Bally Blacksmith Summer Hours Announcement

Did you know that the Bally Blacksmith Metal Shop is one of the few original blacksmith shops in the entire state? Since 1911, it has been a staple of Cook County on what is now Broadway Avenue, from the era of horse-drawn vehicles, lumber camps, to the rise of modern tourism.

The Cook County Historical Society is thrilled to announce that, due in part to the generous support of our members and donors, this summer, the Bally Blacksmith Metal Shop will be staffed and open for regular weekend hours. Additionally, we are in the works to host three live blacksmithing demos throughout the season - dates to come.

However, before that can happen, we need your help!

We are looking for a team of volunteers to help us "prep" the shop by doing tasks such as cataloging and organizing the various tools and objects within the shop, researching stories to share with visitors, and assisting with exhibit organization to ensure the shop tells a clear story of our past in the best way possible.

If you are interested in assisting, please reach out to us at history@boreal.org, and reference “Bally Blacksmith Shop” in the subject.