Skokie Heritage Museum

Visit an original Skokie Log Cabin
The original home of early Niles Township settlers Nicholas and Elizabeth Meyer was constructed near the corner of modern day Gross Point Road and Lincoln Avenue in 1847 and is believed to be the first log cabin built in Skokie. The Meyers and eight of their children lived in the cabin, which was moved to this location in 1982. After an extensive restoration, the cabin is now filled with 1800s-era furnishings and other belongings that pioneer families like the Meyer family would have used, giving visitors a sense of their living conditions and daily activities.

Museum Field Trips

Educational programming can be adapted for older groups as well. Please contact Amanda Hanson-Putziger for additional information or to schedule, please contact Amanda Hanson-Putziger at ajhanson@skokieparks.org

Adapted In-person Field Trip (recommended for K–3rd grade)
Learn about Skokie’s first settlers and how they lived through a hands-on presentation in the main museum building including photographs, artifacts, early American toys and more. Split into smaller groups, students will also briefly tour the log cabin.

Length of trip: 1½–2 hours 
$45 per group (25 students max) 

Virtual Field Trip via Zoom—New! (recommended for K–3rd grade)
A 40-minute tour of the Log Cabin and Engine House followed by time for questions and answers.  

$30 per group  

School Outreach Program—New! (recommended for K–3rd grade)
If you can't come out to visit us, the Museum will come to you! Experience Skokie History and early settler life in the classroom. Learn about the daily life of early Skokie settlers through photographs, artifacts, early American toys and more. Schools must be in Niles, Evanston or New Trier Township.

Length: 1½ hours
$45 per classroom visit 

Virtual Abbreviated History of Skokie Lecture—New! (recommended for ages 16 )
Is your organization or group interested in learning more about Skokie’s long history? In this virtual presentation, Museum staff present a brief history of Skokie through images, maps and documents. 

$30 per lecture 

Girl Scout Badge Days

Complete your badge requirements in a single day at the Skokie Heritage Museum. All workshops are two hours. Workshops fulfill the following badges: 

Juniors
Playing the Past
Drawing
Brownies
Painting 

Fee per 2-hour workshop: $12 per participant (Minimum of 5). 
Please schedule at least one month in advance and make payment at least 10 days prior to program.
 

Cub Scout Adventures

Bring your Cub Scout Packs to the museum to complete adventures! (All programs complete all badge requirements except Art Explosion.)

Wolves
Collections and Hobbies – Show off your collections in a museum and learn how museums care for their collections
Bears
Beat of the Drum – Learn about American Indians and other indigenous peoples and complete crafts
Webelos
Art Explosion – Explore various art mediums and create self-portraits and other art styles.

Fee per 2-hour workshop: $12 per participant (Minimum of 5). 
Please schedule at least one month in advance and make payment at least 10 days prior to program. 
 

Skokie Historic Walking Tour - Map & Narrative
Skokie Historic Bicycle Tour - Map & Narrative

Virtual Historic Skokie Walking Tour
Virtual Historic Skokie Bicycle Tour
 

Local History

The Skokie Heritage Museum is home to the Skokie Historical Society, who assists in the maintenance of our archival collection. 

Skokie History FAQs
Skokie Public Library digital archive, including photos, news and more. 
The History of the Skokie Park District
1975 Video: An Oral History of Skokie & Niles Township
A 30-year history of the Skokie Festival of Cultures

The Skokie Heritage Museum's upper level is available for rental.

Capacity: 50
Fee: $75/$150 per hour

Click below to fill our a rental request form.