Chicago - Chicago Historical Society Museum

The Chicago Historical Society is the oldest library and museum in the city. It houses a collection of pre-1865 American memorabilia and historical artifacts from Chicago's colorful past. Highlights include an original copy of the Declaration of Independence, a substantial collection of Lincoln artifacts including his deathbed, George Washington's inauguration suit and the Pioneer Locomotive, Chicago's first train. The collection is displayed in a number of different galleries divided under some of the following headings: Archives and Manuscripts, Prints and Photographs, Decorative and Industrial Arts and Paintings and Sculpture. Originally founded in 1856, the museum moved into its present location, a Georgian-style building designed by Graham, Anderson, Probst & White, in 1932.