Sanger P. Robinson Gallery

Lincoln's Chicago

Lincoln was a frequent visitor to Chicago; The city became his second home and political headquarters during his rise to prominence. This gallery features portraits of Lincoln’s contemporaries with lithograph views of Chicago created in the 1860s. The pairings provide a glimpse of the city that Lincoln knew—a dynamic young metropolis on the verge of greatness.

The McCormick Foundation is the lead exhibition sponsor of Lincoln’s Chicago. Education funding for Lincoln’s Chicago is provided by JP Morgan Chase and the Terra Foundation for American Art.  

Abraham Lincoln

As president, Abraham Lincoln faced our nation’s greatest crisis—the Civil War. His resolve to save the Union and radical decision to end slavery transformed America. This intimate exhibition highlights Lincoln’s election in 1860, his leadership during the Civil War, and his tragic assassination. Together these stories honor a great leader whose legacy endures. 

The Abraham Lincoln installation is supported by a gift from The Gupta Family with additional support from The Joyce Foundation in honor of Lawrence N. Hansen.

Bessie Green-Field Warshawsky Gallery and Green-Field Gallery

Out in Chicago

Last chance to visit! Closing March 26.

Discover 150 years of urban history through the lens of gender, sexuality, and nonconformity. This exhibition uses four themes—individuals and their bodies, family and home, communities, and political action—to present the city’s diverse LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) history. Out in Chicago is part of a continuing series about the city’s communities.

> Learn more about Out in Chicago

Northern Trust is the lead corporate sponsor for the Out in Chicago exhibition. Generous support for the entire Out at CHM project is provided by The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust. Additional support is provided by The Chicago Community Trust, Pauls Foundation, Sara Lee Foundation, UBS, Polk Bros. Foundation, and The Goodworks Fund.

Kovler Family Lobby

Unexpected Chicago

Let history surprise you. Stop by to see a new item on display from the Museum’s collection of more than 22 million artifacts. Handpicked by our curators on a bi-monthly basis, the selections may come from our 17,909 linear feet of archives and manuscripts; 40,000 decorative and industrial arts artifacts; 3,400 works of art; 1.5 million photographs; or 50,000-piece costume collection.

> Learn more about Unexpected Chicago

Unexpected Chicago is supported by a gift from The Jacob and Rosaline Cohn Foundation.

KPMG and Paul and Katherine Snyder Community Gallery

Lincoln Park Block by Block

Lincoln Park is a dynamic neighborhood and home of the Chicago History Museum. For 150 years, Lincoln Park residents and visitors have experienced some of the city’s most historic events—from the opening of the Chicago’s first public beach in 1895 to the riots of the late 1960s. Set on an oversized map, the exhibition invites you to discover the history, culture, and making of Lincoln Park. Share your memories with other visitors, and explore Lincoln Park—a place that constantly remakes itself with a nod to the past and an eye toward the future.

> Learn more about Lincoln Park Block by Block

Skyline Gallery

Magic

The Exelon Wing

Chicago: Crossroads of America

Discover the city's vast history in Chicago: Crossroads of America. Whether you are interested in Chicago's changing economy, challenging crises, diverse neighborhoods, groundbreaking innovations, or lively cultural scene, this exhibition is a must see!

Konen Family Children's Gallery

Sensing Chicago

Use your five senses to explore Chicago, uncover the past, and discover that history is all around you. The Konen Family Children's Gallery invites families to ride a high-wheel bicycle, hear the Great Chicago Fire, catch a fly ball at Comiskey Park, smell the city's past, and be a Chicago-style hot dog.

Tawani Foundation Diorama Hall

The Dioramas

Our much-loved dioramas have been restored and are better than ever! Visit the Tawani Foundation Diorama Hall to learn the story of Chicago's rise from a desolate frontier outpost in 1804 to the bustling city that hosted the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893. Engaging details invite you to look closely and put history into a larger context.

Treasures

This series of building-wide installations promises to surprise you from the moment you step in the door. Highlights include a 1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo lowrider, souvenirs from Chicago's world's fairs, and Abraham Lincoln's deathbed.

> View the lowrider video