Fort Sheridan Historical Society
Chat with Former Senator Mark Kirk Planned
Announcing the Historical Building Walk 2023
This year's Historical Building Walk will focus on the area south of the Water Tower. This area doesn't get the attention the mansion district usually does, but it contains incredible and interesting history, and some of the oldest buildings in the fort. This tour will focus on the “working side” of the fort, where soldiers took care of horses and equipment, learned skills for their military life, and attended to their daily lives. The tour booklet includes historic pictures of every building visited. Our docents will share with you the history of these buildings as you walk about a mile through this old neighborhood. The tours are entirely on sidewalks with curb cuts so are handicap accessible. The tours will only be on Saturday, June 10, 2023.
The number of participants on each tour will be limited to encourage questions. Tours will begin at 10 AM, with tours leaving at 10 AM, 11:30 AM, 1 PM, and 2:30 PM. Each walking tour will take about an hour or so, depending on questions.
Tickets can be purchased using the red button above. Tickets are $40 each, with current Society members at $30 (Members will receive an email with the discount code to be used).. Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis, so mark your calendars. A number of our previous tours sold out.
The chat with former Senator Mark Kirk on March 5th, hosted by the Society, was a great success. Many thanks to the over 60 people who attended and the Directors of the Society who made all the arrangements.
Chat with
Mark Kirk
Veterans Day Commemoration
On a chilly November 11 morning, we commemorated Veterans Day once again at the Fort Flagpole. Allan Dennis, founder of Midwest Young Artists, served as MC and delivered a needed reminder of the history and importance of Veterans Day, honoring all past, current, and future veterans. Officers and members of the VFW Post 4737 laid a wreath at the base of the flagpole. A reception for all attendees was held afterwards, indoors.
What's New on This Website??
We're constantly adding new historical documents to the site, and our most recent has been to add copies of The Tower newspaper from the 1970s and from 1993. Find these on our Articles and Maps page. The 3 papers from the 1970s highlight interesting events happening at the Fort and include some fun-to-read ads for local merchants. The 1993 edition is the last one before the Fort officially closed on June 1, 1993, and has articles about the closing.
Check them all out. While you're on the Articles and Maps page, click on a few of the other historical documents listed there to answer some of your other questions about the Fort's past. Enjoy!
The Society
The Fort Sheridan Historical Society was formed to honor, support, educate about, and promote the Fort and its history from the late 1880’s to present.
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
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Historical Building Walk - planned for June 10, 2023, to include areas south of the water tower. Tickets available on this site beginning about May 1, 2023.
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.)
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