Almost everyone you meet in Chicago who loves their city will ask when you tell them you are…read morevisiting from out of town, "Have you done the architectural boat tour?" People in Amsterdam will also ask if you have done a canal boat tour - and you have to do these when you visit these cities. Our docent volunteer guide, Steve, was excellent. He was very personable and extremely knowledgeable about the city's riverside buildings and its history. The boat staff was also hardworking and ready to help with any issues, from getting a drink at the boat's downstairs bar to handing out covers when the rain hit us. For what we paid, the 1.5 hour tour was more than worth it. I recommend sitting at the top towards the back, as you don't have to crane your neck as much when he points out places of interest. This was a truly wonderful experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Not what I expected overall but it was still a very educational experience. Scoring tickets to…read moreChicago's Architecture Center through our hotel, we used the tickets as a good time filler. Not a must see or do attraction but a great day filler activity as you explore the city. Loved the wealth of information they offer as it's valuable to understand Chicagos importance from the ground up! I thought it would be more about highlighting the amazing architectural buildings around the city but nothing like that. It's was more about the environmental impact the city has and the hurdles when designing buildings around town. The staff were friendly at check in and provided great service overall as they were kind and helpful. Small center that you may explore at your own pace and may or may not be worth the admission price. But scoring free tickets it allowed us to be selective in our day or day plans to include the activity to pay it a visit!

I've been wanting to visit the Mitchell Museum since I learned about it about a year ago. It's a…read morevery small museum--you might pass it and not realize what it is, or maybe think it's a church or something. In two stories, they tell you a bit about the history of Native Americans the US and Canada, with a particular emphasis of the history of Native peoples in the city and region. The museum is about 45 years old and one of the few that focuses exclusively on this population. I spent about an hour and a half viewing the exhibits. The various exhibits introduced various indigenous groups (Plains, Woodlands, etc.) and how those groups lived. There were displays of the crafts, both ceremonial and utilitarian, that each tribe was known for, and they were careful to share in most or all instances how those crafts and traditions changed pre- and post-contact. Upstairs there was a section that talked about the presence of American Indians in Chicago and the near region, from explaining the atrocities that the government perpetrated against them to simply explaining the origins of well-known Chicago areas such as Portage Park, Sauganash, and Caldwell Woods. When I visited, there was an exhibit about missing and murdered indigenous women (MMIW). Long ignored, indigenous women are by far the most endangered when it comes to the murder or disappearance of these women. Women on reservations are ten times more likely to end up part of the MMIW, and in just the last few years (2019, I believe) over 5,500 indigenous women were missing or murdered. Too long this has been a crisis that has been ignored by majority culture. Although the exhibit as a whole was very powerful, Nayana LaFond's contribution to the exhibit was especially moving. She paints images of MMIW that have been provided to her by family or friends of the missing women. She explained that she hadn't intended for it to become a project, but once she started receiving dozens of requests for paintings she couldn't turn down some and not others. The Mitchell Museum will be doing some programming soon, and I think that part of that programming in May will be related to MMIW education and causes. There's a small parking lot in back--probaly enough for three to four cars. But when I was here (on a Tuesday in April), I was the only one here for most of the time so I think parking won't be an issue. For an adult non-tribal member, entrance was only $7 (2023). There is a lift (not an elevator) from the main floor to the lower level, but I'm not sure if there's any way to ascend to the second floor besides the stairs so you may want to inquire about that if climbing the stairs would be difficult.

Wow, this place is the local hidden gem I thought it was.  I tried to come here a couple of years…read moreago, but it was closed due to Covid.  It's a quiet, unassuming place but for just a modest $5 admission ($5 for seniors, and $7 otherwise), you can see a lot of neat American Indian artifacts, artwork, history, and information.  I really enjoyed my 75 minute visit, and that's maybe all you may need (1-2 hours) to peruse their two floors.  You can look at my photos for an idea of what's there, but I had 2 notable personal highlights.  One was seeing a map of North America that showed the names of 1200 tribes(!) and their locations, and that was quite impressive I thought.  Most you wouldn't know, but many of the famous ones you would, from movies and what not.  The other highlight was meeting and chatting with Josee Starr, the staffer that initially greeted me.  There were actually 2 friendly staffers - her and a fellow named Joseph Gackstetter, but I met Josee upon entering and she was the only one there at the time.  After my milling around, I finally got up my nerve to ask her if she was at least partially American Indian as she looked the part, and yippee-yayaay, she told me she was 99% American Indian and 1% French (fur trader French).  Very cool, and she has tracked her genealogy back 9 generations!  I only really knew of one other full native American in my life (an old work colleague), so this was a treat.  I also took the opportunity to give her fellow staffer Joseph some hell for being just a regular Caucasian working here (lol, and he took the kidding in stride).  I highly recommend this place for some cultural enlightenment, and also as a great place to educate youngsters.

I attended my niece's wedding here and it was the most gorgeous venue I have ever seen in my life…read more Grand main dining area with cozy spots all over. It felt very personal and can I just say- you will never find another backdrop for pictures such as this place. We all enjoyed staying locally in Evanston as there were plenty of nice things to see in the area.

The Halim Time & Glass museum has been hosting events such as birthday parties and weddings for a…read morewhile now. We are going to celebrate my wife's 60th birthday party here in May. Working with Jessica, in the events department, has been wonderful. The location is beautiful, and our guests are free to explore the floor used for the party at no additional cost. The only part of the process that I still don't comprehend is that we can't take home the leftover food. Jessica claims it is due to liability issues. Not sure what liability they are referring to... If I hosted the event at Maggianos our we would be able to take leftover food home. Jessica mentioned the staff will thoroughly enjoy our leftovers. Makes me wonder if that is the reason for the policy? I'll update this review in a few weeks after the event. I'll let everyone know how the event went and how the food was...

I chaperoned a large group to the Evanston History Center in the Charles Dawes House on a weekday…read moremorning and we had a great time. Susan, our tour guide, was very informative and knowledgeable. I easily could have listened to what she had to say for another hour. The house itself is truly amazing. Everything, including the contents are as they were in the 1950s when the Dawes family last resided there. Prior to visiting the EHC I had no idea that Charles Gates Dawes was the Vice President to Calvin Coolidge or that he had won the Nobel Peace Prize for 1925. I really enjoyed the "Milestones & Memories: An Exhibit of Evanston History" on the 2nd floor. Many famous actors hail from Evanston and some of our favorite toys were created in the city. Free parking. If you reside in or around Evanston or you're just visiting the area I highly recommend visiting the Evanston History Center; for it's rich history and so much more. Make a day of it and check out some of the many other unique museums in Evanston: The Frances Willard House Museum, The Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, The American Toby Jug Museum, the Prehistoric Museum at Dave's Down to Earth Rock Shop or the Illinois Holocaust Museum.

At first I balked at the $10 entrance fee. I mean, I figured that it was probably more than just a…read morecreaky old house, but it also had the potential to cost me ten bucks for a brief, boring tour and a few dusty artifacts. I was wrong though: in the end I felt that we got our money's worth. This kind of attraction is best partaken in a small group with a guide; on a solo tour, you might wander around nodding admiringly at each of the cool old rooms and then call it a day after fifteen minutes. Thanks to the organized tour, we learned a lot that guests would miss on their own. Our docent gave us a thorough general history of the house, and the Sheppard and Dawes families, but she also highlighted many extra details--architectural, historical, and personal--that made the tour worthwhile. The house itself is intriguing and handsome, although, on a November late afternoon, perhaps a little too dark to appreciate fully. The main hall is an impressive sight to see upon first entering. Another fascinating room is the kitchen, which they have preserved mostly as it would have been in the 30s. There is a display case full of period cookbooks, some with whimsical titles such as "What Shall We Eat Tonight?" My favorite room by far--just like Dawes himself--was the library. This is the kind of antiquarian, bibliophiliac fantasy playroom that hardly exists anymore, much to my chagrin (until I win the lottery that is). It's the classy, English-manor version of the ultimate man cave. There is a third floor with ballroom and servants quarters, that is not open to the public because the main staircase was never finished. That's a shame. Also, the second floor is used for offices and the "modern" museum portion of the Evanston History Center. The main exhibit room is well worth some time. I spent about 30 to 40 minutes up there and still didn't read every single piece. But I learned many interesting tidbits that I never knew despite 17 years of living in and around Evanston. So, combining the house itself, the upstairs museum, and the expertise of the tour guides, the Dawes House/EHC is well worth ten dollars and ninety minutes of your time.

