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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

Save the Woodruff Shopping Arcade

Submitted by Larry on Thu, 05/04/2017 - 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...]

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 runs through April 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...]

Wanted: Edgewater Living Treasures Award Nominations (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Sat, 09/23/2017 - 12:09pm

The Edgewater Historical Society is seeking nominees for its Edgewater Living Treasures Award. EHS invites Edgewater residents to submit the name(s) of anyone whom they feel is deserving of the award by October 1, 2017. Click here for the nomination form. Winners of the award are at the sole discretion of the Edgewater Historical Society. [more...]

Chicago History Book Group (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Wed, 09/20/2017 - 1:04pm

Chicago Conspiracy TrialThe next meeting of the Chicago History Book Club will be Saturday, October 14, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at the Edgewater Branch of the Chicago Public Library.

The book to be discussed is: “The Chicago Conspiracy Trial” by John Schultz. Click here for a flyer.

2017 Austin Wyman Lecture (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Sat, 09/02/2017 - 6:30pm

JosephSchwietermanThe 2017 Fall General meeting and Austin Wyman Lecture will be on Saturday, September 30, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at the Edgewater Branch Library, 6000 N. Broadway.

Transit oriented development (TOD) has become one of the hottest topics for urban planners and housing developers who are looking to further leverage locations near mass transit to increase the supply of residential units for people without cars. With the CTA’s Red Line running through it, Edgewater is primed to be a key front is this rapidly evolving area. Please join EHS and Joe Schwieterman, DePaul University professor and urban planning expert, for a lively discussion on the pros and cons of TOD, Edgewater’s past development patterns, and what the neighborhood can expect in the years ahead.

The program is free and refreshments will be served. Click here for more information.

2017 Edgewater Home Tour (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Mon, 07/17/2017 - 8:59am

On Sunday, September 17, 2017, the Edgewater Historical Society will present its 29th Home Tour in the Edgewater Triangle neighborhood, which includes the area within borders Bryn Mawr, Clark and Ridge. This area of Edgewater includes many of Edgewater’s oldest homes built between 1890 and 1920.

Register at Edgewater Baptist Church (1401 West Hollywood) 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.

Neighborhood Biking Tours (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Tue, 05/09/2017 - 8:39am

Go EdgewaterGo Edgewater is back for the 3rd year. The Edgewater Historical Society is supporting the program of the Edgewater Environmental Sustainability Project to encourage residents to explore the community by walking, by bike or by public transportation. We will be having nature tours, historical tours, environmental tour, theater and art tours, bike repair clinics and much more. [more...]

2017 Summer Nights in Edgewater (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Tue, 05/09/2017 - 7:34am

Join your neighbors again this year, on warm summer nights, for our popular community program of free live performances. From July 6 to August 31, 2017, every Thursday 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 2017 schedule.

Dirty Waters: Confessions of Chicago's Last Harbor Boss (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Mon, 05/08/2017 - 6:24pm

R. J. NelsonSaturday, August 12, 2017 at 2:00 p.m.
Edgewater Branch, Chicago Public Library
6000 N. Broadway, Chicago 60660

Chicago author R. J. Nelson will discuss his book Dirty Waters: Confessions of Chicago’s Last Harbor Boss – a wry, no-holds-barred memoir of Nelson’s time controlling some of the city’s most beautiful spots while facing some of its ugliest traditions.

A limited number of copies of the book will be available for purchase after the program. Click here for a flyer.

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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.