Jerome Gilson recently made an appointment and stopped by the Museum to see our new lobby exhibit, a tribute to the late Jamie Gilson, beloved children’s author and long-time Wilmette resident. The photo was taken by Matthew Gilson. We are currently open on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 1:00 - 4:30 pm, and hope that you too will make an appointment to visit. In addition to the new lobby exhibit honoring Jamie Gilson, we have a small new exhibit on puzzles and games. Our appointment scheduling for research and touring the exhibits follows state and village mandates which allow guests to enter at 25% capacity. We ask that all visitors wear masks, use hand sanitizer provided at the Museum entrance and practice social distancing. Thank you for following these guidelines to keep our community safe.
The League of Women Voters-Wilmette and the Wilmette Historical Museum are hosting a virtual program, “Racism in Wilmette: A Visual History," on Thursday, May 20th, 7:30 - 8:30 PM. The Museum will share previously unseen archival materials and items from its current online exhibit "Racism: A History." At this time of nationwide focus on systemic inequities, there has been increased interest from our community in learning more about its history of racism and discrimination. Attendees will be able to submit questions in the "chat" during the presentation, and Historical Museum staff will answer as many questions as possible in the time allowed. You can register for this virtual program here.
Join Museum Director Kathy Hussey-Arntson on Saturday, June 5th for a 75-minute walking tour about the history of Wilmette's Ridge Road. Explore this historic street from the Wilmette Historical Museum to Lake Avenue and hear stories about the people and businesses along the road, including general stores, bowling alleys, and the early saloon era. Tours are capped at six people and are at 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. All participants will need to wear a mask. This is a members-only event. Free, advance tickets are required and you can sign up by calling or emailing the Museum.
Do you have questions about how to care for your family keepsakes? Schedule an appointment with a member of the museum staff to bring in your photos, albums, documents or small heirlooms for some free tips and advice about their care and preservation. A key part of our mission is to care for and preserve the Museum’s collections (the village’s keepsakes), and we are happy to share our expertise with the community. Beginning, May 1st, you can call or email the Museum to schedule an appointment, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 1:00 - 4:30 pm.
Stop by the Museum entrance to pick up the latest in our Neighborhood History Guide series, a self-guided walking tour of Historic Downtown Wilmette. Other historic walking tour brochures in the series - Ridge Road, St. Joseph Cemetery, and the Lakefront - can be downloaded from our website, or you can request a print copy by writing or calling us. As the weather starts to warm up, these free walking tour brochures are a great way to get out for a bit of fresh air, exercise and local history.
