C.W. sites in Chicago?

[John of the Skulkers Mess]

May be hitting Chicago for a day real soon. Seeking ideers on places to visit, including library/museum sites.

T'anks,
John Pillers

[CHall]

Re: C.W. sites in Chicago?

John,
A must visit if you are in Chicago is the Abraham Lincoln Book shop!
Check out their website: http://www.alincolnbookshop.com/

[Jubilo]

Re: C.W. sites in Chicago?

Dear Sir ,
Chicago is purged of most of its Civil War heritage as if the Taliban had been here. The Stephen Douglas Memorial is at 33rd and Lake Shore Drive where Camp Douglas once was. There are no signs anywhere informing you of the Civil War camp . The Chicago History Museum 1600 N.Clark St . has one of the largest collections of Civil War artifacts extant but almost none of it is on display . The Harold Washington Chicago Public Library at State St. and Harrison has two James rifles on the sixth floor enfilading Dearborn St. There are statues of Lincoln , Grant , Sheridan ; Civil War names on many streets , there is the Union Club which used to have painting of Ellsworth and his zouaves, there is the Abraham Lincoln Bookstore . The G.A.R. Hall in the Chicago Cultural Center at Randolph St. and Michigan Ave. has been pilfrered of it relics but the hall is magnificent : a mosaaic ceiling with names of battle and corps bages proudly displayed . Rosehill Cemetery has a Civil War presence , Gen. James A. Mulligan is buried in Calvary Cemetery in Evanston , Lt. Marcellus Jones of the 8th Illinois Cavalry has his sword belt at the DuPage County Museum in Wheaton , IL just west of the city and Wheaton also hosts the 1 st Division Museum at Cantigny which has the history including the Civil War , of that Army unit . Most of the suburbs in the collar counties have some statues or relics in their local historical museum . In spite of an incredible heritage and wealth of artifacts and resources , Chicago has erased its heritage almost as well as Richmond , Virginia .
all for the old flag ,
David Corbett

[John of the Skulkers Mess]

Re: C.W. sites in Chicago?

How many hoops to go through for the Chicago Historical Society?


John Pillers

[theknapsack]

Re: C.W. sites in Chicago?

It's not the Historical Society, it's the Chicago History Museum now. If you can, John go to Geneva to the Kane county history museum to see that Illinois State Jacket. I got to handle the jacket a few months ago and it is a really cool piece. There are graves from the Civil War everywhere in the Chicago area, you could take a river tour and at least see the original sight of the Wigwam, if you can make it up to the Evanston Historical Society they have one of Rufus Dawes's jackets, plus some other cool stuff (they had an exhibit up for a while, not sure if they do anymore). The Chicago History Museum, as has been stated has a massive collection but they keep most of it stored. However, they do/did (I haven't been since they changed their name) to have a cool sack coat that Brandon Jolly had copied, the table Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on, the table Grant and Lee signed the Appomattox surrender on, and the bed that Lincoln died on. Not to mention numerous other things that fill in the gap.

[MarkTK36thIL]

Re: C.W. sites in Chicago?

Actually Riley, it's the Geneva History Center that has the IL State Jacket. Go eye google it in person John.

Riley, let me know if we can get access to that museum in western Illinois that has the personal belongings sent home from the KIAs from Chickamauga. Work your magic. Add Evanston to the list too.

[OldKingCrow]

Re: C.W. sites in Chicago?

Not CW but U-505 housed at the Musuem of Science and Industry is worth it if you like WW2.

Where else you going to see a real Unterseeboot ?

[theknapsack]

Re: C.W. sites in Chicago?

Right Mark, thanks for the correction. I keep getting confused about those places. I'll see what I can do.

[celtfiddler]

Re: C.W. sites in Chicago?

The G.A.R. Hall in the Chicago Cultural Center at Randolph St. and Michigan Ave. has been pilfrered of it relics but the hall is magnificent

The GAR collection is in the hands of the Chicago Public Library's Harold Washington Library special collections dept. It's an outstanding collection if you can make arrangements with the staff to see it while you're in town.

Check with the Newberry Library also, it's been too long since I've been down there to recall what they have in their collection related to the civil war.

There's the Confederate memorial to the Camp Douglas dead (name of the cemetery escapes me at the moment).

If you have time to head up to Lake County, there's the Lake County Discovery Museum--not sure if they currently have any of their civil war era collection on display.

It really depends on what you're looking for when it comes to Chicago history and the war. Keep in mind, it's not necessarily that Chicago set out to erase it's civil war past, but the Chicago fire may have destroyed a large portion of it. If you can get to Springfield, there's the Lincoln Library, and the IL State Archives might be worth checking out if you have time.

Unfortunately, I'm too exhausted right now to recall which universities and smaller museums in the area might have items of interest in their collections

[MarkTK36thIL]

Re: C.W. sites in Chicago?

John, a little closer to home for you.

Check out the Daughters of Union Veterans museum in Springfield. Hard to find, but very much worth it. They've got some unique items on display, and supposedly more not shown.

[rogue]

Re: C.W. sites in Chicago?

As the thread is creeping ever south, to Springfield, Illinois, the G.A.R. National Museum is close to downtown and is showing a delightful jumble of original Civil War items mixed in with donations of G.A.R. items from Halls that once dotted the landscape, but have since closed. This museum is located centrally and the ladies there can direct you to the Daughter's Museum, which is in a residential area in Springfield and a tad harder to find.
The Illinois National Guard Museum is also worth seeing, housing the battle flags of all Illinois troops in a special climate controlled building as well as the Spencer Lincoln shot, and Santa Anna's wooden leg. This museum is operated by a major in the Guard and volunteers.
With all of these Springfield, and Chicago museums, it is best to call ahead for hours, get a contact person and state clearly and specifically what you wish to see.
Steve Sullivan