Racing Legends Bobby Allison and Fred Lorenzen at Elmhurst Historical Museum [VIDEO]

NASCAR legend Bobby Allison talks about how he got interested in racing as a boy.

Elmhurst Historical Museum posted this three-minute YouTube video of NASCAR legend Bobby Allison explaining how he got interested in racing at about 10 years old. "I would mow people's grass or do whatever to get people to take me to the races," Allison says. The video of Allison and fellow racing legend Fred Lorenzen of Elmhurst was shot Thursday, April 4, in the gallery of Elmhurst Historical Museum's exhibit, On the Road to Glory: Fred Lorenzen, with Allison's wife, Judy, and Lorenzen's daughter, Amanda Gardstrom. “Fred Lorenzen and Bobby Allison were kindred spirits,” said Lance Tawzer, curator of exhibits at the Elmhurst Historical Museum. “Fred was a mentor to Bobby when he was getting his start in racing." Allison narrated the …

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Meet NASCAR Legend Bobby Allison at Elmhurst Historical Museum

Race car driver Fred Lorenzen, of Elmhurst, and Bobby Allison were "kindred spirits."

It’s not every day racing fans have a chance to encounter a NASCAR Hall of Fame driver of Bobby Allison’s caliber. Named one of the 50 Greatest Drivers of All Time, Allison has many accolades to his name: 85 NASCAR wins, three-time winner of the Daytona 500, six-time winner of NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver award, 1983 Winston Cup Series Champion, and over $7 million in career winnings.  On Thursday, April 4, from 5 to 7 p.m., Elmhurst Historical Museum welcomes visitors to mingle with legendary NASCAR driver Bobby Allison, who will sign official autograph cards (provided by the museum for $5 each) and pose for photos. The driving force to bring Bobby Allison to the Chicago area for a rare visit is the Elmhurst Historical Museum’s current …

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Young Elmhurst Historians Wanted for Annual Ruth Strand Poster Contest

Deadline for submitting entries is May 9.

The Elmhurst Heritage Foundation and the Elmhurst Historical Museum invite aspiring young historians to participate in the 2013 Ruth Strand Poster Contest. Children in second and third grade who attend any Elmhurst school are eligible to submit an entry. The contest recognizes the many gifts of Elmhurst resident Ruth Strand (1904-1999) who was director of the Elmhurst Public Library for 20 years and a founding member of the Elmhurst Historical Museum. The contest has been held since 2000 to honor Strand’s valuable contributions to the Elmhurst community, and especially her devotion to children, history and education. Poster forms have been distributed to teachers, and interested participants may also pick up forms and contest rules at the …

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NASCAR Great Lorenzen Visits Own Exhibit at Elmhurst Historical

The Elmhurst native known as "Fearless Freddie" took an emotional trip through a tribute to his own life at the Elmhurst Historical Museum's "On the Road to Glory" exhibit.

It was an emotional trip for former NASCAR driver Fred Lorenzen as he was given the treat of touring his own museum exhibit devoted to his life and career last Wednesday, the museum posted in a release on the Chicago Tribune website. According to the release, "Fearless Freddie," who grew up in Elmhurst (and was also called the "Elmhurst Express"), was accompanied by his daughter Amanda Lorenzen Gardstrom as they viewed photos and videos and trophies from his luminous career, including his famous victory at the 1965 Daytona 500. “This is unbelievable,” Lorenzen is quoted saying in the release. “I can’t believe you put all this together.” Later, witnessing the crash that ended his friend "Fireball" Roberts' life, he is quoted recalling "that…

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Celebrate St. Paddy’s Day with the Music of the Irish at Elmhurst Historical Museum

Folk singer weaves story with song at EHM event this weekend.

