Programs for High School

Interactive, Educational & Engaging History
The Center for History’s unique programs challenge students to discover, explore, and experience the past. The Center’s multi-disciplinary programs are designed to enrich classroom curriculum through professionally researched, engaging, and interactive presentations tailored to fit curriculum requirements. Use the Center’s education programs as a resource to meet state standards and provide a rich learning experience for your students. The Center will work with teachers, curriculum chairs, and administrators to incorporate selected programs into their lesson plans or develop a new program.

S.S. Eastland Programs

The Eastland Story
Available only at 315 W. Front St.
Explore how this unbelievable tragedy brought a community together to help those suffering after the capsizing of the Steamer Eastland in the Chicago River July 24, 1915. Beginning as a day filled with fun and adventure, the Western Electric company outing to Michigan City, Indiana, turned deadly even before departing Chicago. Hear stories of survivors, witnesses, victims, and heroes as they recall the rescue effort. People were rescued and comforted by an array of heroes, such as survivors, firemen, policemen, welders, bridge tenders, passers-by, switchboard operators, doctors, hard-helmet divers, and merchants. This dynamic exhibit examines the causes of the accident, safety issues enforced after the Titanic, and the event itself. Students will learn how objects relating to the Eastland such as silver tea service, coroner’s stars and a replica of the ship’s wheelhouse tell stories of the tragic day.

Fee: $5.50 per person
Length: 90 minutes
Subject: Urban History, Social History, Transportation
Addresses State Goals: English 1, 4; Social Science 16, 17, 18

Investigating the Eastland Disaster
Available year round only at your site
On July 24, 1915, bound for a Western Electric Company picnic, 844 people perished when the S.S. Eastland capsized in the Chicago River. Discover the nationwide reaction as news of Chicago’s greatest maritime tragedy, which killed more people than the Great Chicago Fire, spread through newspapers. How this could happen in approximately 19 feet of water has never been truly identified. Examine the possible reasons and the safety regulations enforced after the sinking of the Titanic. Hear personal accounts of survivors, victims, heroes and witnesses along with the efforts of businesses and organizations to help the families of those who perished on that misty morning. Travel back to a time when company outings and excursions were planned as a fun-filled outing for the whole family.

Fee: $6.00 per person plus travel fee
Length: 90 minutes
Subject: Local and Urban History, Language
Meets State Goals: English 1; Mathematics 6, 7, 10; Social Science 16, 18

Programs on Slavery, Abolition, and the Underground Railroad

NO RIGHTS! The Injustices of Slavery
Available only February through end of April at 606 North Main Street
Squeeze into a small space as you investigate the passage from Africa to America on a slave ship. Feel the power of control exerted over the enslaved and examine the laws that governed slavery. Discover the ingenuity and cleverness utilized by those who made daring escapes. Talk with a costumed interpreter about the challenges of daily life as an enslaved person. Hear secret messages in songs to help guide fugitives to freedom and imagine life on the run as an abolitionist provides shelter. This disturbing time in American history takes on new meaning and relevance through costumed first-person interpretation, role-play, songs, and hands-on object investigation. Bring to life the enslaved individual’s experience for each student through this powerful, award-winning program.

Reading List Available
Fee: $6.00 per person
Length: 90 minutes
Subject: Local History, Civil War, African-American History
Addresses State Goals: English 1, 4; Social Science 14, 15, 16, 17, 18; Fine Arts 27

The Life of the Enslaved & Their Journey to Freedom
Available year round at 606 N. Main St.
Visit a recreated station on the Underground Railroad and experience what conditions were like for those who took the hard road to freedom. Probe the hidden messages in songs and secret codes used by those who escaped and the people who risked their lives to hide them. Hear stories of escape and the struggle to survive under the heavy burden of enslavement. Investigate the slavery debate in this area, challenges and risks enslaved individuals confronted on their journey to freedom, and dangers faced by abolitionists while assisting fugitives. Discover why the Chicago area was an important and often-traveled connection to freedom on the Underground Railroad.

