Chicago History Museum

Join us on March 12 for an evening where music meets fashion history. With a theme based on our latest costume exhibition, "Dressed in History: A Costume Collection Retrospective," enjoy musical performances by world-renowned musicians Clarice Assad, Calum Cook, Christopher Guzman, and Philippe Quint as images of historical fashions are projected on the walls of the venue. Tickets: $45; $25 members. https://lnkd.in/gA2EF7MY

Mexican American and Puerto Rican women have long taken up the challenge to improve the lives of Chicagoans in the city’s Latino/a/x communities. Join us on March 11 for a panel talk featuring the coeditors of "Chicago Latina Trailblazers: Testimonios of Political Activism": Dr. Rita D. Hernández, former instructor of education and human development at Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi; Leticia Villarreal Sosa of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley; and Elena R. Gutiérrez of the University of Illinois Chicago. Learn more here: https://ow.ly/1Xsb50V80a5

Presented in partnership with CHICAGO DANCE HISTORY PROJECT and NEXUS Performing Arts, join us on March 6 for a panel talk on women in Chicago’s break dancing (breaking) scene. Moderated by Skylar Males, founder and CEO of NEXUS, hear from B-girls about their experiences pushing boundaries and making waves within the breaking community. Learn more here: https://ow.ly/sOew50V80p8

Wedding season is nearly upon us! Take a look at some of the beautiful and unique wedding gowns in our collection, which range from 1893 to 1988. Which one is your favorite? If you’re planning a wedding yourself, the Chicago History Museum is the perfect venue for your special day. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gEH6kUfm #NationalWeddingPlanningDay 1?Wedding dress by Marshall Field & Co., 1893. CHM, ICHi-055017. 2??Wedding dress by House of Worth, c. 1904. CHM, ICHi-186095. 3??Wedding dress by Jeanne Lanvin, 1924. CHM, ICHi-063615. 4??Wedding dress and jacket by Don Loper, 1955. CHM, ICHi-054492. 5??Wedding dress, Mainbocher, 1963. CHM, ICHi-179784. 6??Wedding dress and cape by Hubert de Givenchy, 1967. CHM, ICHi-054453. 7?? Wedding dress and matching hat by Hino & Malee, 1988. CHM, ICHi-179175.

Celebrate Women's History Month with us! Presented in partnership with International Women Associates, The Guild of the Chicago History Museum invites you join us on March 6 for a panel talk featuring Nada Draz, Consul General of Egypt in Chicago; Verónika Bustamante, Consul General of Peru in Chicago; and Georgia Tasiopoulou, Consul of Greece in Chicago. Hear from the panelists as they discuss their careers as women in the foreign service and how International Women’s Day is celebrated in their home countries. We look forward to a day of learning and fellowship with the women of Chicago’s international community. Learn more & RSVP here: https://ow.ly/8FaE50V7ZSL

The newly released podcast Division Street Revisited follows up on the stories of “uncelebrated” people in Studs Terkel’s groundbreaking 1967 oral history, Division Street: America. Pulitzer Prize winner Mary Schmich interviewed the original subjects’ families, and for the first time in a podcast, we get to hear the astonishing stories of where life took them. Join us on March 5 for a listening club event moderated by Mary Schmich. The featured episode focuses on the legacy of Mary Ward Wolkonsky, who used her wealth to make Chicago a cosmopolitan city and create opportunities for women. Learn more & RSVP here: https://ow.ly/T5KS50V7ZGr

?? All that jazz (and blues) ?? Born in New Orleans, jazz moved to Chicago with the Great Migration of African Americans from the South around the time of World War I. King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, and other pioneering musicians introduced audiences to a daring new sound of syncopated rhythms and improvisational playing. Like jazz, the blues also moved North with the Great Migration. The first blues musicians arrived in Chicago during the 1920s. Some performers, such as Big Bill Broonzy, achieved limited success, but the breakthrough came decades later with the legendary Muddy Waters, who moved to Chicago in 1943. Open your ears to these musical genres in the Chicago Jazz & Blues section of Chicago: Crossroads of America.

POV: You’re visiting Chicago in the 1920s—which hotel are you staying at? These three historic hotels—the Hilton Chicago, The Palmer House, and InterContinental Chicago—were successful and glamorous establishments in the early twentieth century. Today, all remain open and can be booked for your next visit to Chicago. The Chicago History Museum is thrilled to partner with the Historic Hotels of America | Historic Hotels Worldwide, which recognizes and celebrates the finest Historic Hotels. CHM Members get up to 30% discounts on the participating hotels, such as the Chicago institutions listed above! To learn more about staying in a Historic Hotel, visit here: https://ow.ly/bPTs50V3U5U Hilton Chicago Photo Credit: Chicago History Museum, ICHi-076322; Kaufmann & Fabry Co., photographer Palmer House Photo Credit: Chicago History Museum, ICHi-069674; Kaufmann & Fabry Co., photographer InterContinental Hotel Photo Credit: Chicago History Museum, ICHi-082940; Raymond W. Trowbridge, photographer

This week, we had the honor of presenting Pete Kastanes with the first Citizen Historian Award, which recognizes individuals who help keep people connected to Chicago’s history. Pete is the founder of the Facebook group Vanished Chicagoland, a forum that encourages people to share their memories of buildings, companies, events, places, and people that were once part of the city. A lifelong Chicago resident, Pete has dedicated the last 10 years to sharing and preserving the city’s history. Congratulations, Pete, and thank you for continuing to share Chicago’s rich history!

The Chicago History Museum is now offering touch tours of its costume exhibition #DressedInHistory: A Costume Collection Retrospective. Designed for visitors who have low vision or are blind, our touch tour is led by gallery interpreters and includes extra verbal descriptive elements, plus opportunities to touch example objects from our learning collection as well as these gorgeous fabric swatches, which were reproduced meticulously to match the garments on display. A public touch tour of this exhibition will be offered once a month. You can join the first public tour on February 26 when you buy tickets online through https://lnkd.in/gic3_zX8. These tours are FREE with admission. Please note that outside of this monthly public tour, touch tours are available by appointment Monday through Friday. Reservations are required at least two weeks in advance. To reserve your spot, visit https://lnkd.in/gcNWEuC8 or email [email protected]. #TouchTours #AccessibleChicago #DisabilityFriendly #ExploreChicago #InclusiveChicago #ChicagoAttractions