Sears Roebuck is the best known of all the companies that sold mail order homes. Learn the history of mail order home marketing and view images of homes from the eight major producers of these homes.

General merchandise mail order catalogs were established in the late 1890’s - Montgomery Ward and Sears Roebuck were among the first - offering a wide variety of goods to the rural market. House plan books appeared at about the same time. In 1906 a combination of these two marketing techniques first came on the scene - mail order houses.

Author, researcher and lecturer Rebecca Hunter will be presenting.

Please register here: https://attend.gailborden.info/event/9251513

Elgin Heritage Commission honors outstanding contributors to Elgin’s heritage. Honorees have demonstrated their dedication to older architecture, neighborhoods and history.  Sponsored by the Elgin Heritage Commission.
Contact/RSVP:  Registration requested. City of Elgin Community Development Department at 847-931–6004
Location: Elgin Armory, 254 Raymond Street, Elgin, IL
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. (Reception at 6:00 p.m.; Ceremony at 7:00 p.m.)

Join us for a social walk starting from St Francis Park. This is part of a new series of events as we explore Elgin from more perspectives. We'll plan on walking for a mile or two throughout the neighborhood and we'll take some breaks along the way to talk about the way the streets are built and how it impacts our safety and comfort.
Please be sure to have completed the 2024 Event Participation Waiver: https://waiver.fr/p-uEoPk
If you are feeling nerdy: we are using AARP's Walk Audit Toolkit to support our conversations https://www.aarp.org/.../aarp-walk-audit-tool-kit.html

A brief history of the Elgin National Watch Company and its connection with the U-46 Planetarium. Two one hour sessions both include a look at the night sky. Safe viewing eclipse glasses will be for sale for $2/each. A self-guided building tour is available before both shows, so come early! Admission: $2.00 per person or max $10.00 per family (cash only). No reservations; first come, first served seating. Free parking at Raymond St. and National Street.
Contact/RSVP: Peggy Hernandez at 847 888-5019
Location: Elgin National Watch Company Observatory, 312 Watch Street
Time:  Doors open at 4:00 p.m. Shows will begin at 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. 

Tucked into the Elgin Sports Complex is the burial ground for the old Elgin State Hospital. Tour the cemetery with historian Bill Briska to discover this little known site and some stories it has to tell.
Contact: https://elginhistory.org/
Location: Meet at Highlands Golf Course East Parking Lot, Elgin Sports Complex, 875 Sports Way, Elgin, IL 60123
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

A special interest group that encourages and assists with writing family stories and histories. Participants share their stories for help with ideas, clarification, and resources. For more information about Elgin Genealogical Society, visit www.elginroots.com.
Contact:  https://attend.gailborden.info/event/9712324
Location: Gail Borden Public Library – Main Branch, Conference Room
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

The public is invited to attend Elgin Police Department’s Annual Police Memorial Service, held in the civic plaza surrounded by mid-century gems including City Hall, the Hemmens Cultural Center, Elgin’s Post Office and the 2nd District Appellate Court.
Location: Elgin Civic Plaza, 150 Dexter Court
More information: Christy Schmidt: [email protected]
Time: 2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

An open house of the Administration building followed by a discussion of the project details with school administrators and the architects and designers.
Contact: Dan Alexander, [email protected]
Location: Elgin Math and Science Academy, 1600 Dundee Avenue
Time: 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Learn about the historical and cultural significance of this beautiful and important building to celebrate its 100th anniversary.

In person event / FREE for Members / $5 for guests
Contact/RSVP: Elgin History Museum, 847-610-0993; Please Register: https://elginhistory.org/event/brown-bag-lunch-laura-davidson-sears-art-gallery-at-the-elgin-academy-100-years-with-ann-chipman/
Location: Laura Davidson Sears Art Gallery, 200 Academy Place
Time: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m

Please join the Elgin Public Museum and the Elgin Heritage Commission for a fascinating lecture on the architecture of the oldest public museum in Illinois! There will also be guests George P. and Mary Lord, portrayed by Mark Hartke and Amy Beribak, who will give a brief history of the park and how George’s “man-cave” turned into a beloved museum! Architectural Historian, Rebecca Hunter and Elgin’s Historic Preservation Planner, Christen Sundquist, will follow up with a detailed lecture on the museum’s history and architecture. A self-guided building tour is available directly after. Admission is $5.00 per person ($3.00 for museum members).
Contact:  Sharry Blazier, 847-741-6655; follow Elgin Public Museum on Facebook
Location: Elgin Public Museum
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Steve Kroiss Exhibit Opening at Nancy Kimball Cobblestone House.
Contact/RSVP: Elgin History Museum, 847-610-0993
Location: Nancy Kimball Cobblestone House, 302 W. Chicago Street; Park at W. Highland and N. Crystal
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m