The Leather Archives & Museum was such a pleasant surprise for my visit to Chicago! If you're a fan…read moreof exploring LGBTQIA+ history, this is a must stop! It's a bit off of the beaten path but worth the drive or train ride. On the days it is open, admission is $10. Admission is free on Thursdays. I visited on a Thursday afternoon and there were only about 4 other patrons milling around with me. The main exhibit hall is in the basement of the building and includes a wide array of materials. About 1/3 of the basement is dedicated to the Chicago Hellfire Club. Other exhibit areas include lesbian/trans S&M communities, a short film folks can sit down and watch and a rotating temporary exhibit. There are so many great plaques that explain important pieces of history and the specific materials. I learned so much! This is such a fantastic resource for the BDSM communities and I hope folks continue to support this incredible institution. There is also a whole library in the museum, though I did not visit this part. It looks highly extensive! The staff were so friendly and helpful and was great at explaining what the museum offered and the recommended path to talk through it all. There is also a small area of merchandise, including shirts, buttons, postcards and patches. All very reasonably priced. I would definitely visit again, making a beeline for the library next time!

A must-visit destination for LGBT travelers interested in queer history and art. Don't miss it!read more

Came here for the first time for a birthday party so I wasn't sure what to expect. The place was…read morerecently renovated so things did not seem that dated. There was a variety of different areas to play in, different pretend areas- veterinary, building and grocery. There was a big climbing structure to get into with a variety of different obstacles inside. And there was a water play area. Overall a lot of variety for the space. The things were well maintained. The room was also kept pretty warm.

They raised the prices as of October 2025 and parents still have to pay just to get in…read more Would love if the could partner with a local disability services vendor to run a small cafe. It would be more on par with the other indoor spaces.

My husband and I visited the Wilmette Historical Museum on our tour of local historical museums…read more This building is the former town hall. There is a great permanent exhibit about the founding of Wilmette and the Ouilmette family that helped build the town. There is also an exhibit about the Native American contributions to the area. But the part that really sets this museum apart is the jail cells that are in the lower level of the museum. The exhibit describes what happened when you broke the law back then (a meal cooked by the wife of a jailer doesn't sound too bad). Definetly a fun place to check out! I highly recommend the Wilmette Historical Museum!

Exceptional local museum. When I visited, they had a beautiful exhibit up about Native Americans in…read morethe area. The building is beautifully preserved and restored. There's also some interesting stuff about the history of Wilmette and the famous people who grew up there. If you're in town and seeking to know the locale better, I recommend it.

This is the place to go for information on Rogers Park's past…read more I researched Ludwig Sussman, former Rogers Park leader who ran the Adelphi Theater, fed the homeless during the Great Depression, and raised money from Adelphi Theater profits to send the troops of World War II care packages. Let's see our current Rogers Park "leaders" do so much! The Rogers Park / West Ridge Historical Society has a large collection of rare and historic photos that are absolutely priceless. They have so many photos, in fact, that they have an annual get-together to invite the community to sort and identify these many treasures.

This is a very informative museum with a lot of artwork. The guides here are so helpful…read more It is just something you have to experience.

We went to theater to see a matinee. The place has changed and doesn't have the large bar, pool…read moretable and independent movie side any longer. It was replaced with a jump activity place for young people, well really all ages. There is a bar area, however small. I was happy I pre-paid for tickets so we were able to go right to the ticket taker then onward to see the show. Decor is same as when it first opened, many pictures of stars and still has video - picture booth. Concessions: popcorn is great and concession staff is happy and helpful! I get the large popcorn so family can share, plus we get a refill which is nice. I have a movie member subscription so I was able to use my points for concession perks. Parking: parking is free if you validate your parking ticket. Theater is local and I will continue to attend and support this theater.

Great atmosphere good service good food and great customer service not crowded fresh popcorn…read morepizza. Tasty