Highwood may be small, but its history is anything but quiet. Join us at Mojo's Vinyl Bar, one of Highwood's hidden gems, where thousands of records line the walls and guests help choose the soundtrack for the evening.

In this lively, story-driven lecture, Dr. John J. Murphy explores how Highwood developed in the shadow of Chicago's explosive growth while carving out a fiercely distinct identity of its own. From railroads and Fort Sheridan to immigrant communities, taverns, restaurants, and the town's reputation as the North Shore's liveliest outlier, this talk asks a deceptively simple question: How did Highwood become Highwood?

Discover how Chicago's industrial power, labor unrest, military planning, transportation networks, and suburban expansion shaped this compact city just up the lakefront. The result is a story of class, immigration, soldiers, saloons, food, identity, and the making of a community that has always been connected to Chicago and its North Shore neighbors... and rivals.

Enjoy a welcome drink, light bites, and an evening where, just as every record has a story, so does every community. There's no better place to discover Highwood's story than surrounded by the music, memories, and conversation that have made Mojo's Vinyl Bar a favorite gathering place for those lucky enough to discover it.