Christine LaFave Grace
Marketing & Communications Assistant, Wheaton Park District
630.510.4987 | [email protected]

September 4, 2024

WHEATON—Ever wondered about the inspiration behind Barbie, the most iconic of dolls? Or been curious about political muckraking and mudslinging in the days before television and social media? Or wanted to share memories of hangouts like Cock Robin, Scooby’s and Al’s Pizza with some of the people behind those local favorites?

This fall, the DuPage County Historical Museum offers the chance to explore these and more in several special events tied to the Museum’s new Instantly Iconic exhibits, which highlight DuPage County’s rich history of presidential encounters, iconic childhood toys and coming-of-age experiences.

On Saturday, Sept. 21, at 1 p.m., historian Leslie Goddard will delve into the history of Barbie, a much-loved, much-criticized and much-analyzed American icon, in “Barbie: The History of America’s Most Famous Doll.” Attendees will learn the inspiration behind Mattel’s 1959 Barbie, how Barbie helped make Mattel one of the world’s most successful toy companies and what Barbie’s impact has been on American culture. The Museum’s Before Barbie exhibit, which features dolls and toys that enjoyed widespread popularity before Barbie debuted, opens in September.

Goddard will return to the Museum on Tuesday, Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. to dive into the “officially undefined” role of First Lady of the United States and the different ways in which previous First Ladies have leaned into and shaped it. America’s presidential spouses have wielded great influence and been subject to intense public scrutiny. In “America’s First Ladies: The Best, the Worst, and the Strangely Forgotten,” Goddard will explore why some First Ladies were celebrated while others were vilified and what the future might hold for the role of presidential spouses.

Also complementing the Museum’s Presidential Encounters: U.S. Presidents in DuPage County exhibit, which opened in July, is “Mudslinging, Muckraking and Apple Pie: Presidential Campaigns, the Great American Pastime.” On Saturday, Oct. 12, at 1 p.m., Terry Lynch, co-owner of Histories for Kids, will offer this look at the mudslinging and muckraking tactics used in historical elections such as Jefferson v. Adams in 1800, Jackson v. Adams in 1828 and Lincoln v. Douglas in 1860. Participants will discover how political campaigns were sometimes even more cutthroat in the past.

Finally, on Thursday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m., go back in time with Culinary Historians of Northern Illinois member Bruce Kraig to chew on the history of hangouts like Cock Robin, Scooby’s and Al’s Pizza in “Iconic DuPage Diners and Hangouts.” Hear directly from those involved with all three of those favorite establishments as they share memories from behind the counter. The savory discussion is offered in conjunction with the Museum’s Extracurricular: High School Tradition and Culture in DuPage exhibit, which opened in June.

“What excites me most about these special programs and our Instantly Iconic exhibits is how they highlight the connection between people through these shared experiences and moments in time,” said Emily O’Brien, Museum Curator. “I get to relive their excitement as they remember their own high school stories or when they see an old doll that their grandmother had as a child. It’s history on a more-personal level, and that’s rewarding to me.”

All of the Museum’s Instantly Iconic events are free to the public and open to all ages; all will take place at the DuPage County Historical Museum, located at 102 E. Wesley St. in downtown Wheaton. All three exhibits and their programming are sponsored by the DuPage Foundation.

The DuPage County Historical Museum is operated as a facility of the Wheaton Park District, owned by the County of DuPage by resolution of the County Board pursuant to state statute. Its principal purposes are to educate the general public through the collection, preservation, interpretation, and exhibition of materials which document the history of DuPage County and its relationship to Illinois and the nation, and to provide local history services for historical organizations and for scholarly endeavors.

The Museum is free to the public and open Monday – Friday from 8:30A to 4:30P and on weekends from Noon to 4P.

Details about these upcoming exhibits and programming can be found on our events page.