Food in the Midwest: More Interesting Than You May Think

July 15, 1:30–3:00 pm

The history of the Midwest is remarkable for many reasons, not least of which is the diversity of its population, and therefore of its regional cuisine. There were reliable foods here, and migration from Meso-America introduced more. But myriad other foods entered and mingled as people escaping war, poverty, and famine began flooding into the young country. Between 1850 and 1910, the Midwest grew faster than any other region in history. Migrants from China, Europe, Mexico, and other regions of the U.S. brought traditions, which mixed and evolved. The food culture of a region famed for abundance became hard to define (but worth exploring) because of its diversity. This coffee talk is presented by Cynthia Clampitt, who has been writing and talking about food history for thirty years and has authored multiple books on the subject.

This Coffee Talk is full and registration is closed.
If you would like to join the waitlist, please call 847-391-5399 or email us at contact@desplaineshistory.org.

The 2026 Coffee Talk Series is generously supported by Village Bank & Trust.

Kinder Family Picnic

July 19, 12–3 pm

If you're looking for more family summer fun, travel back in time with us on July 19 for an afternoon with the Kinder family! Learn to make butter and ice cream, play historic yard games, pose for an old-timey family portrait, explore the Flora, Fauna & Us ecology exhibit, and learn about local wildlife with specimens and artifacts from the Cook County Forest Preserve.

History Huddle

July 10 and July 24

11 am—12 pm

Join us at the Des Plaines Public Library this summer for our bi-monthly drop-in History Huddle program! Perfect for parents looking for family-friendly fun for their kids this summer. We are hosting drop-in, interactive activities and crafts that will explore history in a fun way.

Our Land Between the Rivers: Illinois in Story & Song

August 19; 1:30 — 3:00 pm

Barry Cloyd is an award winning songwriter as well as a full-time touring musician with a special love for the history and music of our own Midwest. This newly commissioned program begins with a whirlwind trip back through time to the early days of the origins of our State and where it's name came from, the Illiniwek Nation of Native Americans. Some of the “stops along the way” include Abraham Lincoln's appearance in Illinois, The Black Hawk War, the creation of the Illinois & Michigan Canal, The Lincoln-Douglas Debates and The Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant's contributions, The Great Chicago Fire, the First Skyscraper, The Columbian Exposition, The Pullman Strike, Frank Lloyd Wright's genius, the Springfield Race Riots, “Lucky Lindy” in Illinois, Al Capone, Everett Dirksen, Carl Sandburg and a whole lot more. All this amazing history will be presented with songs that are germane to the period, traditional and original performed on guitar & 5-string banjo. Our state has been witness to, and a participant in, many of our nations most important events.