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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

"Remembering Edgewater Beach Hotel" interviews

Submitted by Larry on Sun, 11/21/2021 - 12:56pm

There have been two recent radio interviews with Kathy Gemperle and John Holden, the authors of “Remembering Edgewater Beach Hotel.” If you want to hear the interviews, they can be found at:

WGN Radio: After Hours with Rick Hogan on July 25, 2021

WCPT Radio: Where Are They Now with Art Andros on November 20, 2021

Art Hidden in Plain Sight

Submitted by Larry on Sun, 11/14/2021 - 10:03am

Saturday, December 4, 2021, 11:00 a.m. at the Museum

One of the world’s most remarkable outdoor art treasures lies hidden in plain sight along Chicago’s Lake Michigan waterfront: carvings in the old limestone revetments that line much of the lakeshore. William Swislow has documented thousands of revetment carvings. He’ll show examples of this art underfoot, tell its story, and discuss the carvers who made it.

The event is free, but attendance is limited to 25, so reservations are required. Click here for more information.

Chicago History Book Group

Submitted by Larry on Tue, 11/02/2021 - 1:19pm

The next meeting of the Chicago History Book Club will be Saturday, December 11, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. in the Betty A. Barclay Community Room at the Edgewater Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 6000 N. Broadway.

This program will be in-person, but socially distanced, and with limited participants. Please go to the library’s event calendar (bit.ly/ehsbook2) to register.

The books to be discussed are: “The World of Juliette Kinzie” By Ann Durkin Keating, and “Wau-Bun” By Juliette Kinzie.

Click here for a flyer.

New Exhibit: Native History in Edgewater/Chicago

Submitted by Larry on Fri, 10/29/2021 - 1:40pm

November is Native American Heritage Month. In honor of that celebration, the Edgewater Historical Society is mounting an exhibit focused on the history of Native Americans in the Edgewater/Chicago area. The exhibit opens on Saturday, November 13, 2021, and will be available on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. at 5358 N. Ashland Ave. A special thank you to WBEZ.

Exhibit: The Chicago Conspiracy Trial

Submitted by Larry on Tue, 09/01/2020 - 8:59pm

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 - 6:00am

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: Edgewater Beach Hotel

Submitted by Larry on Sun, 05/22/2016 - 11:55am

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...]

Exhibit: High Water and Hell

Submitted by Larry on Sat, 05/21/2016 - 5:57pm

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, 2020 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...]

"Removal and Relocation" lecture (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Sun, 11/14/2021 - 8:49am

Saturday, November 20, 3:00 p.m. at the Museum.

In honor of Native American Heritage Month, Les Begay, Diné Nation member, Co-Founder of the Indigenous Peoples Day Coalition, and former President of the American Indian Center, will lecture on Native American “Removal and Relocation.”

The event is free, but attendance is limited. Attendees should be fully vaccinated. Properly worn face masks are required at all indoor events in Chicago, regardless of vaccination status.

If you can’t attend in person, the lecture will be live-streamed on Facebook.

Re-Live the Magic of the Edgewater Beach Hotel (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Sat, 10/09/2021 - 11:50am

St. Ita Catholic Church Community Room
    (just below the main sanctuary)
5500 N. Broadway, Chicago, IL
Saturday, Oct. 16 at 11 a.m.

The Edgewater Beach Hotel was one of the most iconic hotels in America. More than a hotel, it was a unique urban resort on Chicago’s lakefront. Its elegance, excitement and nationally broadcasted Big Band music is fondly remembered by generations of guests. John Holden (co-author with Kathy Gemperle) will draw from their new book “Remembering Edgewater Beach Hotel,” detailing the hotel’s fascinating rise and fall. A limited number of books will be available for sale before and after the program.

Shorter programs will also be presented at the Edgewater Historical Society Museum on Saturday, Oct. 16 and Sunday, Oct. 17 at 2 p.m., in conjunction with Open House Chicago.

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.