Pioneer Cemetery

I have come across several Pioneer cemeteries in the area that are now being maintained quite well. They as other cemeteries have had their share of vandals and necromancers.  Please be respectful.  To me and others they hold a lot of information as well as the remains of family members.  This one as many cemeteries is claimed to be haunted.  Be respectful please and remember it is locked for a reason.

Bess Bower Dunn Museum

I visited the Bess Bower Dunn Museum and was very happy with the new museum that has taken the place of the Lake County Discovery Museum that was in Wauconda.  It's definitely worth the visit.  Here are some pictures.  There is plenty more to see.

Chicago Cultural Center

The Chicago Cultural Center was completed in 1897 as Chicago's first central library.  It became a cultural center in 1991.  The landmark building is home to two fantastic stained-glass domes, art exhibits, performances, films, and more.  The Tiffany stained-glass dome is more well known.  When I went to visit, I asked to find the Tiffany dome but I was told by a lady that the dome on the 2nd floor was worth looking at even though it was less known.  I decided to check it out and to my surprise it was a dome room and ballroom dedicated to the Union Soldiers of the Civil War.  I was silent when I realized this because I am researching this time period extensively and had no idea what I was going to find upon my visit.  If I had not asked for directions to the 3rd floor dome of this particular lady, I would never have visited the 2nd floor dome to take in its full beauty and meaning.  I was silenced as this is just one of the many synchronicities I am experiencing right now in my life.  This place is worth the visit.

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/chicago_culturalcenter.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Army_of_the_Republic

"The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army (United States Army), Union Navy (U.S. Navy), Marines and the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service who served in the American Civil War. Founded in 1866 in Decatur, Illinois, and growing to include hundreds of posts (local community units) across the nation (predominately in the North, but also a few in the South and West), it was dissolved in 1956 at the death of its last member, Albert Woolson (1850–1956) of Duluth, Minnesota. Linking men through their experience of the war, the G.A.R. became among the first organized advocacy groups in American politics, supporting voting rights for black veterans, promoting patriotic education, helping to make Memorial Day a national holiday, lobbying the United States Congress to establish regular veterans' pensions, and supporting Republican political candidates. Its peak membership, at more than 490,000, was in 1890, a high point of various Civil War commemorative and monument dedication ceremonies. It was succeeded by the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW), composed of male descendants of Union Army and Union Navy veterans." - Wikipedia

The Grand Army of the Republic badge. Authorized by the U.S. Congress to be worn on the uniform by Union Army veterans.  CC BY-SA 3.0 by Parsa

Reverse of the Grand Army of the Republic Badge.

My photos from the Chicago Cultural Center (2nd floor dome - GAR Memorial Hall)

Chicago International Museum of Surgical Science

This museum opened up to the public on September 9, 1954.  It was the result of the work of Dr. Max Thorek who founded the International College of Surgeons (ICS) in 1935.  The museum was originally designed as a repository for the growing collection of historical surgical instrumentation, art, and books.  Dr. Max Thorek was also an internationally acclaimed amateur photographer and author of several books.

This museum is housed in an old mansion that was owned by Eleanor Robinson Countiss to house her family.  Her father JK Robinson was an executive at the Diamond Match Company and he provided the home building fund for her.  The building was acquired by Dr. Max Thorek and the International College of Surgeons.

There are many interesting displays inside the museum that are definitely worth the look.  A cab ride can be taken from the Ogilve or Union Station (about 15 minutes in light traffic) to visit.  Of particular interest to me were the trephined skulls from Peru.  

It is my opinion (all though not stated in the display at the museum) that these skulls had some sort of alteration done to them before trephination such as head binding and possibly some cradleboard effects.   This is a subject that I am studying on my own and hope to correlate and explain at some time in the future.  

Here are some photos from the museum:

https://imss.org/

https://www.ancient.eu/Trephination/

Palatine Historical Society

George Clayson House

The Palatine Historical Society has put together an absolutely fantastic display in this pioneer home from 1873.  Inside are many interesting things including a civil war letter from a soldier that is translated for the public and is an absolute tear jerker.  This house also features an archive/library for public use.  It is well worth the visit.  The house is also said to be haunted and was investigated by several paranormal investigators.  Next door is a museum for the pioneer firehouse.

http://palatinehistoricalsociety.com/clayson-house/