Take a tour of the First United Methodist Church, celebrating its 100th anniversary! Beginning in 1838, three Methodist churches have stood on this site. The cornerstone for this building was laid on January 20, 1924 and dedication services were held in late November, 1924. The tour will include the history of the church and building, significant rooms on the first floor will be open featuring the extraordinary stained glass windows in the narthex, chapel and sanctuary. 
Contact: Al Walters, [email protected]
Location: First United Methodist Church, 216 E. Highland Avenue
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Take a tour of Elgin’s churches within the Holy Hill area! Elgin’s founder, James T. Gifford, donated land to encourage churches to come to Elgin leaving us with a wide variety of amazing religious architecture in and near our downtown.

Churches that will have their doors opened include: First Congregation Church of Elgin (256 E. Chicago Street), First United Methodist Church (216 E. Chicago Street), Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (357 Division Street), St. John’s Lutheran Church (115 N. Spring Street), Primera Iglesia Bautista (12 S. Chapel Street), Vineyard Church of Elgin (220 Division Street) and St. Mary’s Catholic Church (400 Fulton Street)
Contact: Christen Sundquist, [email protected]
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

On the exact 100th anniversary of the Leopold & Loeb murder that touched off the "Trial of the Century" in 1924, Elgin Public Museum in Lords Park explores its own bizarre connection to the case. Convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison, bird collecting enthusiast Nathan Leopold donated 1500 of his birds to our then-Audubon museum. We will discuss the controversy it created at the time, and the curatorial detective work of recent years, as we attempt to learn how many of Leopold's birds are still in our Collection. Plus, Erik Rebain, author of Arrested Adolescence: The Secret Life of Nathan Leopold, will speak on his research into whether the eventually-paroled Leopold was truly a reformed man when he regained his freedom in the late 1950s. Rebain's book will be available for sale and signing. Doors open at 6 pm so that guests may first view our Leopold exhibit, and stroll the rest of the museum; program begins at 7 pm.

Admission is $5.00 per person ($3.00 for museum members). Due to sensitive subject matter, adults only, please.

Contact/RSVP: Sharry Blazier, 847-741-6655; follow Elgin Public Museum on Facebook
Location: Elgin Public Museum of Natural History & Anthropology, 225 Grand Boulevard
Time: 6:00 p.m. (doors open) – 9:00 p.m.

Test your knowledge of local history with historian Jerry Turnquist. Attendees may work alone or with a partner, or just watch! Participants can use a smartphone or a device (limited amount) provided by the library to respond to multiple-choice questions.
Contact:  Please register: https://attend.gailborden.info/event/10273067
Location: Gail Borden Public Library – Main Branch, Meadows Community Rooms ABC
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

It's the monthly Elgin full moon ride. This will be a moderate pace ride for a few miles throughout the core neighborhoods of Elgin. Join us for this social night ride! This social paced ride starts from our community bike shop and rolls for 7 to 9 miles. All riders must complete an annual Ride Participation Waiver at https://waiver.fr/p-uEoPk

FIVE classic Elgin institutions – ONE afternoon! This is the 2nd Elgin Museum Crawl featuring the Elgin History Museum (360 Park St), Elgin Public Museum (225 Grand Blvd), U-46 Planetarium (312 Watch St), Gail Borden Library's 150th Exhibit (270 N. Grove Ave), and Fire Barn No. 5 Museum (533 St. Charles St). You’ll learn fascinating facts and have fun exploring these great venues! The Elgin Museum Crawl is presented free of charge; donations greatly appreciated. Visit the Museums in any order you like for a unique and fun family experience!
Contact:  Elgin History Museum, 847-742-4248
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Co-Sponsored by the Elgin Patriotic Memorial Association and the city of Elgin.
Contact:  Please visit www.elginmemorialday.org
Location: Bluff City Cemetery, 945 Bluff City Blvd.
Time: 11:00 a.m.; also a live broadcast will be on WRMN Radio, 1410 A.M.

Join us for a ride that celebrates the joy of riding a bike and feeling fabulous while doing it. You're invited to dress in an outfit that makes you feel fabulous and slow roll for about 5-8 miles. All riders must complete an annual Ride Participation Waiver at https://waiver.fr/p-uEoPk

Please come to a lecture about W. W. Abell, his drawings, his houses and his incredible contribution to Elgin.
Contact: Elgin History Museum, 847-742-4248
Location: Nancy Kimball Cobblestone House, 302 W. Chicago Street, Park at W. Highland and N. Crystal
Time: 7:00 p.m.