.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpg)
Donald E. Stephens, Rosemont's Founding Mayor, has a permanent seat at the new Rosemont History Museum
What better way to tell the story of a town than by letting its founder tell it himself?
Opening August 18, 2026, the new Donald E. Stephens Rosemont History Museum will take visitors through 70 years of Rosemont history, from its humble beginnings to its transformation into a major destination for entertainment, tourism and business.
At the heart of the 4,300-square-foot museum is an experience that takes historical storytelling a step beyond traditional exhibits: a lifelike, talking animatronic version of Rosemont’s founding mayor, Donald E. Stephens.
Sally Dark Rides used a combination of advanced pneumatic engineering, sculpting and AI-assisted voice recognition to recreate the Illinois icon. The character is designed to motion activate as guests enter a recreation of Stephens’ office, creating the feeling of an unexpected encounter with the man who helped shape Rosemont.
Rather than relying solely on photographs, artifacts and text panels, the experience puts a recognizable personality at the center of the story. The figure draws from archival recordings, including a 2005 speech Stephens delivered to the City Club of Chicago and one of his final interviews, helping recreate not only his appearance but also his voice and manner of speaking.
The animatronic mayor is just one element of a museum designed around interactive storytelling. Visitors can explore a visual timeline, experience a simulated flight through Rosemont’s history, interact with multimedia exhibits and learn about landmarks including Allstate Arena, Rosemont Theatre and Parkway Bank Park.
For Rosemont, the result is more than a collection of historical artifacts. It is an opportunity to turn local history into an experience—using technology, physical environments and character-driven storytelling to give visitors a chance to encounter the past rather than simply read about it.
The Donald E. Stephens Rosemont History Museum opens to the public August 18 at Rosemont Village Hall. Admission is free.
