Elmhurst Museum Exhibit Explores Railroads

ELMHURST, IL — At the Elmhurst History Museum, you can take a journey through 170 years of railroading history — from Chicago to Elmhurst and beyond. A new exhibit explores how railroads carved out the suburban landscape as we know it today, and how people in the Chicago area experienced the railroad as both passengers and employees.

At the exhibit, you can view a wide array of interesting artifacts, including vintage telegraph equipment, dining car china from the C&NW 400 line, conductor’s uniform, steam engine bell and more. Also available is the original 1894 Elmhurst station sign, rare photos and maps, model trains as well as a relic from Lincoln’s funeral train. Kids can enjoy the hands-on learning stations, including a wooden train play area, working telegraph, and track switching game. The exhibit's sponsors are Community Bank of Elmhurst and Prairie Forge Group.

The exhibit will be on display through March 29. It is free. The museum, 120 E. Park Ave., is open 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday and Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The museum is closed Monday.