Dave Oberg, Elmhurst History Museum Executive Director

The history of a town plays a key role in the way a municipality evolves and the identity for which it comes to be known. Keeping track of our local history for us, while presenting it in meaningful ways, is Elmhurst History Museum Director (EHM), Dave Oberg.

“We have a terrific team here, and I like to say that Elmhurst History Museum punches well above its weight,” Oberg knows. “It’s all made possible by a strong staff, including our volunteers, along with the support of the City of Elmhurst and our dedicated non-profit fundraising arm, the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation. We are lucky to have such a supportive array of people working together to help us reach residents and visitors from all over the Chicagoland area.”

While November will mark eight years at EHM, Oberg’s personal history began in the Rockford area, where he grew up and later worked in museums for the first half of his thus-far 36-year career. He also served stints as the Executive Director of the Geneva History Museum and later the Grayslake Heritage Center & Museum before coming to town in 2017.

While local history has been the primary focus of Oberg’s career, his scope is bigger than his practice. His first love has always been the American Civil War, largely because of a personal connection to it. “My great-great-grandfather, Pehr Alfrid Oberg, was a Swedish immigrant who fought for the North with Battery H, First Illinois Light Artillery, under the command of Axel Silfversparre, a Swedish viscount who assembled a largely Swedish battery during the war.”

Other areas of special interest include World War II, the French Revolution and Napoleonic era, Russian and Soviet history, as well as ancient civilizations such as Rome and Greece.

Oberg holds dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in History and Political Science from Rockford University and a Master of History, with a specialization in Museum Studies from Northern Illinois University.

Oberg and the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation invite you to come out to the tenth annual Craft Beer Festival, held on the museum grounds. The event features craft beers, ciders, meads, and hard seltzers from over 50 craft beer breweries, plus food and live music. The event attracts more than a thousand visitors each year. All proceeds underwrite future exhibitions, programs, and events at the Elmhurst History Museum and Churchville One-Room Schoolhouse.