Chicago: Crossroads of America

Discover the city's vast history in Chicago: Crossroads of America. Whether you are interested in Chicago's changing economy, challenging crises, diverse neighborhoods, groundbreaking innovations, or lively cultural scene, this exhibition is a must see!

Facing Freedom

What does freedom mean? To whom should freedom be extended? How are denied rights gained? These are some of the questions the new American history exhibition explores. Based on the central idea that the history of the United States has been shaped by conflicts over what it means to be free, this new exhibition uses images, artifacts, and interactivity to explore familiar and not-so-familiar stories from the nation’s past. From women's suffrage and the formation of unions, to Japanese internment, to a local school boycott, the exhibition highlights some of the ways Americans have struggled over the true meaning of freedom.

Sensing Chicago

Use your five senses to explore Chicago, uncover the past, and discover that history is all around you. The Konen Family Children's Gallery invites families to ride a high-wheel bicycle, hear the Great Chicago Fire, catch a fly ball at Comiskey Park, smell the city's past, and be a Chicago-style hot dog.

Treasures

This series of building-wide installations promises to surprise you from the moment you step in the door. Highlights include a 1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo lowrider, souvenirs from Chicago's world's fairs, and Abraham Lincoln's deathbed.

General Admission

Adults: $14 with audio tours
Seniors (65+): $12 with audio tours
Students (13–22 with ID): $12 with audio tours
Free for children (age 12 and younger)

Free for members of the Chicago History Museum, DuSable Museum, and National Museum of Mexican Art.

The museum is no longer free every Monday. Instead we offer a schedule of days, which provide free admission to Illinois Residents only. Discount Days at the Museum for 2012 are:

Museum Hours

Monday - Saturday 9:30am - 4:30pm

Sunday 12:00pm – 5:00pm

For more information, visit www.chicagohistory.org