“The Great Midwestern Road Trip” exhibit ends its journey

The Elmhurst History Museum’s latest adventure in regional history, as told by the “The Great Midwest Road Trip” exhibit, is coming to the last leg of its journey. The exhibit closes on October 11, 2020 after running throughout this summer at the Elmhurst History Museum, which is located at 120 E. Park Ave. in downtown Elmhurst.

The “Great Midwestern Road Trip” has a timely appeal especially for museum-goers whose travels have been curtailed this year. The exhibit takes a nostalgia-fueled journey through the pleasures and pitfalls of packing up the station wagon for a classic Midwest vacation experience from the 1940s through the 1970s. Visitors explore some of the iconic settings Chicago area families visited during this era, from cheesy roadside attractions and tourist traps to memorable resorts and restaurants.

Throughout the exhibit, visitors learn about the topic through different themes including development of the interstate highway system; trip planning and budgeting; the “Green Book” guide for Black travelers; billboards and advertising; and making “pit stops” at waysides and gas stations. Family movies and vacation photos, replicas of neon road signs, and a 1950s-era gas station vignette evoke vivid memories. Guests can pinpoint the vacation spots they’ve visited over different decades on a large wall map, and view a camping and fishing equipment display.

Interesting collectibles and curiosities featured in “The Great Midwestern Road Trip” exhibit include mid-century travel brochures, posters and advertisements; kitschy souvenirs; vintage cameras and equipment from the Elmhurst History Museum collection; eight-millimeter films, post cards and photos from family vacations shared by community members. Visitors can also take a 1946 “A Vacation That Fits” quiz and kids can play Road Trip Bingo.

Admission to the Elmhurst History Museum is free, and face masks are required. Online reservations can be made at elmhursthistory.org. Visits are limited to one hour with a maximum of 15 guests per hour.

Take a nostalgic trip at the Elmhurst History Museum in the final weeks of “The Great Midwestern Road Trip” exhibit. For more information, visit elmhursthistory.org or call (630) 833-1457.