New Days. New Hours. As of 7/7/20 the museum is open Tu, Wed 10am-1pm and Th 1-4pm.
The Research Center is open by appointment only. See "Plan Your Visit" for details. 
Visit the museum online | Take a history walk down Lake Road

Our Annual Report

2019 was a year of tremendous growth and innovation for the History Center. The biggest news of the year was the official kick-off of Studio 509, the History Center’s in-house recording studio.

Outside facility rentals became a new source of revenue and a way for different groups to get to know the History Center.

The Katherine Bell Hale Gallery showcased several exhibits and a variety of education initiatives and community collaborations brought people of all ages into the museum.

Please read the report for information on our many programs, exhibits, and initiatives in the past year.

News

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Past Annual Reports

2018

2017

2016

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June 26, 2020

Save the Dates: Fine Art of Obituary Writing and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (Includes This Week in History Episode 7, #100Years Ago Today and June in Bloom)

June 23, 2020

Read About our Summer Reopening Plans (Includes #100YearsAgoToday and June in Bloom)

June 19, 2020

Watch the David Sweet Book Talk Recording (Includes This Week in History Episode 6, #This Week in History, June in Bloom)

June 16, 2020

David Sweet Book Talk: Three Seconds in Munich and More (Includes Telephone Directories Online, #100YearsAgoToday and June in Bloom)

June 12, 2020

NEW! Walking Tour: The Iconic Houses of Lake Road, Lake Forest (Includes This Week in History Episode 5, #100YearsAgoToday and June in Bloom)

June 10, 2020

A Note from our Executive Director, Carol Summerfield (Includes June in Bloom, #100YearsAgoToday, David Sweet book talk promo, Dogs on the Bluff)

June 8, 2020

Three days can make all the difference (Includes Rebecca Graff testimonial, #100YearsAgoToday and David Sweet book talk promo)

June 5, 2020

We're halfway there--thank you for helping us record history! (Includes the History of Vaccines, Recording History--Market Square Protest, This Week in History Episode 4, #100YearsAgoToday)

June 3, 2020

See your GoFundMe donation at work (Includes Ken Smith testimonial, HC teaching modules and at-home kids activities, #100YearsAgoToday)

June 1, 2020

Our GoFundMe Campaign Begins Today! (Includes Larry Potash testimonial and video of Carol Summerfield talking about our innovative Covid-19 exhibit to an audience of more than 200 museum leaders, #100YearsAgoToday)

May 29, 2020

This Week in History and More Friday Fun! (Includes This Week in History Episode 3, #100YearsAgoToday)

May 27, 2020

Hear how a centennial business (Lake Forest Flowers) spreads love and joy despite the challenges of Covid-19 (Includes Choose your LF Quarantine House, Virtual Happy Half Hour, #100YearsAgoToday, Candid Look at Covid-19)

May 22, 2020

LFC 2020 Graduate Tucker Strang shares his documentary on his local family history (Includes Scots of Chicago's North Shore book for sale, This Week in History Episode 2, #100YearsAgoToday)

May 18, 2020

Covideos | Stories from the front lines: NMLFH doctors share their insights (Includes interviews with Drs. Randy Orr, Jill Holden and Stephen Ganshirt)

May 15, 2020

This Week in History Episode One, plus more Friday fun from the History Center (Includes Dave Grinnell on Membership, #100YearsAgoToday)

May 12, 2020

David Forlow talks about his new book "Scots of Chicago's North Shore" (Includes Fred Wacker MayDays memory, #100YearsAgoToday)

May 8, 2020

Covideos | Local World Languages Teacher describes e-learning (Includes MayDays Ralph Behrens, A Candid Look at Covid-19, #100YearsAgoToday)

IRS Form 990

2018