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Programming

Group and school programs are designed to bring a local perspective to the study of history and are available to schools, youth organizations, senior groups, home educators, and others.

Communication on the Railroad
A special program on Saturday, August 13, 2011 from 12:00 – 3:00 p.m., in conjunction with the All Aboard! exhibit which runs through November at the City Museum, explores communication on the railroad. What came before radios and cell phones? Learn about the various types of communication devises that have been used by railroads, including lantern signals, telegraph, message hoops and semaphores.

"Passport to Adventure" Returns to West Chicago
Again this year, suburban museums have teamed up to provide the Passport to Adventure. The program runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day and is open to children between the ages of 4 and 12. Families may pick up Passport books at the City Museum or Kruse house as well as at the West Chicago Public Library. Each Passport book contains a listing of participating museum, including address, hours, admission fees (if any) and a brief description of the exhibits available at each location. Children receive stamps in the Passport books at each site they visit, and at the end of the summer, children may receive prizes based on the number of museums visited.

Former Artist in Residence Gitte Bog Returns with
West Chicago-Inspired Cookbook
Mexico City-based Danish artist Gitte Bog, who arrived in West Chicago in spring 2010 as an Artist in Residence, returns to West Chicago to launch the cookbook made in collaboration with the citizens of West Chicago. In May 2010, Gitte Bog spent 3 weeks in West Chicago working on her project: "West Chicago Cookbook of Fusion Food". During this period, Bog found her way into the hearts of community members via their stomachs, by developing a series of truly West Chicago-inspired recipes. More>

Artist in Residence - Stine Marie Jacobsen
The West Chicago City Museum in collaboration with People Made Visible, Inc. will be hosting Danish artist Stine Marie Jacobsen for a three-week residency starting on May 2, 2011. During this period, Stine will be working on a film project with West Chicago's teens. Young adults interested in getting involved in any aspect of making this film may contact the West Chicago City Museum at (630) 231-3376 or Anni Holm at info@peoplemadevisible.com.

CAD Honor Students & the All Aboard! Exhibit
The West Chicago City Museum will exhibit the work of Bartlett High School architectural/Computer-Aided Design honor students who have researched the history of nine past and present West Chicago train stations, as part of the All Aboard! exhibit. The public is invited to see the students' finished projects displayed at the Museum at 132 Main Street in West Chicago on Saturday, May 14, 2011 at a reception from 12:00 -1:00 p.m. The drawings will be on exhibit until June 11, 2011.

Lego Train Depot Display
Visit the City Museum, 132 Main Street, West Chicago on Saturday, May 14, 2011 to meet Lego model builder Joe Ellenbecker, whose model of the 1912 C&NW train depot is currently on display at the Museum as part of the new exhibit "All Aboard". The exhibit explores the history of West Chicago train stations using historic photos and artifacts. Mr. Ellenbecker will be available from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. to discuss and answer questions about the construction of his Lego model. Additional information is available by calling the City Museum at (630) 231-3376 or by emailing museum@westchicago.org.

Songs from the American Railroad
Chicago folk singer Mark Dvorak will present "Songs from the American Railroad" on Saturday, June 11, 2011 at the CB&Q Depot, 134 Turner Court, West Chicago. There will be three, half-hour performances: 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. This will be an informative and entertaining program with special emphasis on music from America's railroading tradition. Accompanying himself on guitar and 5-string banjo, Dvorak will share familiar railroad songs from American history. Additional information is available by calling the City Museum at (630) 231-3376 or byemailing museum@westchicago.org.

Photo: Seated with Anni Holm
(on left) of People Made Visible,
Thelma Uranga works on her
knitted piñata.

Artist in Residence - Thelma Uranga
This fall West Chicago welcomed Thelma Uranga, currently an artist based in Chicago, to take part in the West Chicago artist-in-residency program. People Made Visible and the City Museum hosts this 5th artist in the visiting artist project. Uranga started a community of knitters in Pilsen and Little Village that has been offering a creative gathering for fellow knitters, as well as working with Chicago's youth on projects to brighten up their communities. Uranga kicked-off her project, "Promise Quilt" in West Chicago during the downtown Mexican Independence Day Celebration on Sunday, September 12, 2010.

