The Chicago Metro History Education Center Joins the Museum as a New Department

The Chicago History Museum is pleased to announce the Chicago Metro History Education Center, a leading educational organization in Illinois that presents the annual Chicago Metro History Fair, will join the Museum as a new department. This relationship honors the closely aligned missions of both organizations to serve as a resource of learning and civic engagement and advances the Museum’s strategic plan, which calls for the development of a school outreach program.

The two organizations will begin an operational integration over the coming year which should be complete by October 1, 2016.

“This relationship is built on nearly forty years of shared history between the Museum and the Chicago Metro History Fair,” said Chicago History Museum President Gary T. Johnson. “We are thrilled for this opportunity to expand the Museum’s educational outreach.”

The Chicago Metro Education Center (CMHEC) is a nonprofit, educational organization in Illinois that offers programs throughout the year for teachers and students to support project-based, inquiry methods of learning. The Chicago Metro History Fair is the signature program of the CMHEC, an annual competition in which Chicago-area students develop and present research projects on topics related to Chicago history.

This relationship will provide new opportunities to advance the Chicago History Metro Fair that annually serves 15,000 thousand students and 500 teachers from 120 local schools. Opportunities include increased Museum access for History Fair students and teachers, new teacher professional development programs, and the utilization of Museum curators and experts to enhance learning.

“We are confident that this will be the best way to not only continue, but to expand our program activities and fulfill the mission of the Center,” said Frank Valadez, executive director of the Chicago Metro History Education Center. “We are eager to join forces with the Chicago History Museum to take History Fair into the future.”

ABOUT THE CHICAGO HISTORY MUSEUM

The Chicago History Museum, a major museum and research center for Chicago and American history, is located at 1601 N. Clark Street. The Museum can be reached by CTA buses 22, 36, 72, 73, 151, and 156. Parking is conveniently located one block north of the Museum at Clark and LaSalle Streets (enter on Stockton Drive). Admission includes our audio tours: $16 adults, $14 seniors/students, free for children 12 years and younger. Prices are subject to change. Please call 312-642-4600 or visit us at chicagohistory.org. To learn more follow us on Facebook and Twitter. The Chicago History Museum gratefully acknowledges the support of the Chicago Park District on behalf of the people of Chicago.