Find local history gift items at the museum. Whether it is a line of historic ornaments, a museum publication, or a matted photograph, the museum features unique gifts.
For purchase information and a complete list of available items, call the City Museum at (630) 231-3376 or e-mail museum@westchicago.org.
Pioneer Locomotive Ornament for 2014
The Museum’s latest ornament has arrived. Stop by and pick up the Pioneer Locomotive, a reissue for 2014 in color! This was the first locomotive used by the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad which began operating west from Chicago in October of 1848. Tracks reached what would become known as Junction (now West Chicago) in November of 1849. A year later, the newly created Aurora Branch Railroad borrowed the 10-ton engine to run its cars from Junction to Aurora. The Pioneer was a second-hand Baldwin engine which remained in regular service until 1858, pulling a maximum load of seven cars. Since 1972, the Pioneer has been on exhibit at the Chicago History Museum.
