2010 EXHIBITS:
October 13, 2009-May 23, 2010
Dwellings: A Study in Residential Architecture
Using Elmhurst as a case study, this original exhibit takes visitors on an exploration of the diverse architectural styles of the western suburbs. From bungalows and prairie style residences to turn-of-the-century Victorians, Sears mail order homes and more, Dwellings depicts the architectural details of neighborhoods in the Elmhurst area and explains how the city evolved as a classic example of Midwestern suburbanization. The exhibit includes special features on the work of Walter Burley Griffin, Mies van der Rohe, and Frank Lloyd Wright; a video on "The Lost Homes of Elmhurst"; and a hands-on kids' activity desk with architectural building blocks.

Take a look at the Dwellings subdivision map created for the exhibit...click here.



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February 2-April 11

Beyond Baseball: The Life of Roberto Clemente
Roberto Clemente became a baseball legend during the 1960s and '70s with his explosive throwing arm, lightning speed, and consistently high batting average, but he was much more than an astounding athlete. For millions of fans across the world, especially in his native Puerto Rico and throughout Latin America, Clemente was a cultural hero who gave underprivileged people a voice. His story—a study in character, drive, and the ascendancy of man to myth—is told in Beyond Baseball: The Life of Roberto Clemente. Organized by the Smithsonian Institution, Beyond Baseball  includes biographical highlights, baseball statistics, rare photographs and artifacts, and the insightful words of the people who knew Clemente best. The exhibit features bats and a helmet game-used by Clemente, collectibles and memorabilia, and a 5-minute documentary from the Smithsonian. Beyond Baseball: The Life of Robert Clemente was developed by the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico with the Carimar Design and Research studio, and organized for travel by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. The exhibition was made possible by the generous support of the Smithsonian Latino Center.

                
This exhibit was endorsed by CHARACTER COUNTS! in Elmhurst and ELMHURST YOUTH BASEBALL

 

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2009 EXHIBITS:
Jan. 28-March 15, 2009 
Heroes of the Sky: Adventures in Early Flight    
Visitors experienced the stories of the bold fliers and innovators who transformed airplanes from novel inventions into sophisticated machines. This national traveling exhibit from NEH on the Road recalled the first remarkable decades of flight by introducing visionaries, such as the Wright Brothers, Bessie Coleman and Henry Ford, who pushed the limits of aviation. The exhibit also documented Elmhurst's own aviation history as former home to a regional airport with many archive photos and artifacts from the Elmhurst Historical Museum collection.
  

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Feb. 24-May 24, 2009 
Elmhurst Jazz: A Celebration of an American Art Form in Elmhurst    
This original exhibit explored the eclectic history of jazz by honoring the 75th anniversary of locally-published international jazz journal, DownBeat Magazine, and documenting the music education leadership of Elmhurst College with its long-running collegiate Jazz Festival. Elmhurst Jazz featured rare photos, video and artifacts such as Benny Goodman’s clarinet and Louis Armstrong’s trumpet. Highlights included: a timeline of notable Jazz greats; the story of DownBeat Magazine and its leadership in jazz journalism; the powerful force of the Chicago jazz scene, especially the influences of Goodman and Armstrong; and the evolution of the Elmhurst College Jazz Festival and the college’s commitment to jazz music education. To take a look at the Elmhurst Jazz exhibit with curator Lance Tawzer, click on the arrow in the left window below.

    

  
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April 7-May 31, 2009                                                                                                        
Elmhurst Collects: Model Trains
First in a series of annual exhibits on local collectors, Model Trains depicted the history of model train collecting and featured excellent examples from local collectors, model train clubs, and the museum's permanent collection. Visitors learned about the different types of model trains, and how companies like Lionel fueled enthusiasm for train collecting over the years. Model Trains included an interactive track layout with two running model trains and push-button operation. 

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June 16-September 6, 2009
The Drawn-Out History of Comic Books
This colorful, family-friendly exhibit was a hit for comic book and pop culture fans of all ages. Museum patrons explored the art and innovation of creating comic books and the people who develop them. Visitors learned how comic books evolved from low-brow, humble beginnings to the sophisticated story lines and memorable characters that spawned a multi-million dollar, multi-media industry.

Exhibit Highlights:
 - The chronological story of the important eras of comic book history spanning from  the 1930s to the present.
 - Many examples of classic comic books, artifacts and collectibles.
 - Interactive multi-media displays.
 - Historic comic book film clips.
 - Multiple kid-friendly, hands-on stations.
 - An “artist’s workshop” developed with the assistance of three local comic book artists featuring a time-elapsed depiction of how they draw comic book characters.
 - A larger-than-life fiberglass figure known to every comic book fan lurked in the exhibit’s entryway throughout the exhibit's run: the webbed wonder, Spider-Man.


November 4 - December 1, 2009
WWI: The Elmhurst Frontline and Homefront Story
Elmhurst Historical Museum presented a temporary display at Elmhurst Public Library, 125 S. Prospect Ave. in Elmhurst, honoring World War I veterans during the month of November. WWI: The Elmhurst Frontline and Homefront Story was an exhibition of photos, documents, and artifacts from the Elmhurst Historical Museum’s permanent collection. Some of the featured artifacts included a wool 139th Infantry uniform and cap, a mess kit and canteen, identification tags, a haversack, and a doughboy hat. In addition, letters and photos from the homefront and frontlines added insight to the experience of soldiers and their families during the First World War.