The Chicago History Museum is an old architecture with new touches. It has witnessed the history of Chicago and the nation. Whether you are a citizen of Chicago or just a visitor there, The Chicago History Museum would definitely be a must-see destination if you want to know the city's past, present and future.

Today Chicago History Museum has grown into a comprehensive museum featuring galleries, exhibitions and a museum store. Another highlight of the museum is the massive collection of Chicago and U.S. History Artifacts including architecture, archives and manuscripts, books, costumes, paintings and more. You can visit the following link if you want to know more about the Chicago History Museum:

Homepage of Chicago History Museum

http://www.chicagohs.org/

Construction Alert: When planning self driving to Chicago History Museum, you should notice that LaSalle Drive improvement project might be undergoing near the museum. The pedestrian underpass near Stockton Drive and one lane of traffic in each direction will be closed during the project. The project will last from July 26, 2010 to December of 2011. Yet the on-site garage is still accessible.

Or you can get to the Chicago History Museum by public transportation. CTA buses 11, 22, 36, 72, 73, 151, and 156 are all passing by the museum. Besides, Brown Line Sedgwick station and Red Line Clark/Division station are within walking distances from the museum. For more information, you can visit:

Chicago Transit Info

http://www.transitchicago.com/default.aspx

You might want to know the best route to get to the museum's on-site garage if you have to drive by yourself. As you know, the Chicago History Museum is located at 1601 North Clark Street, the south end of Lincoln Park at North Avenue. And the on-site parking is just one block from the museum, at Clark and LaSalle streets. You can enter the garage on Stockton Drive.

The on-site garage is easy to reach from Expressway or Lake Shore Drive. If from Expressway 90/94, you should exit at North Avenue. Then drive east to LaSalle Street and turn left. The garage is right on the left of Stockton Drive. If from Lake Shore Drive, you should exit at North Avenue and drive west. Then you will be on Stockton Drive.

The on-site garage is open 24 hours all around the year. It can accommodate as many as 460 cars. Parking rate is $9 for 24 hours with validation. Before entering or exiting, you shall have your tickets validated at the front desk.

Hosted parking and valet parking are also available there. For valet parking details, you can contact their Corporate Events department at 312.799.2254. Hosted parking passes have to be reserved 10 days ahead of the event date. The rate is $9 each.

If you are group visitors, you will notice that there is a bus loading and unloading area in front of the museum. Remember not to park there! It's not a parking zone. Buses should be arranged to park at a designated bus-parking lot. You can call the Chicago Office of Tourism at 312.744.2400 for detailed info about the designated bus-parking area.

Notes: Street parking is quite difficult in the neighborhood. Street cleaning rules are strictly enforced in the city of Chicago. If the on-site parking has filled to capacity, you might consider the following paid parking lots in the neighborhood:

- Lincoln Park Zoo - Cannon Drive at Fullerton Parkway

- The Constellation - 1555 N. Dearborn (SE corner of North Blvd. & Dearborn)

- Piper's Alley - 230 W. North Ave. (NW corner of North Ave. & Wells)