HISTORY CENTER INFORMATION

The Des Plaines History Center collects, preserves, and interprets the history of
Des Plaines and its people and provides access to those resources through exhibits, educational programs and research facilities.
The History Center is open to the public
Tuesdays - Fridays, 10 am to 4 pm

Attend the Annual Meeting of the Des Plaines History Center at the Des Plaines Theatre

Your donation helps the History Center create and maintain a public space where we provide staff who greet visitors, answer questions, deliver interesting programs for younger and older audiences alike, and preserve the history of Des Plaines.

Thinking Towards Summer...2012 Annual Tag Days

Tag Days is an annual fundraising tradition for the Des Plaines History Center. This year Tag Days will be held Friday & Saturday, June 8th & 9th. We are seeking volunteers to stand at various businesses in Des Plaines to help collect donations. If you would like to volunteer, please call Lori at 847-391-5399. Any help you can give is always appreciated.

PUBLIC PROGRAMS & EXHIBITS AT THE HISTORY CENTER

"It's All About History" Book
Discussion Group

The Des Plaines History Center's very own "It's All About History" book discussion group was a hit in April. We have scheduled our second book discusssion on Wednesday, June 27, at the History Center, 6:00 to 7/7:30pm. To register, click on the button below. For more information, please call Adam or Lori at 847.391.5399

We welcome new members. If you could not attend our first meeting click on the register button below. Always a new book - always a new discussion.
Our Second Selection:
This Republic of Suffering

Available in paperback at any fine
bookseller. $15.95 list
ISBN #978-0-375-70383-6
A limited amount of copies are available at the Readers Service Desk on the 3rd floor of the Des Plaines Public Library.

Current Exhibits

Aerial views of Des Plaines
Ongoing exhibit
Growing, Going, Gone: The Evolution of an Agricultural Community
Through Spring, 2012
Des Plaines History Center
781 Pearson Street
Des Plaines, Illinois 60016
847-391-5399
History Center Hours:
Tuesday - Friday 10am - 4pm

RESEARCH & EXPLORE HISTORY

- New Web Site -
Des Plaines Memory

Interested in browsing through photos of Des Plaines? Check the new Des Plaines Memory web site!

Des Plaines Memory is a collaborative project between the Des Plaines Public Library and the History Center.

Collections & Research

The History Center includes local history collections. Contact us to learn more.

Learn more about research
at the History Center

Whether you are a student seeking research material for a school or university essay, a homeowner learning about the history of your house, or someone looking for information about Des Plaines, consider us your source for Des Plaines history. Any of our staff members are happy to assist.

Stop in, call 847-391-5399, or send an email to contact@desplaineshistory.org

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.