Note: 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 normal hours. In the meantime, guided tours of the Museum’s current exhibits are available by appointment. To request one, use the ContactUs function (above) with “Guided Tour” as the subject, and someone will reply.

Welcome

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

2021 Annual Meeting

Submitted by Larry on Thu, 02/25/2021 - 4:54pm

Patrick T. ReardonThe Edgewater Historical Society invites you to the 2021 Annual Meeting, presenting candidates for your Board of Directors and telling you about plans for 2021-22. The meeting will be on Saturday, March 20, 2021 at 11 a.m. VIA ZOOM.

Our speaker will be our Edgewater neighbor, friend, author, and journalist Patrick T. Reardon, talking about his latest book, The Loop: The “L” Tracks That Shaped and Saved Chicago.

You must register in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. The program is free to the Public. Click here for a flyer.

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 MuseumWhile the EHS Museum is temporarily closed, we 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

Important Museum Information About Coronavirus 2019

Submitted by Larry on Fri, 03/13/2020 - 9:29am

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.

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

Board of Directors
Edgewater Historical Society and Museum

[more...]

Exhibit: High Water and Hell

Submitted by Larry on Tue, 01/07/2020 - 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 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...]

Edgewater Beach Hotel, 100 Years Later

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...]

Chicago History Book Group (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Fri, 01/15/2021 - 10:14am

The next meeting of the Chicago History Book Club will be Saturday, February 13, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom. To attend, please register at bit.ly/ehszoom5. This program is a partnership with the Edgewater Branch Library.

The topic is Lorraine Hansberry, and the books to be discussed are: “To be Young, Gifted and Black” by Lorraine Hansberry, and “Looking for Lorraine” by Imani Perry. Click here for a flyer.

The Beatles, Chicago and the 1960s (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Wed, 11/04/2020 - 9:28pm

Joy and FearDid you know The Beatles partied in Edgewater? Chicago was at the center of some of The Beatles more interesting episodes – from a party at Edgewater’s Saddle and Cycle Club to John Lennon’s most famous mea culpa. Join us on December 5th at 11 a.m. for a talk about The Beatles, Chicago and the 1960s, by local historian Professor John F. Lyons.

The event is free, but you must register in advance to receive information how to join the Zoom meeting. Click here for a flyer.

Chicago History Book Group (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Tue, 11/03/2020 - 11:30am

Note: due to technical difficulties the meeting has been rescheduled to December 19th. Your previous registration will still work on the 19th.

The next meeting of the Chicago History Book Club will be Saturday, December 19, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom. To attend, please register at bit.ly/ehszoom4. This program is a partnership with the Edgewater Branch Library.

The topic is the Columbian Exposition, and the books to be discussed are: “Celebrating the New World” by Robert Muccigrosso, “Devil in the White City” by Erik Larson, and “The Fair Women” by Jeanne Madeline Weimann. Click here for a flyer.

EHS Annual Wyman Lecture (Past)

Submitted by Larry on Sat, 09/26/2020 - 12:14pm

Saturday, October 10, 2020 at 11:00 a.m.
Via Zoom

The Ordinary Man Who Made Chicago Rational

As Chicago grew through the consolidation of smaller municipalities, its street naming and numbering system became a confusing hodgepodge. It took the efforts of one dedicated North Side citizen, Edward Brennan, to convince the city’s business leaders and politicians to try to rationalize the Grid. While Daniel Burnham tried to make the “City Beautiful,” Brennan strove to make the city logical. Join noted Chicago writer Bill Savage, who will draw on research for his next book (working title: The City Logical, or Why Daniel Burnham is Way Over-Rated) for this amazing story.

You must register in advance for this meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. 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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Please help support the work of the Edgewater Historical Society and Museum with a donation. Note: If you want to become a member or renew your membership, please click the “Membership” button above.

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.