSVP required. Click here to RSVP.
We are monitoring the COVID situation, and if a program format changes, you will be notified no later than one week in advance with updated details. CHM requires all visitors over age 2 and staff to wear a mask while inside the Museum or on a tour. Learn more about the Museum’s safety policies and procedures.
SOLD OUT! Bus Tour | Exploring Chicago’s Union Stock Yard
After opening on Christmas Day 1865, the Union Stock Yard made Chicago the “Hog Butcher for the World.” In its heyday from the Civil War era through the 1920s, Chicago processed more meat than anywhere else in the world. Fueled by the westward expansion of railroads and the country’s rapid population growth spurred on by European immigration, the stockyards provided meat products and employment development across the country.
Board the bus at CHM, then head south to Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood with Dominic Pacyga, professor emeritus of history at Columbia College Chicago. First, stop at the Packingtown Museum to get an overview of the Union Stock Yard’s industrial history, cultural heritage, and surrounding neighborhoods. Next, head back the bus for an exploration of related landmarks, such as the Union Stock Yard Gate, St. Gabriel Catholic Church, and Holy Cross Church, and adjacent neighborhoods, such as Back of the Yards, Bronzeville, and Bridgeport, that benefitted from the jobs the stock yards had to offer.
Tour begins and ends at the Chicago History Museum. Purchase Tickets Here.
We are monitoring the COVID situation, and if a program format changes, you will be notified no later than one week in advance with updated details. CHM requires all visitors over age 2 and staff to wear a mask while inside the Museum or on a tour. Learn more about the Museum’s safety policies and procedures.
City on Fire Teacher Seminar Series
Saturdays, October 30, November 6, and November 20
9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Gain new insights and perspectives on the Great Chicago Fire. The series kicks off with a walking tour of Old Town to see fire history in the cityscape and a drink from our café to keep you warm. Subsequent sessions feature a talk by CHM curator Julius L. Jones about our newest exhibition, City on Fire: Chicago 1871, and CHM educators Heidi Moisan and Megan Clark introducing gallery exploration tools, classroom resources, and virtual options to expand your classroom instruction. Join us for one or all the sessions! 3 PD hours per session. $25 per session or $60 for all three.
History Happy Hour
Sick of the same old after-work grind? Grab your friends and head on over for History Happy Hour! This series features two drinks on us, and activities highlighting our collection and exhibitions.
This Great Chicago Fire-themed History Happy Hour features smoldering activations and fiery conversations about The Great Chicago Fire and the resiliency of Chicagoans to recover and rebuild.
Join us, raise a glass, and learn more about this city you love!
Must be 21+ to purchase a ticket to History Happy Hour. Ticket includes two complimentary drinks and Museum admission. Cash bar and food available for purchase.
$20 in advance, $25 at the door, $15 members in advance, $20 members at the door.
The Great Chicago Fire Trivia Night @ The Hideout
While we were sheltered in place over the winter, teacher, writer, and public historian Paul Durica held trivia games with the Hideout over Zoom as part of their Rec Room series with Soup and Bread, which raised thousands of dollars for local food pantries thanks to the generous community.
With the help of the Chicago History Museum and The Newberry Library, Paul is bringing trivia to the Hideout patio every third Tuesday of the month! CHM curator Julius L. Jones will serve as quizmaster for a round of questions on the history of the Great Chicago Fire. Tickets are priced on a sliding scale, and all proceeds benefit different mutual aid funds each month.
Proof of vaccination required for entry. Read the Hideout’s COVID-19 Policy.
21+. Please arrive with your e-ticket ready on your phone at full brightness for door staff to scan. Door staff will also check ID and vaccination card. Please have these ready when you arrive.
Seating is available for all guests but we do not reserve tables. Please seat yourself upon entry.
Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Please review your order carefully before confirming.
City on Fire Virtual Educator Open House
Tuesday, October 19, 4:30–6:00 p.m. OR 6:30–8:00 p.m.
Join us for one of our exclusive educator-only virtual open house sessions for our newest exhibition, City on Fire: Chicago 1871, and hear from CHM curator Julius L. Jones about its creation. Learn about virtual and on-site field trips, using the exhibition learning guide to enhance your classroom instruction, and more. 1.5 PD hours. Free; advance registration required.
Bus Tours | The Great Chicago Fire: Disaster and Recovery-SOLD OUT
All bus tours are SOLD OUT.
Sunday, October 17 at 12:00 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 24 at 12:00 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 31 at 12:00 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Developed in partnership with the Chicago Architecture Center (CAC), join us for a bus tour that follows the Great Chicago Fire’s path of destruction and highlights the resiliency of the city during its recovery. As a CAC docent provides commentary, learn how the site of the fire’s starting point on DeKoven Street became the Chicago Fire Department training facility. Trace the fire’s route to its northern boundaries in Lincoln Park. Along the way, learn about “fireproof” buildings that burned, the few structures that survived, and the everyday residents who rebuilt the city.
$50, $42 CHM and CAC members
Tour runs 2 hours. Meet outside the Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark Street.
CHM is proud to partner with the Chicago Architecture Center and Windy City Limousine.
Family Day | City on Fire: Chicago 1871
One hundred and fifty years ago, Chicago was a city with a bustling business district and a rapidly growing population. The city was bursting at the seams to accommodate new residents, and houses were being built quickly out of wood and crammed tightly together. Even the few paved streets and sidewalks were made of wood. Although structures were advertised as “fireproof,” on October 8, 1871, the combination of strong wind, a regional drought, and a fire near DeKoven Street proved them wrong on an epic scale.
