Edgewater Historical Society and Museum

The Edgewater Historical Society is a neighborhood museum and society that is collecting and preserving the memories and histories of the residents of Edgewater. The museum is housed in a renovated Chicago firehouse and contains exhibits about local history, including the famous Edgewater Beach Hotel. Visitors may also learn about the three historic districts of Edgewater: Lakewood Balmoral, Bryn Mawr, and Andersonville. The Edgewater Historical Society also organizes home tours each year that focus on different individual block club areas, so that each tour can be done by walking from home to home. These tours are always on the third Sunday of September and cover the exterior and interiors of these historic homes, including their architects, the year in which they were built, and details about their original owners and changes that may have been made to the structures since they were built. Oral histories are a part of the cultural and historical aspects of our society. Classes are offered to members that focus on researching their home's history and other things, and museum talks and video presentations are given to students and student groups. The Society depends on volunteers and interns to help run the museum and its programs.