Reading List Available
Fee: $5.50 per person
Length: 90 minutes
Subject: Local History, Civil War, African-American History
Addresses State Goals: English 1, 4; Social Science 14, 15, 16, 18; Fine Arts 27

From Slave Auction to Freedom: An Arduous Journey
Available only at your site for groups of 100 or more
Experience the chilling reality of being an enslaved person through powerful interpretation, hands-on objects, music, and role-playing. Experience the passage from Africa to America on a slave ship. Reenact stories of escape by putting on a disguise or crawling into a hiding place. Feel the power of control exerted over enslaved people and discover the worst form of punishment. Tackle some of the daily chores of the enslaved and learn about slave rations. Investigate secret codes and messages used on the Underground Railroad. Examine authentic slave documents and artifacts.

Reading List Available
Fee: $6.50 per person plus travel fee
Includes use of recreated Henry “Box” Brown’s cargo crate
Length: 90 minutes
Subject: Local History, Civil War, African-American History
Addresses State Goals: English 1, 4; Social Science 14, 15, 16, 18; Fine Arts 27

Civil War Programs

Any of the Civil War programs can include a typical soldier’s lunch – please inquire.

From the Home Front to the Battlefield: The Life of a Cavalry Soldier
Available at your site only for groups of 100 or more
As the first modern war to be fought on American soil, the Civil War affected the entire country. The courage of those who fought in this devastating war, the trauma experienced by loved ones left back home, and the forced independence of women and children are stories worthy of telling. Through role-playing and costumed first-person interpreters, students will experience the courage, fear and hardships of the Civil War era during this interactive program. The program is divided into five areas:

• Experience a multi-media introduction to the Civil War
• Muster in and explore camp life with a uniformed soldier
• Investigate Civil War era medicine and media
• Discover regimental drills
• Explore the role of horses and the importance of caring for these military animals
• Join in a spirited conversation on the home front with costumed interpreters
• Authentic reproduction uniforms, accoutrements, weapons, diaries, letters, and medical equipment will help the students discover a personal side of the American Civil War.

Fee: $10.00 per person (Discount available for groups of 200 or more)
Length: Half-day program or available in shorter theme-based presentations
Space Requirements: 4 or 5 rooms plus an auditorium for the introduction. Students are divided into groups after the introduction for the interactive program stations. Groups larger than 250 may be divided into 6 groups.
Subject: Local History, Civil War
Meets State Goals: English 1, 4; Mathematics 10; Social Science 14, 16, 18; Fine Arts 27

Courage, Fear & Honor: Captain Chester’s Civil War
Get your students excited about the Civil War with Recollections of the War of the Rebellion written by H. W. Chester. This powerful first-person account of one soldier’s experiences during the Civil War draws in students with the details of a cavalryman’s daily life and a peek into his inner thoughts. Chester’s Civil War campaigns took him from Missouri to Virginia and his recollections provide an insight into life on the front as never experienced before. Chester’s memoirs combine primary and secondary source material for outstanding accuracy with personal reflection, providing a great opportunity to bring primary resources into your curriculum.

The Center for History now offers an opportunity to bring to life the soldier’s perspective on the war with a program built around Chester’s memoirs and personal artifacts, integrating reproductions of his original letters, journals, and military objects from the Center’s collections. Students will hear exciting accounts of battles and gain an intimate understanding of a soldier’s world.

Recollections of the War of the Rebellion, by H. W. Chester, can be loaned by the Center for History or quantities may be purchased at a discount.
Fee: $5.50 per person
Length: 90 minutes
Subject: Local History, Civil War
Meets State Goals: English 1, 4; Mathematics 7, 10; Social Science 14, 16, 18

Step into the Boots of a Civil War Soldier
Available only for groups of 30 or more
Put a human face on the Civil War by experiencing daily life on the front lines with the Union army. Muster in for active duty and explore the details of camp life and drills with a uniformed cavalryman. Explore the role of horses and the importance of these military animals. Experience the courage, fear and hardships of the Civil War era during this interactive program. Authentic reproduction uniforms, weapons, and rations will help students discover a personal side of the American Civil War.

