After closing its downtown location last year, a Chicago cultural landmark is set to make a celebrated comeback. The Chicago Museum of Broadcast Communications, one of the nation’s few institutions dedicated to preserving the history of television and radio, is reopening with a new pop-up space in the city’s West Loop. The museum, which had been closed since 2023 following more than four decades of operation, will welcome visitors once again starting this week.
The new pop-up location, at 440 West Randolph Street, will officially open its doors with a special grand opening preview event on Thursday, followed by a full public opening on Friday. The museum’s leadership describes the move as part of a revitalized vision to keep Chicago’s broadcast legacy alive while celebrating the icons who helped shape entertainment history.
The centerpiece of the reopening will be a major new exhibition, “Johnny Carson: The Centennial,” honoring what would have been the 100th birthday of the legendary late-night television host. Carson, who hosted The Tonight Show for three decades, remains one of the most influential figures in American entertainment, having defined the tone and format of late-night television for generations that followed.
“Johnny Carson was more than a host—he was a national institution whose humor and curiosity united Americans for three decades,” said David Plier, chairman, president, and CEO of the Museum of Broadcast Communications. “This exhibit is a rare opportunity to celebrate a career that helped shape American culture.”
According to museum officials, the Johnny Carson exhibit will showcase an array of rare artifacts from the museum’s collection, including memorabilia, production materials, and broadcast footage from Carson’s storied career. Many of the items on display have been loaned from the Johnny Carson Gallery at the Elkhorn Valley Museum in Norfolk, Nebraska, Carson’s hometown. Together, these pieces will provide an intimate glimpse into the life and work of one of television’s most enduring personalities.
Beyond the Carson exhibit, the museum’s reopening will feature additional displays designed to celebrate television’s evolution and Chicago’s own broadcasting heritage. A new interactive experience, “The Evolution of Late Night Television,” will debut alongside the Carson exhibit, exploring how the genre has changed from the early days of variety shows to today’s lineup of hosts.
The museum is also marking several notable anniversaries in entertainment history. Among them is a tribute to the 50th anniversary of WLUP-FM, better known to Chicago audiences as “The Loop,” a legendary rock station that defined a generation of local radio. Visitors can also look forward to a nostalgic salute to the 60th anniversary of the beloved sitcom I Dream of Jeannie, a series that became a pop-culture staple in the 1960s and continues to hold a place in television history.
The grand opening preview event will blend nostalgia with celebration, offering guests a mix of entertainment and Chicago flavor. Tickets include a curated “Taste of Chicago” menu, along with specialty cocktails and live music designed to capture the city’s vibrant cultural spirit. Organizers say the evening will be both a tribute to broadcast excellence and a showcase of Chicago’s continuing role in shaping American media.
Tickets for the opening celebration start at $100 per person, with proceeds supporting the museum’s ongoing preservation and educational initiatives. Officials say that the pop-up space is just the beginning of a new chapter for the museum, which plans to expand its footprint and programming in the coming years.
The reopening represents more than a return to public viewing—it signals the resilience of one of Chicago’s key cultural institutions. Founded in 1987, the Museum of Broadcast Communications has long served as a guardian of the city’s broadcast legacy, highlighting the achievements of radio pioneers, television innovators, and entertainment icons. With its revival, the museum aims to reestablish its role as a dynamic hub for learning, exploration, and storytelling in the digital age.
As the lights come back on in its new West Loop home, the museum invites longtime fans and first-time visitors alike to rediscover the golden age of broadcasting—one laugh, one story, and one moment at a time.
