Exploring local, state, and national history is a great way to celebrate America250 in West Chicago, and the library has a variety of digital resources and more to help you accomplish that task!
Through the library you can get passes to a variety of museums, parks, attractions and more with two exciting services:
Museum Adventure Pass for West Chicago Library Patrons
Museum Adventure Pass offers passes to many historical places and museums for you to learn about United States history.
- Visit the American Writers Museum to view many exhibits on American authors. Not only can you learn history but also be inspired to showcase your own voice!
- Make a stop by Catigny Park. Special collections can be viewed at both the McCormick House and the First Division Museum as well as a large collection of tanks dating all the way back to the First World War.
- Pick up a pass to Naper Settlement to truly get transported in time, with special exhibits including a variety of artifacts and an opportunity to experience farming and agricultural history.
- Got trains on your mind? Then get onboard a train at the Illinois Railway Museum. Experience, steam, diesel, or even a streetcar train, all facilitated by your library card!
To see a list of all thatMuseum Adventure Pass offers, please stop by a Service Desk on the 2nd floor or you can find them on our website. Passes are requested and printed in person, at any library desk to West Chicago cardholders, making this an essential resource from WCPLD for celebrating America250 in West Chicago.
Explore More (of) Illinois During America250
Explore More Illinois offers even more museum passes to cardholders! This service can be accessed online, and passes can be made on your own with your library card. Examples of passes available are Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Chicago History Museum, Civil War Museum (Kenosha, WI), the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, and that is just a fraction of what is included. Take a visit to their website and see what it has to offer during America250 in West Chicago and beyond!
Digital Databases for America250 and Beyond
Heritage Hub and Ancestry Library Edition
Our own family history can be just as fascinating as the histories we find in museums. Do you want to do some research on your own, and see your ancestors’ records? Visit powerful digital resources from WCPLD such as Heritage Hub, accessible anywhere from our library databases with your library card, or Ancestry Library Edition accessible onsite at the library. You could unearth passenger logs, census records, and local history. During this America250 celebration, we remember that between 1892-1954, more than 12 million people went through the Ellis Island immigration station. Search your family members’ names today to see if you can find their records.
A to Z Databases
A to Z Databases are a powerful platform for exploring all sorts of exciting information. An interesting fact is that in 1970 the Illinois state flag we know today was adopted after previous designs were changed when soldiers in the Vietnam War wanted a better identifiable flag for their state. Get similar facts and more by visiting another great database in our collection called A to Z The USA, find geography, statistics and more about each state, and so much more!
Biography Reference Source
In the Biography Reference Source database, you can do a deep dive and read full text biographies of famous figures. Find out interesting details about the people who shaped America across its 250 years. Did you know that President Theodore Roosevelt was the first president to receive a Noble Peace prize, or that Astronaut Sally Ride was a tennis prodigy in her youth? Exciting facts like these are only a few clicks away to help you celebrate America250 in West Chicago with digital resources and more from WCPLD!
Library of Things as a Resource for America250 Plans
Additionally, our library offers plenty of ways to explore and gain new experiences. With our Library of Things, you can check out a variety of objects and gadgets. Check out a pair of binoculars for your next hiking adventure (perhaps at one of the many National Parks in the United States). Visit Shawnee National Forest, the only National Forest in Illinois. Capture a new moment on your adventures by checking out one of our cameras, and while you have a moment to relax while on your trip, read a book on a Kindle. Visit the Adult Services department or our website to see all the Library of Things provides.
Celebrate America250 in West Chicago with digital resources and more from WCPLD today! Still not sure where to start? Then email us at ask@wcpld.info, fill out a contact form on our website, give us a call at 1-(630)-231-1552, or drop by the library in-person to speak with a staff member! Don’t forget to check out our online public access catalog to see some of our newest books and materials for checkout, or to start a search. See you at the library!