Blue center, red rim, and white text on laminated paper

Founded in 1947, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), is the mass transit for the city of Chicago and some of the surrounding suburbs.

This button was manufactured by the Busy Beaver Button Co.

Black graphic image of a CTA train on red background.

Button signifying the Red Line route for the CTA. Founded in 1947, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is the mass transit for the city of Chicago and some of the surrounding suburbs.

This button was manufactured by the Busy Beaver Button Co.

Black graphic image of a CTA train on blue background

Button signifying the Blue Line route for the CTA. Founded in 1947, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), is the mass transit for the city of Chicago and some of the surrounding suburbs.

This button was manufactured by the Busy Beaver Button Co.

Black text on a blue background with a white illustration of the Taj Mahal. "India: A Festival Of Science" arches over top half of button, "Museum of Science and Industry - Chicago"  in semi-circle on lower half of button.

This button is for an exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago that occurred in 1985 and highlighted India's accomplishments in mathematics, chemistry, physics, metallurgy, communications, and transportation.

Multi color illustrated button showing an Old Style beer can in the center of downtown Chicago landmarks. Red helicopter hovers next to beer can. Pink, blue and white clouds in background.

Old Style was first brewed in 1902 by the G. Heileman Brewing Company in La Crosse, Wisconsin, under the name Old Style Lager. The original Heileman's Old Style brewery in La Crosse is now owned by the City Brewing Company.

Brightly colored illustrated button with a graphic of the United States and a star signifying Chicago's location, with famous landmarks emanating from it. There is black text in a triangle on right side, and black text appears in band of red on lower quarter of button.

Chicago is known as 'the Windy City," although it is by far not the windiest city. The origin of the nickname is from its rivalry with Cincinnati in the 1870s. "Windy" is a term for being boastful and full of bluster and is often said to refer to Chicago politics not the weather conditions.

Purple background with white dinosaur skeleton and white text.

In 2000 The Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago acquired the most complete T-Rex skeleton ever found. The 67 million year old skeleton has drawn more than 16 million visitors in the last twelve years. The white graphic image on the button refers to Sue.

White background with red and black letters. Black, white, and red circles in the middle. Within circle is the image of a torch and the words "Espirito. Sport. Fraternite. America."

The 1959 Pan American Games were held at Chicago's Soldier Field where 40,000 came to watch athletes from the Americas compete in sports such as cycling, diving, basketball, baseball and even yachting (swimming was held at Portage Park's pool). Participating athletes lived in housing provided by the University of Chicago.

Silver foil button with black ink. Image of King Tut wearing aviator glasses.

Tuts was one of the first active punk clubs in Chicago, open from 1980-1984. Located on the corner of Belmont and Sheffield, Tuts routinely played some of the best and most active alternative, punk, and post-punk bands from around the nation. The more well-known location of Tuts (953 W. Belmont) was preceded by The Quiet Knight and replaced by The Avalon. 

Tuts photographer Howard Greenblatt published photos of blues legends Buddy Guy and Otis Clay, as well as local acts like Heavy Manners, Missing Persons, and Phil 'n' the Blanks, and touring big names of the era like Sun Ra, Richie Havens, Loudon Wainwright III, and the Romantics for an exhibit on Tuts that was available on Michigan Avenue in 2015.

The physical location as all three names over the years, Quiet Knight, Tuts, and Avalon, became a Chicago hot spot for entertainment featuring many well-known artists and bands that played there including Bob Marley, Tom Waits, R.E.M., Prince, Run D.M.C., The Cramps, Naked Raygun, Black Flag, Bauhaus, The Stray Cats, Psychedelic Furs, Echo and the Bunnymen, and The Smashing Pumpkins. Although Tuts was only there for a limited time, its presence in the area provided opportunities for music clubs to expand beyond only hosting popular music or top 40 music acts.

Blue and red lettering on white background. "Jesse Jackson" in blue on upper half, "'88" with red line on botton quarter of button.

Jesse Jackson's second attempt to run for the Democratic nomination for President was in 1988. Although he surpassed expectations, Dukakis won the Democratic ticket.