Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie Recognized with Two Statewide Awards

The Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie, jointly operated by the Waukegan Park District and the Waukegan Historical Society, received two prestigious awards from the Illinois Association of Museums. The awards recognize achievements within the museum field throughout Illinois. Located at 1 N. Sheridan Road in Downtown Waukegan, the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie opened on Thursday, May 1, 2025.

In the category of Best Practices Award: Building Site Preservation, the Waukegan Carnegie Adaptive Reuse and Restoration Project received the Award of Superior Achievement. The project received the top award based on many factors including the preservation of an iconic building that had been abandoned for more than 60 years, successfully adapting the building as a state-of-the-art history museum and education center, providing accessibility and maintaining its status as a listing on the National Register of Historic Places and a Waukegan Designated Historic Landmark.

In the category of Best Practices Award: Conservation/Collections, the Waukegan Historical Society’s Ray Bradbury Collection Conservation Project received the Award of Superior Achievement. The project aimed to inventory, preserve and display the personal book and paper collection of Ray Bradbury, increasing public access to one-of-a-kind artifacts. It was determined that nearly 75% of the collection suffered from moisture damage, insect infestation, mold and odor. The collection was successfully treated and is now publicly accessible in the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie.

“The Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie was the result of a partnership between the Waukegan Park District and the Waukegan Historical Society to transform a vacant building into a thriving center of education,” George Bridges, Jr., president of the Waukegan Park District Board of Commissioners, said. “The two statewide awards from the Illinois Association of Museums reflect a commitment to celebrating, protecting, and sharing Waukegan’s history.”

“We are honored again to be recognized by the Illinois Association of Museums,” Lori Nerheim, president of the Waukegan Historical Society Board of Directors, said. “The Ray Bradbury Collection is an important collection which includes more than 4,000 books that Bradbury collected throughout his lifetime. Thanks to a generous grant, best practice conservation treatment and years of dedicated staff time, this unique collection is now preserved, curated and showcased in the meticulously restored Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie.”

“The restoration and adaptive reuse of the historic Carnegie Library was a major undertaking by the Waukegan Park District and the Waukegan Historical Society,” Jay Lerner, executive director of the Waukegan Park District, said. “The successful collaboration has become a model for how to protect and expand public access to local history. The Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie has enhanced the community’s connection to its own history.”