New ‘On the Right Track’ exhibit explores railroad history

On October 25, 1848, the first Galena & Chicago Union train rolled west from Chicago and chugged its way to the end of the line in what is now Oak Park, and returned to the city with a load of wheat. The arrival of the railroad beyond city borders ushered in a new era in transportation, defying time and distance by moving passengers and freight quickly over long distances.

What role did the railways play in shaping regional settlement in Chicago, its suburbs and throughout the Midwest? The Elmhurst History Museum embarks on a journey exploring 170 years of railroading history to answer that question in the new exhibit, “On the Right Track: By Rail to Chicago & Beyond.” The exhibit, which opens on November 14, 2019 through March 29, 2020, takes a look at how railroads carved out the suburban landscape as we know it today and considers how people in the Chicago area experienced the railroad as passengers, business owners and employees.

Exhibit Themes and Highlights

The new exhibit, which was created by the Elmhurst History Museum staff, shares the story of the railroad’s enormous impact on the region to establish Chicago as the nation’s central transportation hub. “On the Right Track” explores early railroading history in Chicago and its expansion westward through DuPage County and beyond. The exhibit also chronicles the various railroads that traversed the area including the Galena & Chicago Union; Milwaukee Road; Chicago & North Western; Illinois Central; Chicago, Aurora & Elgin and more. It also focuses on the people who used the railways for transportation and freight, and the many employees who made their living working on railroads.

“In planning the exhibit, we wanted to focus on the importance of railroads to the growth of this region, but also what they meant to the people who lived and worked here,” said Dan Bartlett, curator of exhibits at the Elmhurst History Museum. “The growth of Chicago’s suburbs emerged from this commuter culture that connected residents to their jobs downtown which was a key factor in development of towns on the city’s outskirts.”

In addition, Bartlett continued, the railroads employed workers in many different capacities. “From freight handlers and maintenance crews to the porters, station masters, conductors and engineers who kept everything moving and on schedule—the railroads linked this immense network of people and commerce that allowed Chicago to grow. I also wanted to know how the railroads manage to keep all those trains on time and on the right track, so there is a portion of the exhibit that gives visitors an understanding of what goes on behind the scenes.”

Artifacts, Images and Interactive Stations

The displays in the exhibit are filled with many intriguing photos, film clips of historic railroads and railroad operations, and a diverse array of artifacts. Many items are on loan from the Chicago & North Western Historical Society archives and the Illinois Railroad Museum, along with objects from the Elmhurst History Museum’s own collection. “On the Right Track” also features equipment used by rail workers, a diorama of a station operator’s office, and a section on Pullman porters.

“We’re fortunate to have found a number of collectors and institutions to share items with us, which adds colorful detail and texture to this story,” Bartlett added. Some of the featured artifacts include:

• Vintage telegraph equipment;
• A conductor’s uniform and lantern;
• 1930s era dining car china and menu from the Chicago & North Western Railway’s “400” line;
• Passenger tickets and freight bills;
• The original 1894 Elmhurst train station sign;
• A steam engine bell;
• Scale models of train stations, locomotives and railroad cars and toy trains.

In addition, children and adults alike will enjoy the hands-on learning stations in the gallery including a wooden train play area, a working telegraph where users can learn to send Morse code, and an interactive track switching game.

The Elmhurst History Museum has planned a number of related programs including lectures, gallery talks and a train music program. Visit their website at www.elmhursthistory.org for more info.

Climb aboard to explore Chicagoland railroad history with a stop at the Elmhurst History Museum to experience “On the Right Track: By Rail to Chicago & Beyond.” The exhibit is sponsored by Community Bank of Elmhurst and Prairie Forge Group, and runs through March 29, 2019 at the Elmhurst History Museum. The museum is located at 120 E. Park Ave. in downtown Elmhurst. Exhibition hours are Sunday and Tuesday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is free, and limited free parking is available. For the latest exhibit and program information, please visit www.elmhursthistory.org or call (630) 833-1457.