Lectures and Seminars
Expert speakers and engaging topics are the hallmarks of our lectures and seminars.
- Sweet Home Chicago: Tuesday, February 9
- Sweet Home Chicago: Tuesday, February, 16
- In the K/Now: Online Dating: Thursday, February
18
- In the K/Now: Mortgage Mess: Tuesday, March 2
- “The Noughties” Looking Back at a Decade of Change: Saturday, March 6
- Appetite for America Book Release and Lecture: Monday, April 5
- In the K/Now: Up in Smoke: Thursday, April 8
- Prohibition Seminar: America Goes Dry: Tuesday, April 13
- Prohibition Seminar: Get Capone!: Tuesday, April 27
- Prohibition Seminar: The Way We Drank: Tuesday, May 4
- Urban History Seminar: Select Thursdays, September
2009–May 2010
Sweet Home Chicago
Tuesdays, February 9 and 16, 7:00 p.m.
Unwrap the history of Chicago's sweet
side with this seminar series.
Cost:
$10; $8 members per lecture. Series tickets: $27; $22 members. Call
312.642.4600 for series tickets; discount not available online.
Classic Candy
Tuesday, February 9, 7:00 p.m.
Schedule change - Please note: The February 9 program has been postponed to February 23, due to severe weather. Call 312.642.4600 for more information.
For generations, the kings of candy have made their mark on Chicago's sweet scene. Representatives from classic candy companies Wrigley Co. and Primrose Candy Co. share the history of their companies, why they chose to set up shop in Chicago, and how their brands continue to grow. Artifacts from the Museum's collection, on display for one night only, highlight this delectable discussion. The discussion will be moderated by Monica Eng of the Chicago Tribune.
Cost:
$10; $8 members.
Tasty Treats Today
Tuesday, February 16, 7:00 p.m.
Chicago's up-and-coming confectioners join us for a chat about our city's current candy culture. Local shops that have found their niche share secrets to their success. Representatives from Katherine-Anne Confections, Rich Chocolates, and Terry’s Toffee will tell us about breaking the mold in the Windy City and beyond. The discussion will be moderated by Monica Eng of the Chicago Tribune. As you fill up on history, be sure to save room for dessert!
Cost:
$10; $8 members.
In the K/Now
This monthly series explores contemporary issues affecting life in Chicago.
Online Dating: The Rage, the Risks, the Rewards
Thursday, February 18, 6:30 p.m.
In today's busy society, more and more Chicago singles are looking for love online. But with all of the processes, protocols, and privacy issues involved, is this the right route for romance? Join journalist Laura Washington and a panel of dating experts as they dive into the murky waters of the dating pool.
Cost:
Free; reservations required.
Mortgage Mess
Tuesday, March 2, 6:30 p.m.
The recent recession has taken its toll on various aspects of the economy, but perhaps the place it hurts most is home sweet home. How does someone bounce back from foreclosure? Is it safe to buy a home now? Has the market bottomed out yet? Join moderator Laura Washington when she hosts a panel discussion that debates the pros and cons of home ownership in Chicago with Darryl Evans of Baytree Lending, Bonnie Paisley of Prime Solutions Group, and Michael Hobbs of PahRoo Appraisal & Consultancy.
Cost:
Free; reservations required.
Up in Smoke
Thursday, April 8, 6:30 p.m.
Stigmatized and criminalized, marijuana use has been prohibited since the early twentieth century. Yet, its popularity—especially in popular culture—combined with shifting societal attitudes has rekindled a debate about the legalization of marijuana. Join a lively debate about marijuana prohibition and voice your opinion in a public forum. Presented in collaboration with the McCormick Freedom Project.
Cost:
Free; reservations required.
Save the date
The next In the K/Now will be Tuesday, May 11.
“The Noughties” Looking Back at a Decade of Change
Saturday, March 6, 12:30 p.m.
