Welcome

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

2018 Summer Nights in Edgewater

Submitted by Larry on Fri, 06/15/2018 - 10:58am

Join your neighbors again this year, on warm summer nights, for our popular community program of free live performances. From July 11 to August 29, 2018, every Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m., different local musicians will entertain you in the beautiful EHS garden. Refreshments will be served. We are pet friendly! All are welcome. Click here for the 2018 schedule.

"Made in Chicago" exhibit closes on August 5th

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 will close on to August 5, 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...]

2018 Edgewater Home Tour (Save the date)

Submitted by Larry on Thu, 06/21/2018 - 12:32pm

On Sunday, September 16, 2018, the Edgewater Historical Society will present its 30th Home Tour in the West Andersonville neighborhood, which includes the area within borders Bryn Mawr, Foster, Ashland and Ravenswood.

Register at the Edgewater Historical Society Museum (5358 North Ashland) between Noon and 4:00 p.m. Tour goers will guide themselves to the open homes using the tour map. The cost is $25 per person and requires walking several blocks. No reservations are required. Click here for more information.

"Made in Chicago" gallery talk (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Wed, 05/23/2018 - 5:30pm

Giant pencil sharpenerJoin collector Andrew Clayman for a “Made in Chicago” exhibit gallery talk on Tuesday, May 29, at 7:00 p.m. at the Edgewater Historical Society, 5358 N. Ashland, Chicago. See everyday objects from the past, including make-up and baking supplies, to the extraordinary, including a bottler and sheep shearing machine. Everything was manufactured in Chicago!

Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the gallery talk beginning at 7:00 p.m. Refreshments will be provided. The event is free, but registration is requested. Hope to see you on May 29.

2018 Living Treasures of Edgewater (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Fri, 05/11/2018 - 8:37am

Saturday, June 9, 2018 at 1:00 p.m.
Edgewater Branch Library, 6000 N. Broadway

You are cordially invited to attend the formal induction of Mary Ellen Diaz, Beth Palmer, Carla Bruni and Ally Brisbin into the Living Treasures of Edgewater for outstanding service to the Edgewater community.

Hidden in Plain Sight: Chicago's Lakefront Masterpieces (Past)

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.

Chicago History Book Group (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Sat, 04/07/2018 - 12:54pm

The Chicago RiverThe next meeting of the Chicago History Book Club will be Saturday, June 9, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at the Edgewater Branch of the Chicago Public Library.

The book to be discussed is: “The Chicago River: An Illustrated History and Guide to the River and Its Waterways” By David Solzman. Click here for a flyer.

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.

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.