Spend the day with us at the Chicago History Museum to explore the history of the Great Chicago Fire in our newest exhibition, City on Fire: Chicago 1871. Discover the story of the Fire through accounts by people who lived through it such as Justin Butterfield, Claire Innis, Joseph and Anna Hudlin, and Catherine O’Leary. The day’s activities are designed for families with children ages 13 and under.
Free with general admission; no RSVP required
SCHEDULE
10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. – Rubble to Recovery cart experiences
10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. – Self-Guided Exhibition Tours with the Family Learning Guide
11:00–11:45 a.m. – “Celebrating Chicago” with the Apollo Chorus of Chicago
Founded after the Great Chicago Fire to boost citizen morale, the Apollo Chorus of Chicago has been thrilling audiences since 1872!
12:00–1:00 p.m. – Character-Led Tours with Lookingglass Theatre
Explore the City on Fire exhibition from the perspective of those who lived through it. Join actors from Lookingglass Theatre for an immersive character-led tours with Catherine O’Leary, Joseph Hudlin, and more!
12:00–2:15 p.m. – Chicago Mobile Makers Ideal Community Design Challenge
What would your ideal community have to keep residents safe and healthy? A fire station? A Hospital? Get creative with Chicago Mobile Makers and try your hand at designing with community in mind. Participants will work together to build a custom city that works for all people. As the day progresses, the cities will grow and take new forms as more perspectives are included in the design process!
12:30 p.m. & 2:30 p.m. – Bus Tours | Chicago Architecture: Glessner House and Clarke House
Hop on a coach bus for a round-trip visit to Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood and explore the architecture of the John J. Glessner House and the Henry B. Clarke House, which date from around the time of the Great Chicago Fire. Tours run one hour and are included with general admission. RSVP requested. Meet at the Museum’s Clark Street entrance to board the bus.
1:00–1:40 p.m. – ”Fire in Boomtown” with Amy Lowe and Megan Wells-Shunk
Join musicians and storytellers Amy Lowe and Megan Wells-Shunk for a musical mix of commentary, theater and history as they recount the story of The Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The program amplifies the resiliency of Chicagoans to rebuild and recover following the losses from the conflagration.
2:15 p.m. Chicago Fire Department Visit
Members’ Opening Commemoration | City on Fire: Chicago 1871
Members and Historical Alliance are invited to celebrate our newest exhibition, City on Fire: Chicago 1871. Museum staff will be on hand to answer your questions, and the exhibition curator, Julius L. Jones, will present on the process of creation and installation. This exclusive event should not be missed!
Not yet a CHM member or part of the Historical Alliance? It’s easy to join!
Members and Historical Alliance should sign into their online accounts before reserving tickets. If you have any questions, please contact individual giving and annual fund manager Lauren Wissbaum at wissbaum@chicagohistory.org.
There will be signage at the Museum to guide you, but we highly recommend reading our updated safety guidelines prior to your visit. Although the city of Chicago has moved into Phase 5 of its reopening plan and the CDC has updated guidance regarding mask mandates for fully vaccinated people, CHM will continue to require all visitors over age 2 and staff to wear a mask while inside the Museum. As vaccinations continue, we will evaluate and update policies.
Guild Celebration Benefit 2021: "A Hot Time in the Old Town"
Join the Guild of the Chicago History Museum for an event that promises to be the hottest ticket in town! This delightful evening of cocktails, a program by author Carl Smith, and a fabulous dinner commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Fire that could not destroy our resilient city. "A Hot Time in the Old Town" will take place at the Museum on Friday, October 8th at 6:00 pm.
Click here to purchase tickets.
Exhibition Opening
A rapidly growing city built of wood. A summer-long heat wave. An exhausted and misdirected team of firefighters. Racial, social, and economic tensions bubbling just below the surface. All Chicago needed was a spark.
Our newest exhibition City on Fire: Chicago 1871 opens on October 8, 2021. Designed for families, we invite you to learn, explore, and discover the impact the Great Chicago Fire had on the city and the people who lived here.
Walking Tour | Graceland and the Great Chicago Fire
Join guide Scottie Perry for a Great Chicago Fire-themed twist on this popular cemetery tour. Explore the connections the city cemetery has to the fire and discover the remarkable stories of other Chicagoans buried at Graceland, including Marshall Field, Louis Sullivan, George Pullman, and Potter and Bertha Palmer.
$25; $20 members. Meet at the entrance of Graceland Cemetery, 4001 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60613
Movies in the Park: In Old Chicago
We're proud to host one of the Chicago Park District's Movies in the Park! Get settled in Lincoln Park with your chairs and blankets and enjoy a free screening of In Old Chicago. Bring your own snacks and beverages, but please remember—no glass containers or alcoholic drinks.
Prior to the screening, enjoy some trivia questions about the Great Chicago Fire and In Old Chicago with Jeff Spitz, associate professor of cinema and television arts at Columbia College Chicago, and City on Fire: Chicago 1871 curator Julius L. Jones.
Free admission, no registration required. Trivia begins at 6:30 p.m.; screening begins about 7:30 p.m. or at dusk. Location is east of CHM in the grove near North Avenue and Dearborn Street. Look for "Fountain Girl: Frances Willard Memorial."
IN OLD CHICAGO
The O'Leary brothers—honest Jack and roguish Dion—become powerful figures, and eventually rivals, in Chicago on the eve of its Great Fire.
NR | 95 minutes | 1938