Home | Fort Sheridan Historical Society

Fall Events

Movie Under the Stars - On Friday, September 12, at 6 PM, we'll once again host a movie night at the Water Tower. The animated movie will be very kid-friendly but enjoyable for all. Bring your own chairs, snacks, neighbors, and kids. Their will be a special section up close for just kids, so perhaps bring a blanket for them to sit on. (As it's outdoors, this won't be held if it rains - no rain date. Check this website to see if it is canceled.)

Ghost Stories from the Fort - Woooooo! Our own Matt Fuller has unearthed some new stories and will combine those with some of the stories from past years to make this an evening to hear about some of the weirder history of the Fort. Kid-friendly - not real scary. See you on Saturday, October 18 at 6 PM at the Water Tower. Bring your own chairs, snacks, neighbors, and kids. Their will be a special section up close for just kids, so perhaps bring a blanket for them to sit on. (As it's outdoors, this won't be held if it rains - no rain date. Check this website to see if it is canceled.)

Veterans Day Commemoration - Our annual honoring of Veterans Day will be Tuesday, November 11 at 9:30 AM at the Flagpole (west end of the Parade Grounds). The brief ceremony will recognize and thank our veterans, have a few remarks, and raise the Flag. Please come if you can to support our veterans on this important day.

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.

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).

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.

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!!

Add me to the List!

The Society

The Fort Sheridan Historical Society honors, supports, educates about, and promotes the Fort and its history.

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.

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.

Want to know more about the Fort?...

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

Join or Renew

Movie Under the Stars - Friday, Sep 12, 6 PM, at the Water Tower. Very kid-friendly. Bring chairs, blanket, snacks, and kids.
Ghost Stories from the Fort - Saturday, Oct 18, 6 Pm, at the Water Tower. Some new, some old stories. Kid-friendly..
Veterans Day Commemoration -Tuesday, Nov 11, 9:30 AM, at the Flagpole.
Many 2026 events are being planned - check back here for details.

Fort Sheridan: Then and Now

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.)