View Modern in the Midcentury this Summer in Lake Forest

The History Center's new exhibit Modern in the Midcentury explores the influences of 1950s modernity on daily life in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff, connecting history from post-war economic growth to the explosion of new housing, the shift in architectural and design approaches, the introduction of electric appliances and frozen foods, through the barriers and then the expansion of women’s roles and rights.

"The midcentury is one of the most transformative eras in suburban life--from the way we use our homes to the way we define our own roles within the family," says Carol Summerfield, History Center Executive Director. "The richness of this history makes for an exciting exhibition that helps visitors see their own lives in a new light and understand how important the 1950s were in creating this sense of what makes American lifestyle so uniquely American."

Lake Forest College students Magdalena Gavin and Kathia Perez-Enriquez worked through the winter semester on the research and writing of the exhibition panels, through a generous grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

The IMLS Inspire! Grant is a highly competitive grant program for small museums. Through the grant, the two interns were able to work with academic advisors on the project from Lake Forest College, DePaul University, the University of Rochester, and Clarke University. Their work in the museum included research through primary documents, conducting oral interviews, identifying images and archival materials that supported the exhibition, and writing exhibit panels that summarized their findings. Laurie Stein, deputy director, said of the two young women, "Kathia and Magdalena were tremendous assets to this project, bringing their dedicated research skills to our archival sources and helping us tackle the 1950s in Lake Forest from a fresh perspective."

Modern in the Midcentury runs through November 1, 2024. It is open and free to the public Tuesdays through Thursdays and Saturday afternoons, at 509 E Deerpath, Lake Forest, IL.

PLEASE NOTE: The History Center parking lot and grounds are currently under construction to make way for outdoor learning gardens that will tell the history of landscape design in Lake Forest. Parking is allowed on Washington Road and Deerpath east of Washington. It is expected that after July 4th, the parking lot will be accessible and the ADA-compliant front entrance will be ready to greet visitors. Currently, visitors enter through the back of the building. Don't hesitate to call the History Center at 847.234.5253 before your visit to learn the current status.