Elmhurst History Museum

The Elmhurst History Museum offers a unique cultural arts summer camp called Museum Explorers Camp designed for children who enjoy engaging in STEAM activities with an emphasis on learning, cooperation, fun, and creativity. The program is managed by experienced museum staff professionals with trained assistants and provides a structured environment that respects each participant’s learning style and interests.

The camp format includes daily lesson plans incorporating age-appropriate activities with scheduled outdoor playtime and educational field trips to other museums in the area via bus or Metra train. Throughout the week, campers explore various aspects of history, science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics through hands-on projects and interactive experiences. The small group size of 20 participants maximum ensures personalized attention and meaningful engagement.

A highlight of the camp experience is the final day exhibition, where campers share their new knowledge with family and friends by building and displaying their own mini museum exhibition. This culminates in a special cookies and lemonade reception that celebrates the campers’ accomplishments and learning journey. The project-based approach helps children develop critical thinking, presentation skills, and confidence.

The museum itself is a department of the City of Elmhurst and serves as an educational resource for the community. Located at 120 E. Park Avenue, the facility features various exhibits exploring local and regional history. The museum maintains regular public hours Tuesday through Saturday, with extended hours on Saturdays, providing opportunities for families to visit year-round.

In addition to summer camps, the museum offers a variety of educational programs including museum field trips, portable museum programs, scout programs, adult programs, and access to the historic Churchville Schoolhouse. The museum also maintains extensive collections and research resources including a photo archive, manuscript archive, historical maps, and family trees available for public exploration and study.