Throughout history, the stories of American immigrants have been told through music, and none more so than those of the Irish people. To celebrate the heritage of the Irish, Elmhurst Historical Museum presents “From Auld Sod to New Prairie: The Irish in America” at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 10. This event for all ages features Lee Murdock, a folk singer who combines storytelling and music to interpret the lives of working people. Mr. Murdock will share the musical tales of Irish immigrants through traditional folk ballads, chanteys and work songs performed in an intimate setting. The program will be presented in the Elmhurst Historical Museum’s Education Center, located just south of the Glos Mansion at 120 E. Park Ave. Admission is free (…

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Hard-driving, Heart-warming Story of 'Fearless Freddie' Lorenzen Unfolds at Elmhurst Historical Museum

"The more we found out about Fred’s life and career, the more we knew this was an important story for us to bring to the public,” Curator Lance Tawzer said. Opening reception is Thursday, Jan. 31.

When you hear the list of accomplishments achieved by Elmhurst native “Fearless Freddie” Lorenzen, it’s hard to imagine that his story has remained under the radar: A new exhibit at the Elmhurst Historical Museum, “On the Road to Glory: Fred Lorenzen,” brings to light the story of Lorenzen, a York High School graduate who become one of early NASCAR’s prominent drivers and a long-time fan favorite. The exhibit, which opens Feb. 1 and runs through May 19 at EHM, traces the route of a fast-driving local kid who blazed a trail into the annals of NASCAR history as the growing sport emerged on the national scene in the 1960s. The exhibit is supported by the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet and the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation. Local Kid Drives his…

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About Town

Elmhurst Historical Museum Links Past, Present

The Elmhurst Historical Museum hosts many programs each year, including gallery tours, craft demonstrations, classroom visits, walking tours of Elmhurst neighborhoods, holiday programs, lectures, and symposia.

Editor's Note: Join us as we profile prominent places in town that are unique to Elmhurst. First up: Elmhurst Historical Museum. If a bit of culture is what you crave, head to the Elmhurst Historical Museum. Housed in the Glos Mansion at 120 E Park Ave., the museum provides a permanent exhibit chronicling Elmhurst's modernization, as well as many temporary and traveling exhibits. The collection includes more than 15,000 artifacts, such as letters, historic photos, books and other items. Annually, the museum hosts a bevy of programs, including gallery tours, craft demonstrations, classroom visits, walking tours of Elmhurst neighborhoods, holiday programs, lectures, and symposia. The museum's exhibits include a permanent award-winning …

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In Case You Missed it Saturday Night, Check Out Elmhurst Historical Museum on ABC

ABC gives Sweet Home Chicago exhibit a spot on the 10 p.m. news.

ABC-TV Crew Checks Out Elmhurst Historical Museum's Delicious Exhibit

Sweet Home Chicago continues to draw attention across the Chicago area.

Since the 1800s, Chicago has been the sweet spot for candy production, including such household names as Snickers, Tootsie Roll, Butterfinger and Cracker Jack. And on Wednesday, local ABC-TV weekend news anchor Karen Jordan brought a film crew to Elmhurst to get a closer look at that proud history. On Wednesday, July 25, Jordan toured the Sweet Home Chicago exhibit at Elmhurst Historical Museum. She interviewed Elmhurst Historical Museum's curator of exhibits Lance Tawzer, along with several young museum enthusiasts who were happy to demonstrate the hands-on elements of the exhibit, like the Twisted Candy Challenge.  The segment is set to air during the 10 p.m. newscast Saturday, July 28, on Channel 7. The exhibit runs through Sept. 30 at …

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Sweet Home Chicago Unwraps Chicago’s Candy-making History

You won't want to miss this delicious summer exhibit at Elmhurst Historical Museum beginning May 11.

Chicago has been called America's candy capital since the late 1800s, and for much of its history, a third of all candies made in the United States were made here. Iconic candy names like Snickers, Butterfingers, Wrigley, Tootsie Rolls, Lemonheads, Cracker Jack and many more have all been produced in the Chicago area over the last century.   So how and why did so many candy makers come to craft their delicious confections in Chicago?  Visitors to the Elmhurst Historical Museum, 120 East Park Ave., will find out at the new exhibit, Sweet Home Chicago: The History of America’s Candy Capital, May 11 through Sept. 30.   From Corner Shops to Factories From mom-and-pop shops on neighborhood corners to huge factories churning out sweets by the …

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