“By All Accounts: The Story of Elmhurst” opens on February 28
It takes a strong community to build a mutual history – a history that unfolds over time, flowing like a river through different eras, encountering twists and turns along the way. In the case of the city of Elmhurst, that history spans nearly 165 years, back to the Civil War era when our fragile democracy was nearly destroyed..
Much has changed since then, and the Elmhurst Historical Museum, located at 120 E. Park Ave. in Elmhurst, has taken on the major project of chronicling Elmhurst’s unique history with a transformative new exhibit, “By All Accounts: The Story of Elmhurst,” which opens to the public on February 28, 2015.
A community-wide effort
“By All Accounts” has been years in the making, and it represents a community-wide effort to bring Elmhurst’s story to light in a fresh and modern way. The exhibit was created by the Museum’s staff, led by curator of exhibits Lance Tawzer, with the goal of bringing a state-of-the-art attraction to the second floor gallery that shares the story of Elmhurst with a new generation.
The funding for this exhibit stems from a successful grass roots capital campaign spearheaded by the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation (the 501c3 support organization for the Elmhurst Historical
Museum and the Churchville Schoolhouse), and chaired by local businessman Willis Johnson and Val Stewart, a Heritage Foundation board member.
Anyone visiting the Elmhurst Historical Museum will quickly see the result of this dual force of creative talent and community-based funding: an impressive, top-quality exhibit that provides an engaging museum-going experience worth visiting frequently.
Vision and hard work produce big impact
Brian Bergheger, director of the Elmhurst Historical Museum, is extremely proud of this collaboration that made the new exhibit possible. “It takes vision and hard work to make dreams become a reality, and I’m very proud of the effort put forth by the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation and the Museum staff to produce this new exhibit,” said Bergheger. “Our previous Elmhurst history exhibit was due for an update. Staff rolled up their sleeves and looked at the exhibit with a new perspective, and I think visitors will be immensely pleased and surprised when they experience the high quality and interactivity of the exhibit. It’s an exhibit that can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with those seen in Chicago’s top museums, and it represents a new era for us in terms of sharing the Elmhurst story with today’s audiences.”
Curator Tawzer added that the exhibit was designed to entice viewers to come back for multiple learning opportunities. “We have opened up the entire second floor gallery space to improve the visitor experience in many ways,” said Tawzer. “Our approach allows for various ways of learning and the visitor has choices as to how they connect with the exhibit. A key design component is that it will be dynamic and changeable because there is some built-in flexibility. It is not a static display, and over time we can rotate artifacts and add current video or a new technology that emerges. We truly hope that anyone who has lived or worked in Elmhurst will see this as a vibrant gift to our community, and bring their family and friends here with pride.”
Exhibit highlights
“By All Accounts: The Story of Elmhurst,” takes visitors on a journey – from Elmhurst’s settlement days to the present – that explores the forces that changed Elmhurst over more than 150 years. Employing the latest museum standards and innovations to engage visitors, the exhibit immerses viewers in history. Highlights include:
- Two historic images from the Elmhurst Historical Museum’s collection spring to life using actors and “green screen” technology to depict the past;
- An interactive table-top map allows visitors to explore the geography of Elmhurst over time;
- Thematic object towers display eclectic and rare artifacts from the Museum’s collection;
- Animated graphics and touch-screen displays add interest and interactivity;
- A biography wall commemorates twenty of the most influential Elmhurst residents;
- Special features on a few well-known Elmhurst residents include Pulitzer Prize-winning author and poet Carl Sandburg, NASCAR Hall of Famer Fred Lorenzen, and artist Caroline Wade;
- A mini-theatre screens a documentary with an overview on Elmhurst people and places.
Special opening events and programs
The Elmhurst Historical Museum kicks off the new exhibit with a special public Grand Opening Celebration on Saturday, February 28 and Sunday, March 1 from 1:00 until 5:00 p.m. The community is invited to tour the “By All Accounts” exhibit, play trivia games, enjoy live music in the gallery, and take part in other family-friendly activities. Complimentary cupcakes and refreshments will be provided in the Education Center. This event is for all ages, and admission is free.
In addition, the Elmhurst Historical Museum staff has planned a number of related programs in the coming months to offer diverse learning opportunities.
Gallery Talks – Fridays, March 6, April 3 and May 8, 4:00 p.m.: The public is invited to drop by the museum for an ongoing series of Gallery Talks with history professor, author and Elmhurst resident Dr. Virginia Stewart. Dr. Stewart is a former director of Elmhurst Historical Museum, and author of the book Visionary: An Elmhurst Retrospective. She served as the main writer for the exhibit, and will explore different Elmhurst history themes each month.
>Time: 4:00 p.m. Admission: Free. Location: Museum 2nd Floor Gallery
Special Events – Additional programming for the new exhibit includes a tour of the Elmhurst Quarry Flood Control Facility on Saturday, March 21, and an Elmhurst Trivia Night at Pints in Elmhurst on Thursday, April 16 starting at 8:00 p.m.
Complete information on these and other programs will be listed in the Elmhurst Historical Museum’s Spring calendar, which will be mailed to residents at the end of February and will be
available at the Museum, Elmhurst Metra station, City Hall, Elmhurst Public Library, and other locations. The calendar and updated information will also be posted on Elmhurst Historical Museum’s web site at www.elmhursthistory.org.
Be one of the first to experience this exciting new chapter in the ongoing story of Elmhurst, and come see what all the excitement is about. The “By All Accounts” exhibit is ongoing and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Group tours are available by reservation. For more information, call (630) 833-1457 or visit www.elmhursthistory.org.
The Elmhurst Historical Museum is located at 120 E. Park Ave. in downtown Elmhurst. Hours are Tuesday-Sunday from 1-5 p.m. General admission is free with nominal fees for special programs. For more information, call 630-833-1457 or visit our web site at www.elmhursthistory.org.