Take a journey through town with the Open Elgin Museum Crawl May 25
Discover the rich tapestry of Elgin's history and visit four of its remarkable museums and the Gail Borden Public Library 150th anniversary exhibit during the “Open Elgin Museum Crawl” on Saturday, May 25, from noon to 4 p.m.
To start your museum crawl adventure, simply choose any of the five participating locations and visit with free admission the Elgin Public Museum of Natural History and Anthropology, Elgin History Museum, Elgin School District U-46 Planetarium, Fire Barn No. 5 Museum and the Gail Borden Public Library 150th Anniversary Exhibit.
“Enjoy a unique glimpse into the past and present of our vibrant community,” says Carol Gieske, CEO and president of the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce. “Whether you're a history buff, an art enthusiast, or simply curious about the stories that shape our city, the Open Elgin Museum Crawl welcomes you with open arms. Best of all, admission is free, making this inaugural event accessible to everyone who wishes to explore and learn.”
The event is sponsored by the chamber’s Enhancing Elgin Committee comprised of the City of Elgin, Elgin Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Downtown Neighborhood Association, Elgin Area School District U-46, Elgin History Museum, Elgin Community College, and Caring Farewells.
Denise Raleigh, division chief of public relations & development at Gail Borden Public Library and a member of the Enhancing Elgin Committee, adds, “We are excited to be featuring these museums on this first Open Elgin Museum Crawl. What other city has these culturally rich amenities, such as an Observatory, Fire Barn, Public Museum and History Museum. The Gail Borden Public Library is proud to join in with our 150th Library Anniversary Exhibit.”
“We also would like to thank the city of Elgin for sponsoring the trolley as it will make this event extra fun for visitors to ride through this town of unique architecture between locations.”
The free trolley ride will continuously move from location to location, starting at noon from the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave. The trolley will be picking up and dropping off at these locations from noon to 4 p.m.
To ensure that you see all these places, please drive or walk as the trolley only holds 30 people, and it can be up to 50 minutes to complete the loop.
Trolley stop locations:
• Starts at noon in the large parking lot of Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave.;
• U-46 Planetarium & Observatory, 312 Watch St.;
• Elgin Fire Barn No. 5, 533 St. Charles St. (a short walk from the observatory)
• Elgin Public Museum, 225 Grand Blvd.;
• Elgin History Museum, 360 Park Ave.
About the museums and their locations:
Elgin Public Museum of Natural History and Anthropology, 225 Grand Blvd. It is the oldest building in Illinois built expressly as a museum and still serving its purpose. Its exterior boasts a Neo-Classical style and the interior is rich with original oak woodwork, plaster wall ornamentation and ceramic tile floors.
Elgin History Museum, 360 Park Ave. Impressive exterior of Greek Revival architecture and explore the extensive collection of Elgin Watch Company timepieces inside and more historical artifacts.
U-46 Planetarium & Observatory, 312 Watch St. This 1910 Classic Revival was built by the Elgin Watch Company so their watches could be precisely set by the stars.
Elgin Fire Barn Museum, 533 Charles St. Designed by Elgin architect Smith Hoag in a Classic Revival style, this fire museum once required room for horses that pulled the water tanks to fight fires in 1903.
Gail Borden Main Library, 270 N. Grove. This award-winning two-story library is north of Kimball St. on the Fox River. The stunning Prairie School-inspired exterior blends with the old and new architecture of the area. The interior offers maximum natural light for majestic views of the Fox River.
For information, visit www.elginchamber.com/openelgin24/.