Self-Help Closet and Food Pantry's "Have a Heart" food drive

In the month of February, the History Center is joining the Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce and Industry's 8th Annual "Food Fight" by collecting food items for the Self-Help Closet and Food Pantry's "Have a Heart" food drive. If you are visiting the History Center any time in February and would like to help donate to the Food Pantry, bring your food items with you and help those in need! At the beginning of March we will deliver the collected food to the Food Pantry. Please be sure the food items are not expired, non-perishable, and non-bulk.

Winter is Finally Here!

For winter weather closings, the Des Plaines History Center follows Des Plaines School District 62's emergency "snow day" schedule. If you need to contact the History Center, please call us at 847-391-5399 and leave a message or send an email to: contact@desplaineshistory.org.

Current Exhibits

Growing, Going, Gone: The Evolution of an Agricultural Community
Through December 31, 2011
Aerial views of Des Plaines
Ongoing exhibit

Coming soon...Shhh...we are still holding on to that secret...early in 2012...stay tuned for details

History Book Discussion: We are ready to meet!

We have closed our poll on our reading group. Thank you to all who responded and gave their input. Our staff has made a decision on our first book. Decisions on future books will be made by the group. Here is the link to our new (and final) survey.

http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22EL9MCBT8K

Collections & Research


Whether you are a student seeking research material for a school or university essay, learn about the history of your home, or just wish to learn more about Des Plaines, consider us your source for Des Plaines history. Any of our staff members are happy to assist.
Des Plaines History Center
781 Pearson Street
Des Plaines, Illinois 60016
847.391.5399
History Center Hours:
Wednesdays - Fridays, 9am - 4pm

What was going on in Des Plaines 175 years ago? Find out at Conant Tweets.

Conant Tweets is the History Center's newest online project. Each day we will tweet a diary entry from an 1836 daybook written by Des Plaines pioneer Augustus Conant. Image and original daybook courtesy Chicago History Museum.

Chinese New Year

Even with the snow clean-up from the night before, all of our friends had a wonderful time celebrating the Year of the Dragon with hand painted pictures on rice paper for all of our guests, Chinese puppets, crafts, and Chinese music; and of course delicious snacks.

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