A note from the Board of Trustees
Our Joy of History Campaign is more important than ever since annual and long-term funding to museums nationwide has been slashed in 2025—and for the foreseeable future. Our small nonprofit organization relies heavily on memberships and donations from history lovers like you. Please help sustain our mission to collect, preserve, and interpret the history of Des Plaines.
Thank you for helping to Keep History Alive!
Memberships and donations from supporters like you are critically important to maintaining and expanding our mission: To collect, preserve, and interpret the history of Des Plaines.
Today, we are asking for your financial support to ensure the continuation of this vital work. Local history matters. The humanities are pivotal to our society, providing essential perspectives on the human experience, civic engagement, and critical thinking. The fabric of history connects us to our shared past and binds us together as we navigate the future.
After all, we make history every day.
Your contributions help us preserve unique objects, partner with community members, and educate kids, teens, students, adults, seniors, and families. Your past support has enabled us to thrive since 1968, and your donation today will help us grow as we strive to make your History Center a destination for the community, reach deeper into Chicagoland, and connect with history lovers across Illinois and around the country.
Please consider making a donation to the Des Plaines History Center, a 501(c)(3) organization. By supporting the Education Center and the Kinder House Museum with your tax-deductible donation, you become a partner in preserving our community’s heritage and enhancing the opportunities for this generation to learn from those who have come before.
Together, we can continue to inspire, educate, and celebrate the diverse tapestry that is Des Plaines.
With appreciation,
President, Board of Trustees
Your gift to the Joy of History campaign supports the operations of the Des Plaines History Center, which will allow us to:
Welcome over 4,000 visitors to the History Center every year
Host our monthly Coffee Talk lecture series
Bring hands-on, educational history programs to local children, schools, and organizations
Care for collections of historical artifacts and archives that tell Des Plaines stories, and make them accessible to researchers
Create exhibitions about Des Plaines history and displays of local & regional artists
And so much more!
