Chicago Sacred: Preserving and Sharing Religious Histories

This session discusses the role of religion in shaping Chicago’s history through initiatives at the Chicago History Museum (CHM). CHM explores intersections of religious expression and everyday life through a commitment to collaborative, inclusive, and community-centered storytelling. This provides countless opportunities for bringing religion and spirituality into conversation within research, exhibitions, and programming. Founded in 1856, CHM is the city’s oldest cultural institution and serves as a center for documenting and sharing its historic evolution. Its mission is to share Chicago stories, serving as a hub of scholarship and learning, inspiration, and civic engagement. As Curator of Religion and Community History, Coffman explores the central role of religion in shaping Chicago’s history and culture.