Events & Exhibits

Acre by Acre: Our Farming Heritage @ Elmhurst History Museum

From 1850 – 1950, the area of DuPage County, located just 10 miles west of Chicago, was home to farming families and small towns. Acre by Acre: Our Farming Heritage will explore how settlers transformed the land into a thriving farming community and delve into the rich history of farming in the western suburbs. Despite facing challenges, these pioneering families supported themselves through subsistence farming before transitioning to commercial farming, contributing to Illinois' agricultural legacy. The farmers of DuPage experienced the impact of mechanized farming equipment, which revolutionized the agriculture industry in Elmhurst and throughout Illinois. Furthermore, DuPage County's location along extensive railway lines allowed Elmhurst to participate in the bustling trade and commerce of agricultural products through Chicago.

Food: Gathering Around the Table + Church Supper – A Learning Tour

The food on the American table may not define exactly what we are as a nation, but the traditions surrounding our foods speak volumes about who we are. Rooted in centuries of borrowing and sharing, food traditions are staggeringly diverse and constantly evolving. The intersection of cultures in America is perhaps the most important factor in the mix that is America’s food. “American food” defies definition, except to say that it is what people in America harvest, prepare, and eat. There is no real recipe, just a few key ingredients constantly stirred by time. Stop by and explore this exhibit that explores our natural resources, local food traditions, food technology, and food as an autobiography.

Concert @ Stupey Cabin by the Midwest Young Artists Conservatory

Various chamber pieces performed by the participants of the Chicago Chamber Music. Workshop, hosted by the Midwest Young Artists Conservatory. All of the participants range from middle to high school age.  Details to follow by July 1, 2025

Preserving Family Recipes

FREE Workshop: Preserving your Family recipes. When you dip your madeleine in your Proustian tea, make it more than a memory. This workshop, in partnership with Society life member the First Bank of Highland Park, will provide the tools to preserve your family’s culinary history whether the original format is digital, oral or on a file card! Limited seating, please reserve.

Chicagoland Dream Houses

Please join Lake Forest College Professor and Highland Park resident Siobhan Moroney at Secret World Books, 1774 Second Street, Wednesday, May 28, 7:30 PM. She will discuss her book, Chicagoland Dream Houses How a Mid-Century Architecture Competition Reimagined the American Home," including the Highland Park dwellings, architects and organizations' role.

Preserving Family Heirloom Recipes – How to Save and Celebrate Your Food Traditions

Presented by Valerie J. Frey Heirloom dishes and family food traditions are rich sources of nostalgia and provide vivid ways to learn about our families’ past, yet they can be problematic. Many family recipes and food traditions are never documented in written or photographic form, existing only as unwritten know-how and lore that vanishes when a cook dies. Even when recipes are written down, they often fail to give the tricks and tips that would allow another cook to accurately replicate the dish. Unfortunately, recipes are also often damaged as we plunk Grandma’s handwritten cards on the countertop next to a steaming pot or a spattering mixer, shortening their lives.

‘Food in the Midwest: More Interesting Than You May Think,’ with Cynthia Clampitt

The history of the Midwest is remarkable for many reasons, not least of which is the diversity of its population, and therefore of its regional cuisine. Everyone contributed to what was developing,  from the Ojibwe harvesting wild rice in Minnesota to Belgian hoteliers in Chicago inventing new dishes.

Grand Concert Sesquicentennial with Elijah Gray’s Electro Music by Telegraph, Inventions of Electrifying and Broadcasting Music Began in Highland Park, Illinois

Grand Concert Sesquicentennial Electro Music by Telegraph: On December 29, 1874,...

Planes,Trains and Automobiles: Lake County Transportation, 10th Annual Lake County History Symposium, Part 2 of 2

From railroads to car racing and leisure boating, Lake County has a long transportation history. Join us at the 10th annual Lake County History Symposium to hear local transportation stories, January 9 and 16, 2025 from 6:30–8:30 pm. Each day will feature three unique presentations, followed by engaging discussions and Q&A sessions with the speakers. The Symposium is an annual gathering of people interested in the history of Lake County, Illinois. Professionals, students and enthusiastic historians are invited to submit proposals for presentations at the Symposium. Presentations can also be given by museums, historical societies and individuals. Submissions are accepted until November 8, 2024. Questions? Contact Sarah Salto at ssalto@LCFPD.org or 847-514-6749.

Planes,Trains and Automobiles: Lake County Transportation, 10th Annual Lake County History Symposium, Part 1 of 2

From railroads to car racing and leisure boating, Lake County has a long transportation history. Join us at the 10th annual Lake County History Symposium to hear local transportation stories, January 9 and 16, 2025 from 6:30–8:30 pm. Each day will feature three unique presentations, followed by engaging discussions and Q&A sessions with the speakers. The Symposium is an annual gathering of people interested in the history of Lake County, Illinois. Professionals, students and enthusiastic historians are invited to submit proposals for presentations at the Symposium. Presentations can also be given by museums, historical societies and individuals. Submissions are accepted until November 8, 2024. Questions? Contact Sarah Salto at ssalto@LCFPD.org or 847-514-6749.