Free President’s Day event at Chicago History Museum
Chicago History Museum, 1601 N Clark St., 312-642-4600
The Museum is free to Illinois residents every Tuesday from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and on Commemorative Days: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, March 4, and July 4. Guide to Chicago History Museum. All 2020 Free Museum Days
Free President’s Day event at Chicago History Museum
Discover the lives behind the legends of the American presidency through live music, family crafts, and storytelling for kids. Special events include a performance by the Chicago Brass Band.
Museum admission is FREE for Illinois residents on commemorative days
Special family-friendly activities and performances are designed to honor and celebrate significant moments and figures in history. No RSVP needed. We look forward to seeing you!
All commemorative days include special family-friendly activities and performances are designed to honor and celebrate significant moments and figures in history.
SCHEDULE
Please note: All event details are subject to change. Seating for performances is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The Museum doors open at 9:30 a.m. and close at 4:30 p.m.
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Kids’ Crafts With artist Justin Ricks
All ages welcome
2nd floor, Elizabeth Morse Genius Room
10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Pose with the Lincolns
Look for Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln, portrayed by Kevin Wood and Debra Ann Miller, as they roam the Museum. Be sure to take a picture together!
10:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Storytelling for Kids
30-minute performance by storyteller Gwen Hilary and musician Enoch Williamson
Designed for pre-K through 3rd grade
1st floor, Chicago Authored gallery
11:15 a.m. The Lincoln Program
45-minute concert by the Chicago Brass Band’s Vintage Brass Ensemble
Recommended for 3rd grade and up
2nd floor, Elizabeth Morse Genius Room
12:15 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. Live Folk Music
Two 30-minute performances by musicians Lenny Marsh and Richie Brandt, a perfect complement to lunch in the North & Clark Café
All ages welcome
1st floor, Chicago Authored gallery
12:30 p.m. Kenwood Academy High School Choir
30-minute performance by students from Kenwood Academy
All ages welcome
2nd floor, Elizabeth Morse Genius Room
1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Kids’ Face Painting
Created by artists Valery Lanotte and Ken Bielak
2nd floor, Elizabeth Morse Genius Room
1:30 p.m. Bomba and Plena Afro-Puerto Rican Music and Dance
30-minute performance curated by Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center, featuring lead singer Ivelisse Díaz of Bomba con Buya and Los Pleneros de Don Segundo. Developed by Puerto Rico’s African descendants in the 18th century, bomba is the island’s oldest surviving music and dance form. Plena, a variation of bomba, was born in the barrios of Ponce, Puerto Rico, in the 20th century and is often performed at carnivals and public demonstrations.
All ages welcome
2nd floor, Elizabeth Morse Genius Room
2:30 p.m. Harriet Tubman
20-minute performance exploring the life and work of this remarkable American, portrayed by actress Cynthia Maddox
Recommended for 3rd grade and up
2nd floor, Elizabeth Morse Genius Room
