History

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Explore the Skokie Heritage Museum and Skokie’s original 1847 Log Cabin through all-age programming offered by the Skokie Park District, including crafts, field trips, and summer camps –– and for adults –– beer, wine and painting events.

Other programs include Devonshire Playhouse shows at the Log Cabin, and free self-guided bike and walking tours.  

The two sites are also home to permanent and temporary exhibits, the Skokie Historical Society and the museum archives.

info-icon2 Emily England at eengland@skokieparks.org

Please note that while classes may display below as available, registration does not open until the following dates:
•  Winter: December 15 for residents, December 22 for non-residents
•  Spring: March 15 for residents, March 22 for non-residents
•  Summer: May 15 for residents, May 22 for non-residents
•  Fall: August 15 for residents, August 22 for non-residents

The Skokie Historical Society assists in the maintenance, preservation and presentation of the 1982.005.010historical artifacts that reside at the Skokie Heritage Museum and online.

For information about the Skokie Historical Society, call (847) 929-8001.

Women's History Walk

Walk through women's history in downtown Skokie. Learn about important women and pivotal moments in the struggle for equal rights, including Skokie's first resident doctor and the development of the first commercial contraceptive. Drop-ins welcome. Children under 12 free with a paid adult.
Women's History Walk
M Tu W Th F Sa Su
10/4
3:00 pm- 4:30 pm
AGES
12 - 99
LOCATION
Skokie Heritage Museum
FEES (Res / Non Res)
$15.00 / $15.00
AVAILABILITY
Available
Register

Rise of the Bungalow Walking Tour

Learn about bungalow architecture and how the design reflects shifting societal values in the early 1900s, inspired in part by Jane Addams' Hull-House reformers and Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie School. This will be a casual stroll with frequent stops to look at building exteriors around the Lorel Park area. Drop-ins welcome. Children under 10 free with paid adult.
Rise of the Bungalow Walking Tour
M Tu W Th F Sa Su
10/11
3:00 pm- 4:30 pm
AGES
10 - 99
LOCATION
Skokie Heritage Museum
FEES (Res / Non Res)
$15.00 / $15.00
AVAILABILITY
Available
Register

Murder and Mayhem in Skokie Walking Tour

Listen to spine-tingling and sometimes silly stories of murder and mayhem in Skokie. Explore downtown and learn about the ghosts of Skokie's past, including a serial arsonist, the attempted murder of Skokie's founding father, local ties to infamous gangsters, and some eccentric small-town emergencies. Drop-ins welcome. Children under the age of 12 free with paid adult.
Murder and Mayhem in Skokie Walking Tour
M Tu W Th F Sa Su
10/27
5:30 pm- 7:00 pm
AGES
12 - 99
LOCATION
Skokie Heritage Museum
FEES (Res / Non Res)
$15.00 / $15.00
AVAILABILITY
Available
Register
Murder and Mayhem in Skokie Walking Tour
M Tu W Th F Sa Su
10/29
5:30 pm- 7:00 pm
AGES
12 - 99
LOCATION
Skokie Heritage Museum
FEES (Res / Non Res)
$15.00 / $15.00
AVAILABILITY
Available
Register

Grassroots Democracy: Illinois Labor Journeys

Join Mike Matejka, President of the Illinois Labor History Society, for a presentation on Illinois's history of labor rights. From Chicago’s Haymarket Square to southern Illinois coal mines, workers struggled to build unions and create safe work environments and often faced state repression. Nevertheless, they learned how to organize across ethnic, racial, and gender lines, finding their voice through organization and becoming critical community participants and workplace advocates.
Grassroots Democracy: Illinois Labor Journeys
M Tu W Th F Sa Su
11/1
2:00 pm- 3:00 pm
AGES
5 - 99
LOCATION
Skokie Heritage Museum
FEES (Res / Non Res)
$0.00 / $0.00
AVAILABILITY
Available
Register

