On May 27, 1933, Chicago’s second world’s fair welcomed visitors to what is now Northerly Island, just south of Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium. Officially named the A Century of Progress International Exposition, the fair marked the 100th anniversary of the state of Illinois conferring Chicago its first municipal charter. With its multicolored buildings More
On May 26, 1907, dressmaker, author, and civil activist Elizabeth Keckley passed away at the age of 89. She was born into slavery in 1818, but her dressmaking skills were such that they enabled her to purchase her and her son’s freedom in 1855—an incredible feat considering the long history of slavery in the United More
On Memorial Day, we commemorate all those who died while in military service for the United States. More than four thousand men and women from Cook County lost their lives in World War I. The US entered the war in 1917. Thousands of Cook County men served in all branches of the military, while many More
Every Sunday, we’re featuring a story submitted to our community-based initiative, In This Together, which collects digital records that capture personal experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Like many people, I’ve been delighted by the Where’s Lightfoot Instagram account. Humor is definitely one of preferred coping mechanisms and I appreciate having something to smile about during More
In October 2019, the Chicago History Museum opened its American Medina: Stories of Muslim Chicago exhibition. Based on the ongoing Chicago Muslim Oral History Project that has collected nearly 150 interviews to date, American Medina shares the stories of Muslim Chicagoans’ faith, identity, and personal journeys through nearly forty excerpted oral history interviews. Artist and More