The Museum took home two 2026 awards for unique projects, including a photography book and documentary celebrating local history.
The Elmhurst History Museum, 120 E Park Ave., is honored to announce the museum received two 2026 Awards of Excellence from the Illinois Association of Museums (IAM) for recent productions. IAM presented awards for the Museum’s book, Snapshots: Elmhurst Now & Then, and a documentary, Elmhurst Foundations, celebrating the Museum’s growth and move into the Glos mansion in 1975, and the creation and evolution of the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation, the museum’s non-profit, fundraising arm.
Inspired by an original 2025 exhibit of the same name, Snapshots: Elmhurst Now & Then, created by Curator of Collections Dan Lund and Curator of Exhibits Sarah Cox, earned the Museum the Award of Excellence for Printed Materials. Utilizing the art of rephotography, also known as repeat photography, which entails photographing the same site at two different moments in time, the Museum used historic photographs from the Elmhurst History Museum (EHM) Archives and combined them with modern photographs taken from the same vantage point. The photographs, featuring iconic Elmhurst buildings, street views, parks, and more, were then merged, forming a single image celebrating parts of historic Elmhurst with the Elmhurst we know today. Snapshots: Elmhurst Now & Then is available for purchase at the EHM Gift Shop.
The Museum’s recent documentary, Elmhurst Foundations, created by Curator of Collections Dan Lund, with interviews conducted by Executive Director Dave Oberg, was honored with the Award of Excellence in Virtual Materials. The documentary was created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Museum’s move to Glos Mansion and explores the growth and evolution of the Elmhurst History Museum through the creation of the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation, the museum’s non-profit fundraising arm. The documentary can be viewed on the Museum’s YouTube.
“We’re extremely proud to have this work recognized by the Illinois Association of Museums,” said Dave Oberg, EHM Executive Director. “Our small but mighty team consistently looks for new channels to record and share the stories of our hometown. Snapshots: Elmhurst Now & Then and Elmhurst Foundations both live beyond the walls of the Museum, so we’re thrilled these projects may have an impact on our community for years to come.”
The Elmhurst History Museum is open to all ages and offers free admission. Current exhibitions include By All Accounts: The Story of Elmhurst (ongoing exhibit) and Anatomy of Healthcare: DuPage County Medical History, only open through May 3, 2026. The museum is open 1 – 5 p.m. Sunday & Tuesday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday, and closed Monday. For additional information on exhibits or programs, please visit www.elmhursthistory.org.
###
The Elmhurst History Museum is a department of the City of Elmhurst supported by the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization. The Museum is located at 120 E. Park Ave. in downtown Elmhurst. General admission is free. For more information, call 630-833-1457 or visit our website at elmhursthistory.org.