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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

Important Museum Information About Coronavirus 2019

Submitted by Larry on Fri, 03/13/2020 - 10:29am

March 17, 2020

To Our Friends and Members,

The Edgewater Historical Society values and relies on the health of its volunteers, members, and everyone in the community. We take seriously the current recommendations from all levels of government to limit gatherings in order to reduce potential exposure to and spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus 2019). We are especially concerned about protecting vulnerable populations that might participate in any of EHS’s upcoming events.

With this in mind, the Edgewater Historical Society Museum will be closed to the public until further notice. We will let you know when we feel it is safe and healthy to resume our hours at the conclusion of the Coronavirus ordeal.

We look forward to celebrating our Grand Reopening. In the meantime, feel free to enjoy the robust information that we have on the EHS website about our Edgewater history.

You also might enjoy some worldwide museums that will have free virtual tours during the Coronavirus ordeal, with links in this Travel and Leisure article.

In addition, EHS is canceling or postponing the following events for the time being:

March 21 Annual Meeting at Edgewater Branch Library (Canceled)

We will reschedule our speaker on the History of the Lakefront for a later date, and we will prepare a summary of the Annual Report to be posted on social media. The volunteer fair will also be rescheduled, but in the meantime, consider joining our fellow volunteers in the coming year.

April 11 Chicago History Book Group (Postponed indefinitely)

We will reschedule the meeting as soon as the Edgewater Library again allows meetings in their Community Room. In the meantime, keep reading, everyone. That’s something we can now do more of, yippee!

April 16 Annual Spring Fundraiser at Breakers Edgewater (Postponed indefinitely)

If you submitted payments for the fundraiser, you will be contacted about a refund or return of your check. We thank our sponsors and silent auction donors; we intend to have the auction at a rescheduled event.

We thank you, our public and members for your support and forbearance during this difficult time.

Board of Directors
Edgewater Historical Society and Museum

2020 Annual Meeting (Canceled)

Submitted by Larry on Tue, 02/18/2020 - 9:50am

Important: The EHS Annual Meeting has been cancelled and the speaker will be rescheduled at a later time. We will prepare a summary of the Annual Report to be posted on social media. The volunteer fair will also be rescheduled, but in the meantime, consider joining our fellow volunteers in the coming year.

Dennis McCclendonThe Edgewater Historical Society invites you to the 2020 Annual Meeting and Volunteer Fair, presenting candidates for your Board of Directors and telling you about plans for 2020-21. The meeting will be on Saturday, March 21, 2020 at 10 a.m. in the Betty A. Barclay Community Room of the Edgewater Branch Library, 6000 N. Broadway. Click here for a flyer.

Our speaker will be Dennis McClendon, Chicago historian and geographer. His subject is “History of Chicago’s Lakefront”.

The program is free to the Public and refreshments will be served.

Chicago History Book Group (Postponed)

Submitted by Larry on Sat, 02/08/2020 - 9:12am

Important: The Chicago History Book Group meeting has been postponed indefinitely. We will reschedule it as soon as the Edgewater Library again allows meetings in their Community Room.

The next meeting of the Chicago History Book Club will be Saturday, April 11, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. in the Betty A. Barclay Community Room at the Edgewater Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 6000 N. Broadway.

The books to be discussed are: “An Early Encounter with Tomorrow” By Arnold Lewis, Devil in the White City” By Erik Larson,and “The Fair Women” By Jeanne Madeline Weimann.

Click here for a flyer.

Edgewater Spring Gala (Postponed)

Submitted by Larry on Fri, 02/07/2020 - 6:51pm

Important: The EHS Spring Gala has been postponed indefinitely. If you submitted payments for the fundraiser, you will be contacted about a refund or return of your check. We thank our sponsors and silent auction donors; we intend to have the auction at a rescheduled event.


Thursday, April 16, 2020
from 5:30-9:30 p.m.
The Breakers at Edgewater Beach
5333 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago
Donation: $80 ($75 each for two or more)

Come join with your friends and neighbors for an unforgettable evening celebrating our community.

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

Reservations and payment must be received no later than Friday, April 10th.

Save the Nordine Mansion from Demolition

Submitted by Larry on Mon, 01/13/2020 - 3:28pm

We Need Your Help to Save the Nordine Mansion from Demolition
Support Landmarking

A demolition permit to tear down the historic Nordine Home in Edgewater was recently filed with the City of Chicago. We need your help to stop it.

This 1902 gem, designed by the famous Pond & Pond firm is a prime example of Arts and Craft design, and is the finest, and one of the of few remaining, single family homes in the original Edgewater. And it was owned for over 50 years by the noted Ken Nordine, “creator of a style of audio storytelling he called ‘word jazz,’ one of the most celebrated voices on radio or TV.” He broadcast his WMAQ radio show from the 3rd floor Snail Studios that saw or recorded the likes of Jerry Garcia, Fred Astaire and many other musicians of note. [more...]

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...]

Exhibit: The Chicago Conspiracy Trial

Submitted by Larry on Fri, 08/17/2018 - 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. [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 Sat, 01/18/2020 - 4:28pm

The next meeting of the Chicago History Book Club will be Saturday, February 8, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. in the Betty A. Barclay Community Room at the Edgewater Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 6000 N. Broadway.

The books to be discussed are: “Ida: A Sword Among Lions” By Paula J. Giddings, and “To Tell the Truth Freely: The Life of Ida B. Wells” By Mia Bay.

Click here for a flyer.

Chicago History Book Group (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Mon, 11/04/2019 - 9:34am

The next meeting of the Chicago History Book Club will be Saturday, December 14, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. in the Betty A. Barclay Community Room at the Edgewater Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 6000 N. Broadway.

The books to be discussed are: “For the Thrill of It: Leopold, Loeb and the Murder that Shocked Chicago” By Simon Baatz, “Leopold and Loeb: The Crime of the Century” By Hal Higdon, and “The Leopold and Loeb Files” By Nina Barrett.

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.

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.