Margie Muto
Director of Marketing, Wheaton Park District
630.510.4984 | [email protected]

WHEATON—In 2026, the DuPage County Historical Museum presented six exhibits and accompanying programs exploring how DuPage residents express, shape and identify themselves through military service, clothing, Muslim American culture, Black American heritage and broader cultural imagery. Together, these offerings bring the Museum’s 2026 theme, “DuPage Identified,” to life by examining the many experiences, traditions and stories that help define our community.

“DuPage Identified” began in January with Muslim American Heritage Month: Diverse DuPage Neighbors followed by Black Trailblazers in February. In June through September, other exhibits followed including Serving with Honor: DuPage County Veterans, Defining US: The 250th Anniversary of the United States, Route 66: The Mother Road & Iconic DuPage Firsts and Out of the Box: History from Head to Toe.

All of these exhibits were supported by History DuPage Fund of DuPage Foundation through the Arts DuPage grant program. The grant of $4,000 will be utilized for exhibit installation supplies, photograph reproductions, programming fees and labels for the exhibits.

“Thanks to the generosity of the Arts DuPage grant program, we have been able to expand our exhibits this year and create more engaging and visually interesting experiences for our visitors. I’m excited to see our visitors’ reactions to the exhibits and see the different ways in which they are able to see themselves represented. The funding from this grant has allowed us to bring these stories to life in new ways end explore the many people, experiences and traditions that make DuPage County unique, and I think that’s something our visitors are really going to enjoy,” said Emily O’Brien, museum curator.

• Countdown to 250: Celebrating our Freedom | September 30
• DIY Creative Crafting: Accessories | October 10
• Veteran Panel: Women’s Experiences | November 5