Fee: $7.00 per person
Includes authentic reproductions of the tent and equestrian accoutrements
Length: 90 minutes
Subject: Local History, Civil War
Addresses State Goals: English 4; Social Science 14, 16; Fine Arts 27

The War at Home: Living through the Civil War
All of American society was affected by the Civil War. As fathers, brothers and husbands enlisted women were left home to take care of home and family. Costumed first-person interpreters will transport your class back to the 1860s. Participate in conversation with a woman left at home as she shares the hardships and tragedies she faced as part of daily life. Hear how letters kept families connected and newspapers kept hope alive. As students investigate unsatisfactory medical treatment, they will discover how the Sanitary Commission and Christian Commission brought improvements to hospitals on the battlefront. Students will gain a deeper respect for the human sacrifice and courage during the Civil War era through this interactive program with authentic artifacts and images.

Fee: $6.00 per person
Length: 90 minutes
Subject: Local History, Civil War
Addresses State Goals: English 1, 4; Social Science 14, 16, 18

World War II Programs

Remembering World War II
Experience how America mobilized for World War II. Hear first-person accounts of women going to work and the contributions children made to help the war effort. Discover how rationing of sugar, metal, rubber and gas changed everyday life. Explore how the entire community, even children, worked to help the war production effort. Investigate photographs, letters, oral histories, and artifacts to understand how the war changed American life through rationing, mobilization, war production and more. Oral histories from the Center’s award-winning Dignity, Service & Valor project introduce students to the value and significance of these personal accounts of War veterans and American citizens.

Fee: $5.50 per person
Length: 90 minutes
Subject: Local History, American History, Social History
Meets State Goals: English 1, 4; Mathematics 5, 7, 10; Social Science 14, 16, 18; Fine Arts 27

Golf Programs

The Dimpled Ball
Available only at 315 W. Front St.
Golf has been an attraction in the Chicago area since the Columbian Exposition in 1893 and comes alive in a unique exhibit, Fairways, Greens & Clubs. From being the hub of golf manufacturing to hosting some of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world, Chicago has played a major role in the advancement of golf. This program traces the fascinating stories of famous golfers along with the early development of balls and clubs from the feather and gutta percha balls to the metal shaft of a golf club. Discover what a horse lawn boot was used for in relationship to golf and explore how to make a sand tee. The fascination with golf runs through the lives of everyday people to U.S. Presidents and tells about the early years from the 1890s-1940s.

Fee: $5.50 per person
Length: 90 minutes
Subject: Local History, American History, Social History
Meets State Goals: English 4, 5; Social Science 16

Programs on History, Architecture & More!

Exploring Our Built Environment
Imagine a town built on a whim without regard for safety or the need of the public. There might be five dry cleaners and six restaurants but no place to get a prescription filled or a place to park. Explore how architecture, zoning, building permits, and “green space” work together for the good of the public. Investigate maps and photos to detect changes in our built environment. Historic Sanborn Fire Insurance maps offer clues to size and location of buildings, former businesses, street names, and expanded boundaries. Learn how to read a legal description for a piece of property to determine its location within a county, township and city. Students will delve into building permits, land deeds, tax assessments, zoning records, and architectural plans to uncover the reasons a town progressed as it did.

Fee: $5.50 per person
Length: 90 minutes (Can be split into two 45 minute sessions)
Subject: Science, Urban History, Architecture
Meets State Goals: English 4; Mathematics 5, 9; Science 11, 13; Social Science 15

Creating an Architectural Eye
Architecture captures the history of a community by depicting its growth, culture, and lifestyles. This interactive slide show introduces students to architectural elements as clues to different building styles. Students become familiar with the architectural terminology used to describe details, such as the shape of a roof, types of windows, and façades. By identifying these features, students begin to understand how the built environment serves as a timeline of the past, present and future development of a community, and thus grasp the importance of historic preservation. The Architecture Walking Tour (listed below) allows students to apply the skills acquired and knowledge gained to identify and understand the architecture in their community.

