Fort Sheridan Historical Society
Upcoming Events
Ghost Stories From the Fort - On Saturday, October 24, we will once again present this outdoor telling of unexplained stories from the history of the Fort, as researched and told by our own Matt Fuller. It will be held at the water tower and is free.
The starting time will be 6:00 PM. The stories are kid-friendly. As always, this event is open to all and free.
We will be collecting canned or other staple food items to donate to Midwest Veterans Closet. Bring what you'd like - it's voluntary.
Lost on the Lady Elgin - On Saturday, November 14, we will host a presentation on the sinking of the Lady Elgin off the shores of Fort Sheridan. Maritime historian Brendon Baillod will present facts and stories surrounding this tragic sinking.
As an added bonus, this presentation will be held at The Merchant, a family-owned wine, etc., business in the heart of Highwood (across from Everts Park). There will be a wine tasting event prior to the presentation, courtesy of Vinos Libres! We thank both The Merchant and Vinos Libres for their generosity and support!
Attendance will be limited to assure an enjoyable event. Purchase tickets for this event using the green button below. If the tickets are sold out, the ticket site will not show any available. Tickets will be $20 per person for Historical Society members, and $25 per person for non-members (this would be a good time to join in advance of ticket purchase - see the big blue Join button below). Attendees must be over 21 years of age.
Other Upcoming Events
On Saturday, November 7, we will sponsor a food drive at the water tower benefiting Midwest Veterans Closet. Please drop off your bag of groceries anytime between 11 AM and 3 PM at the tower to help fill their pantry before Thanksgiving. They need coffee, meals in cans, mac & cheese, tune, cereal, soups, and canned veggies. Also diapers and tissues.
Thank you to all those who attended the recent Nature Walk and our walking tours of the Fort Sheridan National Cemetery on June 7!
We are currently planning an observance of Veterans Day for November 11 and a number of activities for 2027. Members - watch your email for updates.
Online Museum!
The Society has quite a number of historical items, articles, and photographs from the Fort since its inception, but no physical location (yet) to display these. Many of these can now be seen by you in our Online Museum, right here on this website!
Choose Online Museum from the top menu above or simply click here. Go ahead and scroll through our artifacts and the information we have about each one!
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 Online Museum tab above, then Gallery of Old and New Photos, or simply click here (Scroll down to the 4th 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.
How Old Are These Postcard Photos??
We're always adding new things. This month, help us put a date on this packet of postcard photos, which appear to be from about the 1920s. What do you think and what clues made you think that? See them 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.
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.
Your Society Board members currently are Louisa Mahoney (President), Laura Brandt (1st Vice President), Julie Jaras (Secretary), Karen Kohn (Treasurer), Tim Buckley, Joel MInster, Brandon Bodor, Douglas Holms, and Jamie Wolf . 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?...
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
-
October 24- Another edition of Ghost Stories from the Fort, held at the water tower. See the announcement above.
-
November 7 - Food drive for Midwest Veterans Closet at the Tower
-
November 11 - Veteran's Day observance.
-
November 14 - Lost on the Lady Elgin PLUS a wine tasting.
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.)
