Note: The Edgewater Historical Society Museum is now open normal weekend hours. Please see the notice below.

Welcome

Facade of Trumbull School on Foster Avenue, 1908
Delivery wagons next to Gengler store on Summerdale at Clark, 1902
1908 building on Clark at Balmoral having the brick facade replaced
The first Edgewater Hospital building ca 1930
2009 Kitchen Exhibit at the Museum
Firehouse at Balmoral & Ashland
Firetruck housed at the original firehouse
2011 Edgewater Grocery Stores Exhibit
Greenhouses in the 1930s
Andersonville school view looking south down Ashland 1880
2010 Home Tour (Edgewater North)
Parade on Clark Street, 1966
Maybelline building at Ridge and Clark, ca. 1930s
Postcard of original Edgewater Post Office on Broadway at Catalpa
Postcard of Senn High School prior to the additions, ca. 1920
Saddle & Cycle Club at Foster Ave. 1900
Saddle & Cycle Club at Foster Ave. 1900
Postcard of Edgewater Beach Hotel, pre-1923
Postcard of Edgewater Beach Hotel Yacht Club
2010 Memorial Day Parade

Edgewater walking tours

Submitted by Larry on Thu, 05/13/2021 - 7:00am

Walk Edgewater

Enjoy views of the historic buildings of Edgewater in our own unique outdoor museum. Edgewater has three historic districts, designated by the U.S. Department of the Interior, and many blocks filled with historic homes. Tours will be led by knowledgeable guides.

Note: There are ten tours available. Sign up before they sell out.

Edgewater Glen: (New for 2021)
DATE: June 2, 2021; TIME: 6:30 p.m.
DATE: June 27, 2021; TIME: 1:00 p.m.

Edgewater’s Broadway - Catalpa to Rosedale: (New for 2021)
DATE: June 5, 2021; TIME: 11:00 a.m.

Lakewood Balmoral Historic District:
(SOLD OUT) DATE: June 8, 2021; TIME: 7:00 p.m.
DATE: June 22, 2021; TIME: 7:00 p.m.

Discover the Art Underfoot: (New for 2021)
DATE: June 12, 2021; TIME: 11:00 a.m.
DATE: July 24, 2021; TIME: 11:00 a.m.

Edgewater’s North End:
DATE: June 17, 2021; TIME: 6:30 p.m.

Magnolia Glen:
DATE: June 26, 2021; TIME: 11:00 a.m.

Bryn Mawr Historic District:
(SOLD OUT) DATE: July 7, 2021; TIME: 6:30 p.m.

Andersonville Historic District:
DATE: July 17, 2021; TIME: 9:30 a.m.

Due to safety requirements, you must register online for each tour, and pay using this link.

There is a limit of 15 in each tour. Our tour guides, who will have microphones, will lead you through the tour, and share with you our researched brochure. Everyone must wear a face mask and keep socially distant. The fee for each tour is $15, which supports the Edgewater Historical Society Museum.

Here are descriptions of the walking tours: [more...]

Chicago History Book Group

Submitted by Larry on Thu, 04/15/2021 - 8:55pm

The next meeting of the Chicago History Book Club will be Saturday, June 12, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom. To attend, please register at bit.ly/ehszoom8. This program is a partnership with the Edgewater Branch Library.

The topic is The Third Coast, and the book to be discussed is: “The Third Coast: When Chicago Built the American Dream” by Thomas Dyja. Click here for a flyer.

EHS museum reopens April 10th.

Submitted by Larry on Fri, 04/02/2021 - 9:06pm

Dear Friends and Supporters,

We are ready to reopen the Edgewater Historical Society Museum on April 10 at 1 p.m., on our previous schedule of Saturdays and Sundays from 1-4 p.m.

It’s been a long time since we had to close last year, and we are going to reopen slowly and carefully for the protection of our volunteers and guests.

Masks must be worn properly at all times.

We will be opening for limited number of people at a time (no more than 7). We will have hand sanitizers throughout, and there are floor markings to encourage social distancing while you are in the museum.

We are grateful to our volunteer docents who have been fully vaccinated and are willing to come back.

We will continue to try to schedule individual tours at other times if docents can be arranged. Just contact us through our website.

We really look forward to seeing you all again.

