Railroad history comes to life at Elmhurst museum

Here's a look at what's happening early this year at the Elmhurst History Museum.

The museum at 120 E. Park Ave. is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays and Tuesdays through Fridays and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.

For details, visit www.elmhursthistory.org or call (630) 833-1457.

• "On the Right Track: By Rail to Chicago & Beyond," through March 29.

Take a journey through 170 years of railroading history from Chicago to Elmhurst and beyond. The exhibit explores how railroads carved out the suburban landscape as we know it today, and how people in the Chicago area experienced the railroad as both passengers and employees.

Visitors can view an array of artifacts, including vintage telegraph equipment, dining car china from the Chicago & North Western 400 line, a conductor's uniform, steam engine bell and more. See the original 1894 Elmhurst station sign, rare photos and maps, model trains and a relic from Lincoln's funeral train.

Kids will enjoy the hands-on learning stations including a wooden train play area, working telegraph and track switching game. Admission is free

• "Chicagoland: City and Suburbs of the Railroad Age" at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26, in the museum's Education Center.

Ann Durkin Keating, professor of history at North Central College, discusses the influence of the railroad in the 19th century in Northeastern Illinois through a slide lecture. Keating is an accomplished author of many publications, including "Chicagoland: City and Suburbs of the Railroad Age" and is co-editor of the Encyclopedia of Chicago. Registration is required. Cost: $5; free for Elmhurst Heritage Foundation members.

• "Next Stop Elmhurst: An Exploration of Elmhurst Railroads Past and Present" at 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, in the museum's Education Center.

As part of the new Throwback Thursday Lecture series, Curator of Exhibits Dan Bartlett will talk about the earliest history of the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad through the Western suburbs, its operations, and how the coming of that first rail line from Chicago affected the communities along its path. Registration is required for the free program.

• "Gallery Talk: On the Right Track Exhibit" at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, in the first floor gallery.

Bartlett shares details about Chicagoland railroad history, the effect of the railroad on Elmhurst and other suburbs, and the creation of the On the Right Track exhibit. No registration is required for the drop-in adult program.