She was located at the People Made Visible tent outside the Museum working on her knitted piñata.

If you couldn't make it to the Celebration, project details will be posted as they become available at the City Museum, on www.westchicago.org and on peoplemadevisible.com. Based on unfinished fiber craft projects of community members, Uranga will work to complete them by creating a promise quilt. Dates and times Uranga will be working in West Chicago will be announced soon.

Photo: Gitte Bog, artist-in-residence, during her 2009 residency at Three Walls in Chicago.

Artist in Residence – Gitte Bog
People Made Visible, in collaboration with the West Chicago City Museum, will welcome the fourth artist-in-residence, Gitte Bog, as part of their continuing International Artist-in-Residency Program. Bog will set up her space at the Museum beginning Friday, May 7, 2010 and she will be in West Chicago through Friday, May 28, 2010.

Bog, a Danish-born artist, currently resides in Mexico City, Mexico, and works with communities as she explores the poetic possibilities in everyday materials, activities, and places. Her work concentrates on identity, memory, history, cultural differences and similarities, and language.

Bog will be working with the community around the topics of food and cooking. Community members of all ages are invited to take part in this exciting venture. Interested participants can stop by the City Museum during open gallery hours to view and interact with Bog's project.

Field Trips to the Museum
Prearranged tours and special programs are available to groups coming to the Museum. These activities have been created to meet the needs of all visitors. You may reserve a guided tour of the Museum for your class or group. (All ages)

Main Street Walking Tour
Guided walking tours of the downtown area focus on the growth and development of West Chicago. The tour features the area encompassed by the original town of Turner and can be adapted to focus on business, architectural styles, railroad history or other areas of interest. (Grades 3-12, 30 minutes - 1 hour)

Oakwood Cemetery
This historical tour features West Chicago's oldest cemetery. Students learn to use the cemetery as a source of information on the people and lifestyles of the past. A special emphasis is placed on the importance of respect for such places and focuses on the artistic styles and symbolism found on grave markers of this late 19th century cemetery. (Grades 3-8, 30 minutes - 1 hour)

Press Release:

9/22/10 - West Chicago's Tales Tombstones Tell: History Comes to Life at Oakwood Cemetery on October 1, 2010

Traveling Programs
Traveling programs have been developed for school or youth groups and comply with State school curriculum guidelines and Boy Scout badge requirements.

Josefina Story Quilt
Using the children's book The Josefina Story Quilt, by Eleanor Coerr, a member of the Museum staff will introduce children to pioneer life and the importance of quilts as seen through the travels of a young girl. (For grades K-2, 45 minutes)

Trains, Train, Trains
Equipped with artifacts, role-playing activities and more, a member of the Museum staff will present a program in the classroom on the jobs, signals, and work of the early railroads. (For grades 1-5, 45 minutes)

Child's Play
A member of the Museum staff will bring the toys of yesteryear alive to your students. While children enjoy playing with a variety of wooden and metal toys, they are learning about our changing technology and the impact of this change on our life. (Grades K-5, 1 hour)

Then and Now
Oh the times, they are changing. This program offers a look at the differences and similarities between the modern era and life around the turn of the 20th century. Numerous hands-on experiences are included in this fun-filled program. (Grades K-5, 1 hour)

Loan Kits

Take home History Kit
“Tackle History: Immigration”
This interactive, bilingual history kit gives children a look into the four main immigrant groups that settled West Chicago-English, German, Irish, and Mexican-as well as general history about immigration to the United States. Children check out the kit from the Museum or in the children’s gallery of the museum. (Grades 3-5)

Railroad Trunk
This educational kit contains maps, books, and artifacts that chronicle the early years of West Chicago. The early importance of the railroad is emphasized. A teacher's guide contains suggestions on how to use the materials in the trunk. (Grade 3)

McGuffey Readers
Check out our set of McGuffey’s Third Eclectic Readers, first published in 1879. The Readers show how students’ education was conducted from the 1830s to the 1920s when the Readers were used as the primary learning tool in classrooms across the country. Students can read the stories and complete the spelling, handwriting, grammar, and vocabulary exercises. (Grade 3-5)