Local history
Chicago History Museum
Chicago, Illinois
About
The Chicago History Museum is the city's oldest cultural institution, founded in 1856, and the premier repository of Chicago and Illinois history. Its collection of 22 million objects and documents includes the original copy of Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation draft, artifacts from the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, and iconic objects from Chicago's rich cultural and sports history.
Highlights & Things Not to Miss
Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln's original handwritten draft on permanent display
Chicago Fire Gallery
Artifacts and stories from the Great Fire of 1871
Chicago Sports History
From the Cubs to the Bulls, Chicago's legendary sports legacy