Go deep into Elgin history with May programs
This month, the Elgin Area Historical Society is offering a Brown Bag Lunch, "Golden Memories" program, a walking tour of historic churches and more.
The May Brown Bag Lunch will be "The History of Lords Park Zoo," presented by Marge Rowe, from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, May 16, at the museum, 350 Park St.
With land donated by George and Mary Lord in the 1890s, Lords Park has been the centerpiece of Elgin's outdoor recreation for more than 100 years. Rowe's talk also highlights Lords Park Zoo, one of the few municipally owned zoos in the state. Bring your lunch; drinks and dessert provided. Registration is required.
To celebrate Preservation Month and International Museum Day, the historical society is offering free admission to the museum and free house research on your Elgin home.
Have you ever wondered who built your house or who lived there before you? Are you looking for inspiration to help restore your historic home? The museum has the resources and the researchers to find out. Walk through the process of looking back in time, learn facts, and hopefully find some old photos with Rebecca Hunter and David Siegenthaler from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, May 16, at the museum, 350 Park St. Registration is required.
The Elgin Parks and Recreation Foundation and Elgin History Museum present "Golden Memories: Walton Island" from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 18, at Hawthorne Hill Nature Center, 28 Brookside Drive in Elgin.
Built as a park by the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s, and dedicated to the city by the Izaak Walton League, Walton Island is an open space in downtown Elgin.
Once thought of as nothing more than an island of mud and a community eyesore, Al Walters, museum president, will take you through the storied history of what is now one of Elgin's most beautiful assets. The presentation and discussions will also touch on the history of the river shoreline that surrounds Walton Island.
Sign up for a "Walking Tour of Holy Hill and the Historic District" with historian Jerry Turnquist from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 23. Learn about Elgin's evolution as a city and its reputation as a "city of churches" during this 90-minute walking tour of the Elgin Historic District. The walk will begin at 6:30 p.m. outside First Congregational Church, 256 E. Chicago St. Register for this event at elginhistory.org.
Historian Jerry Turnquist will present "Elgin During D-Day" from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 30, in the Meadows Community Room at the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin. The impact of World War II and D-Day on Elgin citizens, both at home and abroad, is retold through newspaper clippings and photos from 75 years ago. Register at gailborden.info.
For details, call (847) 781-2606 or visit elginhistory.org.