Skokie Memories: Schools of Yesteryear

Commemorate fifty years since the closure of Sharp Corner School and College Hill Elementary in 1976, as well as the Niles Township teachers' strike. See related materials from the Skokie Heritage Museum's collections and share your memories. Light refreshments included.
Skokie Memories: Schools of Yesteryear
M Tu W Th F Sa Su
10/4
11:00 am-12:30 pm
AGES
18 - 99
LOCATION
Skokie Heritage Museum
FEES (Res / Non Res)
$10.00 / $15.00
AVAILABILITY
Available
Register

Fall Embroidery Sampler

Learn basic embroidery techniques as you craft a cozy fall sampler (a piece used to practice different embroidery techniques). Use a needle and thread to create fall foliage, bare branches, fun fungi, and more! Materials included.
Fall Embroidery Sampler
M Tu W Th F Sa Su
11/8
3:00 pm- 5:00 pm
AGES
8 - 99
LOCATION
Skokie Heritage Museum
FEES (Res / Non Res)
$40.00 / $50.00
AVAILABILITY
Available
Register

Firefighters Then and Now

Discover Skokie firefighting then and now for Fire Prevention Month! Retired Skokie Fire Department Lieutenant Ron Smith will give an up-close look at protective gear, equipment, and techniques from the 1800s to the present day in Skokie's first fire station. Suited for all ages.
Firefighters Then and Now
M Tu W Th F Sa Su
10/11
11:00 am-12:00 pm
AGES
3 - 99
LOCATION
Skokie Heritage Museum
FEES (Res / Non Res)
$10.00 / $10.00
AVAILABILITY
Available
Register

People Doing Things

Get engaged with your community! Hear how ordinary Skokians have shaped our community and civil rights through the years in a guided gallery talk of our temporary exhibit "Things Happened Here: A History of Civic Engagement in Skokie," and then celebrate National Letter Writing Day by writing to your representatives about what matters to you.
People Doing Things
M Tu W Th F Sa Su
12/6
3:00 pm- 4:30 pm
AGES
7 - 99
LOCATION
Skokie Heritage Museum
FEES (Res / Non Res)
$5.00 / $5.00
AVAILABILITY
Available
Register

Vintage Kitchen: Fruited Macaroons

Bake up some vintage holiday cheer with a dessert recipe straight from the museum archives! Learn to make Clara Blameuser's Fruited Macaroon recipe from start to finish just as she wrote it in the 1942 Skokie Women's Club Cookbook. Enjoy a taste test and have enough to take some home.
Vintage Kitchen: Fruited Macaroons
M Tu W Th F Sa Su
12/16
5:30 pm- 7:00 pm
AGES
6 - 99
LOCATION
Devonshire Cultural Center
FEES (Res / Non Res)
$35.00 / $44.00
AVAILABILITY
Available
Register

Intro to Crochet: Granny Squares

Learn how to crochet the granny square, a classic technique with endless applications. Discover the granny square's history, creative modifications, and different ways to join squares. Materials included.
Intro to Crochet: Granny Squares
M Tu W Th F Sa Su
11/22
3:00 pm- 5:00 pm
AGES
8 - 99
LOCATION
Skokie Heritage Museum
FEES (Res / Non Res)
$40.00 / $50.00
AVAILABILITY
Available
Register

Intro to Nålbinding

Learn nålbinding (also called needle-binding), an ancient yarncraft that's commonly associated with ancient Egypt and Viking cultures. This craft uses a broad, flat needle and woolen yarn to create textiles similar to crochet and knitting. Participants will learn a basic stitch and craft a bookmark.
Intro to Nålbinding
M Tu W Th F Sa Su
11/29
2:00 pm- 4:00 pm
AGES
8 - 99
LOCATION
Skokie Heritage Museum
FEES (Res / Non Res)
$40.00 / $50.00
AVAILABILITY
Available
Register

History of Old Orchard Mall Walking Tour

Celebrate Old Orchard Mall's 70th anniversary with a stroll down memory lane! Learn how malls have shaped American life and explore the roles of Old Orchard, the Edens Expressway, Skokie's Fun Fair amusement park, and Niles North High School in Skokie history. Park in green garage and meet at west entrance to Macy's. Walk is about 1 mile long with seating at some, but not all, stops. Children younger than 12 free with paid adult.
History of Old Orchard Walking Tour
M Tu W Th F Sa Su
9/2
5:00 pm- 7:00 pm
AGES
12 - 99
LOCATION
Skokie Heritage Museum
FEES (Res / Non Res)
$25.00 / $25.00
AVAILABILITY
Available
Register
History of Old Orchard Walking Tour
M Tu W Th F Sa Su
10/5
5:00 pm- 7:00 pm
AGES
12 - 99
LOCATION
Skokie Heritage Museum
FEES (Res / Non Res)
$25.00 / $25.00
AVAILABILITY
Available
Register