Fee: $5.50 per person/12 person min.
Length: 60 minutes
Subject: Architecture, Local History
Addresses State Goals: English 4; Social Science 16, 18; Fine Arts 25, 27

Architecture Walking Tour
On this walking tour through a residential area, students actively participate in the detection and identification of various architectural styles and features. Distinguishing between various rooflines, windows, and other decorative features and structural elements, students discover clues relevant to a community’s past, present and future. This tour reiterates the importance of a town’s built environment established in Creating an Architectural Eye (listed above), and offers an opportunity to put students’ architectural sleuthing skills to the test.

Can be adapted to explore architecture around your school or neighborhood
Fee: $6.00 per person
Length: 90 minutes
Subject: Local History, Architecture
Addresses State Goals: English 4; Social Science 16, 18; Fine Arts 25, 27

Downtown Wheaton Walking Tour
The history of a town comes to life as trained interpreters lead your group on an expedition to explore the downtown area. As students stop at many historic sites that played an integral role in transforming this prairie town into a suburb the “history puzzle” comes together. A picture takes shape of Wheaton’s evolution over time and the role of people, politics, and businesses in shaping the developing city as students search high and low for clues to Wheaton’s past.

Can be developed for your community’s downtown
Can be used as an after school activity
Fee: $6.00 per person
Length: 90 minutes
Subject: Local History, Architecture
Meets State Goals: English 4, 5; Social Science 16, 18

Residents Before the Settlers
Discover the culture and traditions of tribes that called Northern Illinois home. Explore the nomadic life of these residents through this hands-on program. Play the same games the Native Americans enjoyed, master a few dance steps, plus listen to ancient stories with familiar morals. This participatory program allows students to experience traditions important in Native American life by examining the food, clothing, housing, economic system, and art of the original inhabitants.

Fee: $5.50 per person
Length: 90 minutes
Subject: American History, Local History
Addresses State Goals: English 4; Social Science 15, 16, 17, 18; Fine Arts 27

Digging Deeper: History Behind the Scenes
Available only at 315 W. Front St.
Based on a theme such as family heritage, business history, the Great Depression, or Illinois history, students experiment with various methods of carrying out a research project. Slip on white gloves to take a closer look at what historic documents and artifacts can tell us. Investigate an artifact to form your own hypothesis about how objects were used in the past. Examine primary resources such as letters, ledgers, maps, and oral histories as tools when performing research. The professional methods for conserving these artifacts and archival materials will also be introduced. Archival materials are available for purchase at the Research Annex.

Fee: $5.00 per person
Class size: Up to 25
Length: 90 minutes (Can be split into two 45 minute sessions)
Subject: Local and Illinois History, Language, Fine Arts
Meets State Goals: English 4, 5; Social Science 16, 17, 18

Get it On Tape
Delve into the fascinating world of oral histories. From cassette tapes to digital video recordings, the stories of a community, family or event come to life. These primary sources provide a powerful and interesting interpretation of our past. Oral histories can add a new and personal perspective to research assignments. Get ready for your own oral history project by trying out the tools and techniques historians use to capture the past.

Fee: $5.00 per person
Length: 90 minutes
Subject: Local and Illinois History, Language, Fine Arts
Meets State Goals: English 1, 3, 4, 5; Social Science 16, 18

Investigating Your Dream Job
Students will explore the ins and outs of choosing a career by examining their own natural talents, personal interests, and learned skills. During this hands-on program, students will investigate a variety of occupations, put together a portfolio, conduct interviews, and dress for their “Dream Job.” This fun, interactive program offers an innovative way to look at possible careers.

Fee: $5.00 per person
Length: 90 minutes
Subject: Career Exploration, Language Arts
Meets State Goals: English 4; Social Science 15, 16, 17, 18; Fine Arts 24

Active Citizen
Discover the qualities that make a good citizen by getting to know people from the past who took an active role in shaping your community. From founding fathers to city council members, learn the traits that make a good leader and the value of being well-informed and active in the community. Debate both sides of issues effecting high school students. Investigate how to exercise your right of free speech by examining current issues in your town. End the program by writing a letter to a newspaper, or a city or county official.

Fee: $5.50 per person
Length: 90 minutes
Subject: American History, Local History, Local Government
Addresses State Goals: English 4; Social Science 14, 16, 18; Fine Arts 27