Board of Directors and Docents
Edgewater Historical Society and Museum

Exhibit: The Chicago Conspiracy Trial

Submitted by Larry on Tue, 09/01/2020 - 9:59pm

The Chicago Conspiracy Trial: One Juror’s Ordeal

In 1968 the Democratic National Convention was held in Chicago. Protests, confrontation, arrests and ensuing trial, tested the legal and political processes. The Chicago Conspiracy Trial of 1969-1970 was a challenge to the American justice system. This exhibit examines one juror’s experiences, reflected through her journals, and the lasting impact of the trial on her and her family.

The exhibit was recently mentioned in an article on the CBS Chicago website about the new Trial of the Chicago 7 movie.

And there is a new article by Mary Schmich in the Chicago Tribune about the movie, Jean Fritz and the EHS exhibit. [more...]

Virtual Museum exhibits

Submitted by Larry on Sat, 07/04/2020 - 7:00am

EHS MuseumWe invite you on a virtual curator’s tour of our current exhibits:

Edgewater Beach Hotel: 100 Years Later

The Chicago Conspiracy Trial: One Juror’s Ordeal

High Water and Hell: Rising Lake Puts Chicago on Edge

Here is another past exhibit you may remember:

Greetings from Edgewater (2012): description and video

Exhibit: High Water and Hell

Submitted by Larry on Tue, 01/07/2020 - 6:57pm

Rising Lake Puts Chicago on Edge

The recent dramatic rise in the level of Lake Michigan is posing a serious – though not unprecedented – threat to property on Chicago’s lakefront. A new exhibit opening January 11 at the Edgewater History Museum – “High Water and Hell: Rising Lake Puts Chicago on Edge” – examines how the previous record high lake levels in the late 1980s severely battered the City and caused extensive damage to Chicago’s lakefront communities. [more...]

Edgewater Beach Hotel, 100 Years Later

Submitted by Larry on Sun, 05/22/2016 - 12:55pm

The one hundred year anniversary of the opening of the Edgewater Beach Hotel is being celebrated with an exhibit at the Edgewater Historical Society and Museum. The exhibit will be open on weekends from 1 to 4 p.m. Come prepared to learn about this fabulous hotel that put Edgewater on the map by surfing our website. [more...]

Chicago History Book Group (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Thu, 03/11/2021 - 3:24pm

The next meeting of the Chicago History Book Club will be Saturday, April 10, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom. To attend, please register at bit.ly/ehszoom7. This program is a partnership with the Edgewater Branch Library.

The topic is Lucy Parsons, and the book to be discussed is: “Goddess of Anarchy” by Jacqueline Jones. Click here for a flyer.

2021 Annual Meeting (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Thu, 02/25/2021 - 5:54pm

Patrick T. ReardonThe Edgewater Historical Society invites you to the 2021 Annual Meeting, presenting candidates for your Board of Directors and telling you about plans for 2021-22. The meeting will be on Saturday, March 20, 2021 at 11 a.m. VIA ZOOM.

Our speaker will be our Edgewater neighbor, friend, author, and journalist Patrick T. Reardon, talking about his latest book, The Loop: The “L” Tracks That Shaped and Saved Chicago.

You must register in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. The program is free to the Public. Click here for a flyer.

Chicago History Book Group (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Fri, 01/15/2021 - 11:14am

The next meeting of the Chicago History Book Club will be Saturday, February 13, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom. To attend, please register at bit.ly/ehszoom5. This program is a partnership with the Edgewater Branch Library.

The topic is Lorraine Hansberry, and the books to be discussed are: “To be Young, Gifted and Black” by Lorraine Hansberry, and “Looking for Lorraine” by Imani Perry. Click here for a flyer.

Syndicate content

We welcome you to the Edgewater Historical Society website. Here you will find information about the Society and its Museum, including current exhibits and upcoming events or tours. There is also a searchable archive of newsletter articles and tour booklets going back to 1988. If you have comments or questions, please use the “Contact us” button above.

How to Find Us

The Edgewater Historical Society Museum is located at

5358 N. Ashland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60640
773‑506‑4849

Open Saturday and Sunday from 1-4 p.m. and by appointment.

Regular admission to the Museum is free but donations are gratefully accepted.


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Please help support the work of the Edgewater Historical Society and Museum with a donation. Note: If you want to become a member or renew your membership, please click the “Membership” button above.

The Edgewater Historical Society is an Illinois not-for-profit corporation. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law for 501(c)(3) organizations.