Join Interpretive Curator Emma Marston for the next in our popular Hands-On History series for children ages 5-12. "Digging Up History" celebrates 200 years of dinosaur hunting with a mini archeological dig at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 4 & 8. Registration required.

Interpretive Curator Emma Marston (left) leads students in the technique of Turkish Ebru - a way of marbling paper with color can produce patterns similar to smooth marble or other kinds of stone.

With fall sports underway, here's a team from Des Plaines' past - the Suburban Athletic Club football team, circa 1910 #throwbackthursday #tbt

The "Des Plaines Faculty" of 1899-1900 posed for this group photo sometime during the school year. The group likely taught at old North School, located on River Road between Perry and Jefferson Streets. #throwbackthursday #tbt

Kids of all ages enjoyed this train ride at 1986's Lake Park Fest. This weekend, Lake Park is home to @fallfestdp! Stop by the History Center tent on Sat. & Sun. 12-5 for crafts, visit with reenactors, and gift shop favorites! #throwbackthursday #tbt

The Bennett sisters, Grace, Alice, and Hester, posed for this photo in September 1901. Missing from this sibling photo is their brother Harry, who served as Mayor of Des Plaines in the 1920s. #ThrowbackThursday #TBT

A sunny view of Everett Street, looking to the east, August 2000. #throwbackthursday #tbt

Hands-on History for Kids returns next week! Registration will be required to attend “Printing the Past” and for all Hands-on History for Kids programs moving forward. To register, please call 847-391-5399 or email contact@desplaineshistory.org.

During the early 1950s Frontier Days Festival, a tongue in cheek “law” outlawed shaving for the length of the festival. Those caught beardless by the “sheriff” were sentenced to a dunk in this water trough or had to pay a fine to the Community Chest. #throwbackthursday #tbt

Come and turn plastic waste into beautiful flowers at the History Center this Sunday, August 27, 1-4pm! The Des Plaines Art Guild will guide you through the process. Leave your creation with us to be displayed on the Kinder House grounds this Fall!

The Des Plaines Elks Club band posed for this photo in August 1931. #throwbackthursday #tbt

NEW VIDEO! Thank you to everyone who came out last Thursday for our Coffee Talk on "Three Frenchmen & A Goat: The DeMoulin Bros. Story." If you missed it, you can watch it now here: youtu.be/8KThGr56Zkk

Join us tomorrow from 11am - 2pm for Pies on the Porch! After a slice of pie, stop by the @DPPL and enjoy the Draw Des Plaines chalk event hosted by the Des Plaines Arts Council. You can also bring your sensitive documents to be shredded for FREE at Village Bank & Trust.

August is both a month of the year and a popular first name in Des Plaines history. Among the many Augusts who called this city home was August Mensching, photographed with wife Ida Hahnfeldt. August and Ida lived at 1370 Oakwood Ave for many years. #throwbackthursday #tbt

Join us this Thursday, August 10th at 1:30pm for a Coffee Talk on “Three Frenchmen & A Goat: The DeMoulin Bros. Story." Presented as part of the Illinois Humanities Road Scholars Bureau and free thanks to our sponsors: Village Bank & Trust and Kiwanis Club of Des Plaines.

NEW VIDEO! Curator of Collections Siobhan Heraty introduces an exciting new piece in our collections: Des Plaines musician Doris Stockton's traveling marimba. Now on display throughout August 2023. youtu.be/r9kY1G059Qk

Children play at Terrace Park in August 1965 #throwbackthursday #tbt

Fishermen on the Des Plaines River in the late 1930s, as viewed from the banks near the Stanek residence at 1483 River Rd. #throwbackthursday #tbt

NEW VIDEO! Ever wonder where the name "Des Plaines" came from? youtu.be/WcKFkpo3dfY

Are you taking a road trip this summer? In 1972, Des Plaines National Bank raffled off a trip in this Winnebago RV or a week in Spain for two as the grand prize in their 15th anniversary celebration. Edward Drolet & George Butrym are standing with the RV. #throwbackthursday #tbt