Past Events

Last time sold out quickly. Register now to reserve your ticket for the walking tour that takes you back to a fascinating look at a sometimes glamorized, sometime buried era of Chicago history, with links to our own community.  Tony Soprano wasn't the first mobster drawn to quiet suburban-style living. In the Roaring 20's, the new bungalows of West Ridge provided an idyllic refuge on the northern edge of the city for organized crime figures involved in the gambling, rum-running,…

If you aren't taking our Gangsters of West Ridge Tour on July 13, stop by the Edgewater Branch Library to hear the story of how immigrants from one of the smallest countries in Europe shaped the early history of Chicago's Far North Side. Kevin Wester, retired Executive Director of the Luxembourger American Cultural Society will give a wide-ranging overview of how this small group brought their farming skills to our city, creating a network of farms and greenhouses that arced…

Artists of the Wall has been an important part of Rogers Park for a quarter of a century. Learn the story behind this enduring Loyola Park Advisory Council project that adds art to our lake shore and involves hundreds of local residents and artists from around the city. Mary Bao, long-time RPWRHS member and one of the founders of the event, will talk about how the festival began, how it has evolved over more than two decades, and plans for where it's going in the future.

Part of Andrew Clayman’s collection of vintage Chicago-made products has been on display at our office, but Andrew himself will be our Living History Speaker on October 17 at the Northtown Branch Library, 6801 N. Western Ave, when he will discuss the collection with a special emphasis on the sometimes-overlooked manufacturing legacy of the North Side. Our hands-on exhibit of products manufactured in 20th Century Chicago is on view any Wednesday or Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m at…

Fifty years ago, on Sept 24, 1969, the Chicago Conspiracy Trial opened to decide the fate of eight protesters arrested during the 1968 Democratic Convention. The trial was a political, legal and historical landmark that lasted for almost five months, becoming known as the Chicago Seven trial when one defendant, Bobby Seale, accused Judge Julius Hoffman of racism and demanded a separate trial. Jean Fritz was a juror who kept a journal during five long months of sequestration, recording her…

Join the Ranks of Our Digital History Detectives.   Over the years, we’ve accumulated many photographs of homes, commercial buildings and other places in the neighborhood with limited information as to their location, date or subject matter. We’re filling in the details for as many as we can, and you can help. Join Rob Case, our Ace Photo Archivist, for a Great Chicago House Hunt session, where he’ll show you how to use digital resources like Google Streetview, old phone books…

Join Rob Case, our Ace Photo Archivist, for the last Great Chicago House Hunt session of the year, where he’ll show you how to use digital resources like Google Streetview, old phone books and other internet resources to search for clues in unidentified photos. No experience necessary, but it helps if you’re comfortable with using Google for searches and have basic internet skills.