Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie

09/13/2026

This year marks the 30th Annual Oakwood Cemetery Walk that highlights iconic connections celebrating 250 years of America. The Waukegan Park District and the Waukegan Historical Society are partnering to host the 30th Annual Oakwood Cemetery Walk on Saturday, September 19, 2026 from 12pm to 3:30pm with shuttle buses that pick up attendees at the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie, located at 1 N. Sheridan Road. For more information, go to waukeganparks.org/oakwood

09/13/2026

The Waukegan Park District and the Waukegan Historical Society are teaming up for the 30th Annual Oakwood Cemetery Walk on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 12pm to 3:30pm at Oakwood Cemetery. Experience living history as costumed actors portray local historic figures and bring Waukegan's past to life. For more information and to purchase your ticket, go to waukeganparks.org/oakwood.

09/11/2026

Check out our latest interview!

🎙️Tune in starting at 47:50 where we discuss the brand-new Ray Bradbury Library Exhibit at the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie. 🚀✨

We dive into the inspiration behind the immersive exhibit and what makes this tribute to Waukegan's own literary legend so special.

Don't just listen—come see it for yourself! Visit the museum to explore the Ray Bradbury Library Exhibit in person.

FOX 32's Good Day Chicago starts your morning off with the latest b...

09/10/2026

🎉 20 YEARS OF MAKING HISTORY! 🎉

Please join the Waukegan Historical Society, the Waukegan Park District, and our entire community in giving a massive round of applause to our very own Ty Rohrer on his 20-year work anniversary!

For two decades, Ty has served as our resident historian and is Manager of Cultural Arts for the Park District, dedicating his career to making Waukegan’s rich legacy truly shine.

From leading tours at the historic Haines House and around our community to being a key contributor to the monumental effort behind the newly restored Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie, his leadership has shaped how we understand, preserve, and love our city’s heritage.

Thank you, Ty, for your tireless work, brilliant storytelling, and unwavering commitment. Here’s to many more years of making history together!

👇 Drop your favorite memories with Ty or leave your congratulations for him in the comments below!

09/04/2026

Planning your Saturday? 🏛️☀️

If a museum trip is on your weekend itinerary, please take note of our schedules for tomorrow:
✨ Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie is OPEN regular hours tomorrow from 11AM - 3PM! Come spend your Saturday exploring our galleries, including our new immersive Ray Bradbury Library Exhibit and special America 250 exhibit, and beating the end-of-summer heat.
🚪 Haines House Museum at Bowen Park is CLOSED tomorrow (Saturday) for the Labor Day holiday weekend. We hope to see you over at the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie!

Enjoy your Saturday, and have a safe holiday weekend.

09/04/2026

"Threads of Greatness: Waukegan’s Links to Iconic Americans" continues now through September 27, 2026, at the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie.

Presented in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, this engaging exhibit reveals surprising local ties to legends, including Abraham Lincoln, Al Capone, Jackie Robinson, Amelia Earhart, Marilyn Monroe, Jane Addams, General George Custer, and Walt Disney. Through compelling narratives, the exhibition highlights how national history intersects with our community, showcasing Waukegan’s unique place in the American story.

Don't miss your chance to experience this incredible journey through time before it closes later this month—plan your visit to the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie today!

09/02/2026

We are grateful to our Ray Bradbury Library exhibits team for their extraordinary vision and creativity to bring Ray Bradbury's story to life in his childhood library. A big thank you to Josh & Ali Bill, Diana Dretske, Dr. Jonathan R. Eller, Bryan Escobar, Lori Nerheim, and Ty Rohrer, as well as our incredible design partners, Luci Creative, Ravenswood Studio, Inc., Angle Park, Inc., Workbench Inc. and the amazingly talented Warren Rudd.

Come visit and experience the magic they all created.

[Left to right: Bryan Escobar, Roman Pylypczak, Lori Nerheim, Martin Baumgaetner, Warren Rudd, Dr, Jonathan R. Eller, Emma Horvath, Hannah LoGalbo, Diana Dretske, Ty Rohrer]

09/01/2026

Huge thanks to our incredible summer history intern, Julia Waelder, for doing a fantastic job working hands-on with the Waukegan Historical Society's accession records, artifacts, and collections storage. Her hard work and dedication have made a meaningful impact on preserving our local history, and the entire team at the Waukegan History Museum at the Carnegie is deeply grateful for her contributions. We wish Julia the absolute best as she heads back to school and returns to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign!