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Current Exhibits

The Civil War: The War Efforts in Waukegan

The exhibit celebrates the 150th anniversary of the start of the American Civil War (1861-1865) and the involvement of Waukegan, Illinois. Local events leading up to the war, the war years, and the post-war reconstruction efforts in Waukegan are exhibited. Soldiers from Waukegan including the drum- mer boys, Orion P. Howe and Lyston D. Howe are also profiled. Artifacts on display include uniforms, weaponry, and flags.

The exhibit will be on display at the Waukegan History Museum through December 10, 2011.

Ray Bradbury: Waukegan’s Influence on a Visionary

In celebration of Ray Bradbury’s 90th birthday, the exhibit shows the life of the author from when he was growing up in Waukegan to his prolific career as a fantasy, horror, science-fiction and mystery writer. Exhibit focuses on the books Dandelion Wine, Something Wicked This Way Comes, and Farwell Summer that take place in the fictional town of Green Town, which is a pseudonym for Waukegan.

Exhibit on display at the Waukegan History Museum through 2011.


Jack Benny Exhibit at the Jack Benny Center

The exhibit, Jack Benny: From Waukegan to Hollywood, opened February 14, 2008 in honor of Jack Benny’s “39th” birthday, at the Jack Benny Center for the Arts, 39 Jack Benny Drive in Bowen Park in Waukegan. The exhibit is presented by the Waukegan Historical Society as part of their community outreach program. There is no closing date scheduled for the exhibit.

Memorabilia from the exhibit includes historic photographs of Jack Benny, programs from Jack Benny performances, and autographed items by Jack Benny, Mary Livingstone, and others. Stop by to learn about Benny’s early days in Waukegan, his radio and television career, and the impact that he had on Hollywood and his hometown of Waukegan. The Jack Benny Center for the Arts is open to the public Monday through Saturday. To contact the Jack Benny Center, please call 847-360-4740.