Skokie Heritage Museum Guided Tour

Tour the Skokie Heritage Museum and learn about the Village of Skokie's founding. The tour includes a look at the building as it was when it served as Skokie's first firehouse and jail. Get a behind-the-scenes look at our collection of artifacts, including old yearbooks and photos. Behind the museum, experience pioneer life in an original Skokie log cabin from 1847.
Museum Guided Tour
M Tu W Th F Sa Su
8/29
12:00 pm- 1:00 pm
AGES
5 - 99
LOCATION
Skokie Heritage Museum
FEES (Res / Non Res)
$10.00 / $10.00
AVAILABILITY
Available
Register
Museum Guided Tour
M Tu W Th F Sa Su
8/30
12:00 pm- 1:00 pm
AGES
5 - 99
LOCATION
Skokie Heritage Museum
FEES (Res / Non Res)
$10.00 / $10.00
AVAILABILITY
Available
Register

Exhibit Opening & Gallery Talk

Get a behind-the-scenes in-depth look at our newest exhibit, "Things Happened Here: A History of Civic Engagement in Skokie" with the curators while enjoying light refreshments.
Exhibit Opening & Gallery Talk
M Tu W Th F Sa Su
8/29
5:00 pm- 6:00 pm
AGES
10 - 99
LOCATION
Skokie Heritage Museum
FEES (Res / Non Res)
$10.00 / $10.00
AVAILABILITY
Available
Register

America's 250th Trivia Night

Celebrate America's 250th birthday by testing your knowledge of the last 250 years of history in the United States of America with this lightning-fast trivia competition covering major events, pop culture, politics, and more. Play solo or with a partner for a chance to win fun prizes! Must bring a smartphone or similar wifi-enabled device to participate.
America's 250th Trivia Night
M Tu W Th F Sa Su
8/30
5:30 pm- 6:30 pm
AGES
21 - 99
LOCATION
Skokie Heritage Museum
FEES (Res / Non Res)
$15.00 / $15.00
AVAILABILITY
Available
Register

Historic Downtown Skokie Walking Tour

Learn about the historic buildings, people, and events that made Skokie what it is today through this guided tour of historic downtown Skokie. This will be a casually paced walk with stops throughout the downtown area. Tour meets at Skokie Heritage Museum (8031 Floral Ave.). Children under 10 free with a paid adult.
Historic Downtown Skokie Walking Tour
M Tu W Th F Sa Su
8/29
10:00 am-11:00 am
AGES
10 - 99
LOCATION
Skokie Heritage Museum
FEES (Res / Non Res)
$10.00 / $10.00
AVAILABILITY
Available
Register
Historic Downtown Skokie Walking Tour
M Tu W Th F Sa Su
8/30
10:00 am-11:00 am
AGES
10 - 99
LOCATION
Skokie Heritage Museum
FEES (Res / Non Res)
$10.00 / $10.00
AVAILABILITY
Available
Register

History of Old Orchard Walking Tour

Celebrate Old Orchard Mall's 70th anniversary with a stroll down memory lane! Learn how malls have shaped American life and explore the roles of Old Orchard, the Edens Expressway, Skokie's Fun Fair amusement park, and Niles North High School in Skokie history. Park in green garage and meet at west entrance to Macy's. Walk is about 1 mile long with seating at some, but not all, stops. Children younger than 12 free with paid adult.
History of Old Orchard Walking Tour
M Tu W Th F Sa Su
8/19
10:00 am-12:00 pm
AGES
12 - 99
LOCATION
Skokie Heritage Museum
FEES (Res / Non Res)
$25.00 / $25.00
AVAILABILITY
Available
Register


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