September 11, blogging, the rise of China, reality television—how will the first decade of the twenty-first century be remembered? Join a conversation with historians, journalists, and cultural observers as we examine the major events, trends, and individuals that made the “Noughties” an era of rapid change and increased global connectedness. Presented in collaboration with the McCormick Freedom Project.
Cost:
Free with Museum admission; reservations are requested.
Appetite for America Book Release and Lecture
Monday, April 5, 7:00-7:45 p.m.
Join us as special guest
Stephen Fried launches his newest book Appetite
for America at the Chicago History Museum!
At this official book release, Fried will explore the stories of how visionary businessman Fred Harvey built a railroad hospitality empire that civilized the Wild West. With locations ranging from Santa Fe to Chicago’s Union Station, the Fred Harvey Company pioneered the first railroad restaurant brand, inspiring the hit film The Harvey Girls and tracing the growth of U.S. railroad industry.
The lecture will be followed by a brief book signing.
Cost:
$15; $10 Members
Prohibition Seminar
Tuesdays, April 13, 27, and May 4; 7:00 p.m.
Cost: Individual events are $10, $8 Members and $15, $12 Members; Series tickets: $32, $25 Members. Call 312.642.4600 for series tickets.
America Goes Dry
Tuesday, April 13, 7:00 p.m.
The idea to control the consumption of alcohol was developing for nearly a century before passage of an amendment to the Constitution. So what went wrong? How did an idea meant to improve not just people’s lives but people themselves instead spawn an epidemic of lawlessness and violence? Curator John Russick leads this conversation that digs into the roots of Prohibition.
Cost:
$10, $8 Members
Get Capone!
Tuesday, April 27, 7:00 p.m.
Join us for the official book release party for Get Capone, the true story of the hunt for Chicago’s most infamous gangster. Author Jonathan Eig shares how he uncovered never-before-seen, top-secret documents, including some of Capone’s personal letters, and offers a stunning new theory to explain the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.
Following the lecture, slip into our speakeasy with cash bar and enjoy a whiskey tasting with Templeton Rye Whiskey.
Cost:
$15, $12 Members
The Way We Drank
Tuesday, May 4, 7:00 p.m.
Those who did drink during Prohibition had no trouble finding what they wanted. The speakeasy changed American drinking habits, and it also permanently altered the nature of urban social life, particularly in relationships between men and women. Former New York Times public editor Dan Okrent and author of Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition, discusses this exploration of America’s wet oases during the dry years.
Cost:
$10, $8 Members
Urban History Seminar 2009–2010
Select Thursdays, September-May
Cash bar at 5:45 p.m.; Dinner at 6:15 p.m.; Speaker at 7:00 p.m.
Cost:
$20 includes dinner and program; cash bar.
> Download the complete Urban History Seminar schedule (PDF, 20 KB)
> View an Urban History Seminar on The Daleys of Chicago
February 2010
Thursday, February 11, 5:45 p.m.
Adam Arenson of the University of Texas at El Paso will present "City of Manifest Destiny: St. Louis and the Cultural Civil War."
March 2010
Thursday, March 11, 5:45 p.m.
Lisa Keller of Purchase College, State University of New York will present "Triumph of Order: Democracy and Public Space in New York and London."
April 2010
Thursday, April 15, 5:45 p.m.
Lisa Krissoff Boehm of Worcester State College will present "Reconsidering the Second Great Migration: African American Women Reflect on their Journey, Work, and Urban Life."
May 2010
Thursday, May 6, 5:45 p.m.
Kenneth T. Jackson of Columbia University will present "Revisiting Crabgrass Frontier: Looking Backward and Forward."
Refund Policy:
Refunds for a tour will be given in the form of tour credit which can
be applied to another tour. Credit will be given with a minimum of two
weeks notice prior to the day of the tour. No exceptions.
Sign Language Interpretation:
The Chicago History Museum is happy to offer sign language
interpretation at any of its public programs. Please contact the Public
Programs Manager, at least 48 hours prior to the day of the event in
order to accommodate this request 312.642.4600