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1908 building on Clark at Balmoral having the brick facade replaced
Delivery wagons next to Gengler store on Summerdale at Clark, 1902
The first Edgewater Hospital building ca 1930
Facade of Trumbull School on Foster Avenue, 1908
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

Hidden in Plain Sight: Chicago's Lakefront Masterpieces

Submitted by Larry on Sat, 04/07/2018 - 12:56pm

Saturday, May 19, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.
Edge Theater
5451 N. Broadway, Chicago 60640

The Edgewater Historical Society, the Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society, and the Ravenswood/Lake View Historical Association are pleased to co-host this program by William Swislow of little-known public art along Chicago’s lakefront. Click here for more information.

New exhibit - "Made in Chicago"

Submitted by Larry on Wed, 05/03/2017 - 9:12pm

The “Made in Chicago” exhibit is a collection of artifacts from the Made in Chicago Museum - “An industrial history in everyday objects 1900-1970.” The exhibit has been extended to August 2018.

Explore the kitchen installation and see familiar products from the past. Remember Dad’s old fashioned root beer or Oh Henry candy bars? Many manufacturers, like Steward Warner, are gone, but their products, like the early TVs, are still here.

Stop by to see the real things, and then go online to the Made In Chicago Museum to learn more. You are going to love it. For a short overview of the exhibit by the curator and owner of the collection, click here. [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...]

EHS Spring Benefit Dinner (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Sat, 02/10/2018 - 11:57am
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
from 5:30-9:30 p.m.
The Breakers at Edgewater Beach
5333 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago
Donation: $75 ($70 each for two or more)

The deadline for buying tickets to the EHS Spring Benefit Dinner is fast approaching. And we know you don’t want to miss this annual community event. Not only will it include a delicious dinner with choice of entrees, dessert from First Slice, and complimentary wine and beer, but also the Living Treasures and Volunteer of the Year awards.

The theme is the Fabulous ’50s so we’ll have classic rock and roll music and a trivia contest based on that decade. You can even have your picture taken with Elvis or Marilyn Monroe!

Click here for more information.
Click here to order tickets online with a credit card.

2018 Annual Meeting (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Sat, 02/10/2018 - 11:56am

Richard LanyonThe Edgewater Historical Society invites you to the 2018 Annual Meeting, presenting candidates for your Board of Directors and telling you about plans for 2018-19. The meeting will be on Saturday, March 17, 2018 at 10 a.m. at the Broadway Armory, 5917 N. Broadway. Click here for a flyer.

Our speaker will be Richard Lanyon and the program will be a discussion of his book “Draining Chicago: The Early City and the North Area” with a slide presentation.

The program is free to the Public and refreshments will be served. A limited number of copies of the book will be available for purchase following the program.

Chicago History Book Group (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Thu, 02/01/2018 - 8:46am

When Chicago Ruled BaseballThe next meeting of the Chicago History Book Club will be Saturday, April 14, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at the Edgewater Branch of the Chicago Public Library.

The book to be discussed is: “When Chicago Ruled Baseball” by Bernard A. Weisberger. Click here for a flyer.

Give an Edgewater Historical Society gift membership

Submitted by Larry on Thu, 12/07/2017 - 6:25pm

Gifting an Edgewater Historical Society membership is a great way to get a loved one involved in the vibrant Edgewater community. Our members enjoy creative exhibits on important community topics, lectures by EHS curators, book discussions, our quarterly Scrapbook newsletter, and many more benefits. And now, first time members will enjoy a one-time $5 membership for the first year. Please consider offering a membership to someone close to you for the holidays.

Click on the Membership tab for details.

Save the Woodruff Shopping Arcade (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Fri, 11/17/2017 - 8:56am

The shopping arcade at the southeast corner of Broadway and Devon/Sheridan is under threat of demolition. A six story mixed use building is proposed for the site - residential on the top five floors, and retail on the first floor. Fourteen (14) businesses would be displaced, some of which have been there for years.

The Woodruff Arcade is a hidden gem, but a gem nonetheless. It is a unique building type, the precursor of today’s indoor shopping mall, and it is the only one in Edgewater (we once had two). More importantly, it is the only one in all of Chicago. For that reason alone it should be preserved. [more...]

Chicago History Book Group (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Fri, 11/17/2017 - 2:29am

Fire on the PrairieThe next meeting of the Chicago History Book Club will be Saturday, February 10, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at the Edgewater Branch of the Chicago Public Library.

The book to be discussed is: “Fire on the Prairie: Chicago’s Harold Washington and the Politics of Race” by Gary Rivlin. Click here for a flyer.

Chicago's Fabulous Fountains (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Thu, 11/16/2017 - 10:30pm

Saturday, January 27, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.
Edgewater Branch, Chicago Public Library
6000 N. Broadway, Chicago 60660

The Edgewater Historical Society and the Chicago Public Library are pleased to co-host this program with Chicago’s popular author and journalist Greg Borzo, who will discuss his latest book “Chicago’s Fabulous Fountains.” 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.

Upcoming Events/Tours

If not otherwise specified, events are held at the EHS Museum. If the description ends in “…” click the title for more information.

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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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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.