Chicago History Museum

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

The source for information about Abraham Lincoln and Chicago's rise from frontier outpost to mega-metropolis.. The Exhibits
The Illinois Pioneer Life Gallery (first floor) features candle molds, sugar snips, looms and other tools of frontier life. A miniature Conestoga wagon represents the type of transportation that brought Chicago's early settlers to the area. Diorama Hall (second floor) showcases eight scenes from Chicago (circa 1930).
"A House Divided: America in the Age of Lincoln," includes the museum's piece de resistance: the walnut spindle bed where the 16th president died of his mortal wounds at 7:22am, April 15, 1865. "The Death of Lincoln," Alonzo Chappel's 1868 fictional painting, is a "Where's Waldo?"-type scene depicting every important person who visited the dying president in his final hours.

Other Attractions
In addition to two floors of exhibition space, a third level is reserved for museum services, such as the facility's library, archives and researchers' gallery. The Big Shoulders Cafe and Museum Store are also located on the first floor.

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conallo

Joined 11 years ago

The Life of the City. The oldest and most overlooked Museum in the City. The Chicago Historical Society offers a wide range of programs, everything for kids on up. The staff and volunteers are both helpful, friendly and knowledgable. If you ever wanted to "really" learn about the city of big shoulders this is THE place to do it. They also have a wide range of information and knowledge of general American History as well. And of course anyone who is at all interested in Lincoln and the Civil War their "A House Divided" exhibit is a must see.