Wilmette is turning 150 in 2022! In celebration of this milestone, the Wilmette Historical Museum will offer many special programs and events, such as a new exhibit, guest lecture speakers, family activities, and much more. The Museum is also developing a project to commemorate important historical sites in Wilmette with bronze plaques. Check out our events page to learn more about what we have in store for this momentous year.
Wilmette's Sesquicentennial
Annual Meeting Lecture: "Wilmette at 150"
Former Village President John Jacoby will be this year's lecture speaker at the Wilmette Historical Society's annual meeting on Sunday, January 30, 2022. Mr. Jacoby will present a few exciting stories from his recent book Wilmette at 150, a collection of essays that detail the village's history. Admission is free! Click here for more details.
Wilmette Local Legends Audio Tour
This two-part, self-guided audio tour will bring you outside the homes of some of Wilmette’s notables starting with film star Ann-Margret and ending with professional makeup artist and entrepreneur Bobbi Brown. At each stop, you will learn a bit about a local celebrity’s life in Wilmette. Enjoy the audio tour on your phone while exploring Wilmette by car or bicycle or, if you are ambitious, on foot. Each tour is around 4 miles in length. If you are walking and need to return to your car at the starting point, be sure to takes this additional distance into account. You can listen to Part 1 and Part 2 of the audio tour here.
Visit the Museum!
Come see our new lobby exhibit commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire that includes artifacts from our collections related to the historic disaster.
We are currently open on Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 1:00 - 4:30 pm. Appointments are now only needed to do research. We hope you will come by and visit! In addition to the new lobby exhibit, we have a small new exhibit on puzzles and games and many ongoing exhibits. We are following the current State and Village of Wilmette COVID-19 guidelines.
