The Ridge Historical Society is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1971 to preserve and promote the history of the Chicago neighborhoods of Beverly Hills, Morgan Park and Washington Heights.

The area now has four recognized municipal and national historic districts, including the Ridge Historic District, one of the largest urban districts on the National Register of Historic Places

• Longwood Drive District
• Walter Burley Griffin Place
• Rock Island Train Station District

RHS GARAGE SALE, AT RHS. - Saturday and Sunday, October 3 and 4, 2009

- Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

- Sunday , 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Donations of items welcome! Call RHS at 773-881-1675.

Ellen Skerrett, social historian and author, will present a program on the History of Chicago Neighborhoods on Saturday, October 10, 2009, at 1 p.m., at the Ridge Historical Society located at 10621 South Seeley. 

The program is hosted by the Dewalt Mechlin Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution and is free of charge to the public. "  

Call Marge Daley of Dewalt Mechlin at 708/422-7914 for reservations

Joan Schechner – “Reflections of a WWII Army Nurse”

-Saturday, November 14, 2009, 1:00 p.m., at RHS, hosted by the Dewalt Mechlin Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, free of charge to the public:

Joan was in the Army Nurse Corp., in the Pacific, including Saipan, Iwo Jima and other locations. Since Congress established a permanent Nurse Corps in 1901, members have provided high-quality nursing care to soldiers, their families, and retired military and their dependents in time of peace and war. Joan will share her experiences, a first-hand account of the proud heritage of the Corps.

CALL LENORE GOODFRIEND OF DEWALT MECHLIN AT 708-423-6498 FOR RESERVATIONS!

Coming in Fall 2009: A program on the Dixie Highway, by James R. Wright, author of the new book, The Dixie Highway in Illinois.

Date TBD – watch for an announcement.

The Dixie Highway was once a main thoroughfare from Chicago to Miami, and was the longest continuous paved road in Illinois when it was completed in 1921. It ran through the Beverly/Morgan Park community on what is now Western Avenue. Through a slide presentation, including old photographs from RHS, Mr. Wright will explore this historic highway and the communities it passes through.

Before and After: How Buildings Change Over Time
The majority of "before" pictures are photocopies of postcards that are part of a collection at the Chicago Historical Society. The "after" photographs are part of a long-term project to document the architecture of the community. Take a look and see if your house is in this photo album.

The 111th St. Train Station Rehabilitation
Take a look at the project from start to finish in this photo review.

Architectural Resource Center
Start the process of researching your home's history on our website and learn where to find additional resources.

Street Cars of Beverly Hills/Morgan Park
A short photo essay of the long-gone era of streetcars in our neighborhood.

The Vincennes Trail
The development of what was once an Indian trail into a pioneer "superhighway".

RHS Photo Album
Take a nostalgic tour of our community's history with our photo album. Visit the people and places from our past. To view the photo album requires Macromedia Flash 6 Player. For a free download, please select Download Flash 6 player to view . Follow the instructions on the Macromedia website.

Local Legend Debunked
Was Beverly Hills, California named after Beverly Hills in Chicago?

Ice & Water: Chicago Before Our Time
Geological history of the Ridge area.

Local Indian Lore
Indian prehistory of the area.

Morgan Family Initiatives Launched Community
A look at the influence of a pioneer family.

Illinois and the Glaciers
A brief synopsis of glacial activity in Illinois that is part of the underpinning of the Ridge geography.

Glacial Debris
How glaciers created "moraines".

Beverly Hills/Morgan Park Architecture
A compendium of articles on local architecture by Harold T. Wolff.