Fort Sheridan Historical Society
Upcoming Events
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Following are just some of the events planned for 2026.
Friday, February 13, 2026 - Members of the Society are invited to attend a Deployment Ceremony for the 337th Military Intelligence Battalion at 4 PM at Building 705 (the large brick building you see from Green Bay Rd immediately across from the Arrive North Shore apartment building). This would be a great way to support your troops stationed adjacent to the historic Fort. See the announcement for more information. If you'd like to attend, you must RSVP by February 1, 2026, using the QR code on the announcement.
Saturday, February 21, 2026 - FSHS will host a meeting at Dunn Museum 1899 Winchester Rd. Libertyville 60048. The lecture is titled “Famous People from Fort Sheridan”, which includes Franklin Roosevelt, General George Patton, a Colonel who authored a famous cook book and others. The lecture will be from 1-2 PM followed by an unguided tour of the museum. The charge is $8 at the door. Please register to attend using this form to help us plan.
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Tuesday, March 3, 2026 - we celebrate FSHS 139th Birthday. This will begin with Reveille at the Parade Ground flagpole at 9:30 AM.
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Thursday, April 2, 2026 - At 1 PM, FSHS members and guests will tour the Lake Forest History Museum in Lake Forest. We will meet at the museum at 509 E Deerpath, Lake Forest.
June 7, 2026 (times to be determined) - FSHS will host walking tours of the Fort Sheridan National Cemetery. Check back here for more information soon.​​​​​​​
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Midwest Veterans Closet
Your Fort Sheridan Historical Society exists because of what veterans built and accomplished here over the many years. Midwest Veterans Closet, based in North Chicago and a 501(c)3 not for profit, serves veterans and military members in need.
Please read the poster below and consider helping Midwest Veterans Closet if you can. (Some browsers will not easily allow you to zoom in to read it, others will.)
More information about Midwest Veterans Closet is here. Donations to Midwest Veterans Closet can be made from their website (The link shown in the poster does not work.)
Ghost Stories - Thanks to all who attended our 3rd edition of Ghost Stories from the Fort on October 18! With over 100 guests, it was once again a great success.
Because of the possibility of rain, this year's event was held indoors at the Midwest Youth Artists Conservatory (MYAC). Thanks to MYAC for opening their spacious building to us at the last minute. Thanks especially to Matt Fuller for researching and presenting the Stories!
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And, here's another Ghost Story From the Fort, not included in the presentation, for your reading pleasure.
Inside the Water Tower
Did you ever wonder what is inside the historic water tower at Fort Sheridan? Well, now you can get a peak.
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We've added a gallery of pictures showing the spacious lower and upper floors, the spiral stairs, and the empty water storage tank, as well as views out several of the windows. The gallery can be found under the History tab above, or simply click here (Scroll down to the 3rd picture gallery on that page).
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The tower is managed by the Master Homeowners Association. And, sorry, the tower is not ever open to the public.
What Else is New on this Site??
We're always adding new things. This month, check out One Soldier's Experience at the Fort from over 125 years ago, specifically, from 1899-1900. We have his backstory and a number of pictures of his time here, courtesy of his great-grandson. See it here.
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For history buffs, we've also added a listing of all the Post Commanders from the beginning of the fort (1887) through about 1970. Were any of them relatives of yours?? Look here.
We need a few volunteers!
The Historical Society is managed by a small Board of Directors. We need a few volunteers to help with some activities during the year. We need someone to assist with publicity for our very few annual public events, someone to help inventory our artifacts, or someone to help arrange speakers for a few meetings (or even speak yourself on some aspect of the fort's history). Wherever your talents lie, it won't take lots of time, If we can add you to our list of volunteers, please click this link and send us a brief note about who you are, where you live, and what your interests may be. Thank you for considering this!!
The Society
The Fort Sheridan Historical Society honors, supports, educates about, and promotes the Fort and its history.
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Our goal is to provide useful information about the Fort and its history to former and current residents and those interested in the history of the Fort and the North Shore. Click here for more information about the Society.
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Please explore this site to find much more information about the Fort, its history, and how to best plan and enjoy a visit to the Fort. To encourage further research and sharing of Fort information, please support the Society by Joining.
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Your Society Board members currently are Louisa Mahoney (President), Laura Brandt (1st Vice President), Julie Jaras (Secretary), Karen Kohn (Treasurer), Tim Buckley, Joel MInster, and Brandon Bodor. All of us are current or recent Fort residents. Donna Fitzgerald currently serves the Board as Executive Director.
Want to know more about the Fort?...
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We routinely send out emails and newsletters with interesting information and updates on events. No need to be a member to get these (although there are Member Only events you may miss out on). Just contact us and we'll add you to our list!
Events
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Many 2026 events are being planned - check back here for details.
Fort Sheridan: Then and Now
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A new book by Laura Tucker. Laura is a former resident of the Fort, an avid photographer and Fort Sheridan enthusiast, and has researched and compiled a collection of photographs and facts that highlight the ever-changing uses of the structures and the chameleon-like personality of the Fort. Buy it here on Amazon. (Separately, Laura has donated many of her research materials for the book to the Society's archives.)
