As early as 1854, the Scandinavian community in Chicago and its environs had burgeoned to such an extent that it necessitated the establishment of a Swedish-Norwegian vice consulate in the area.

The initial appointee to this position was Polycarpus von Schneidau, succeeded in 1856 by his close associate, Pastor Gustaf Unonius of the Ansgarins Church.

[1] Particular consideration had been given to the fact that Chicago was considered the center for the inland areas of the United States where Swedes had settled in the largest numbers.

The first consul under this designation was Carl Gösta Puke, who assumed office in January 1914, marking the conclusion of Lindgren's and Henschen's terms.

[6] In late 1992, multiple Swedish embassies and consulates were slated for closure as part of severe budget cuts, with an announcement on January 11, 1993.

The proposal also addressed plans to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the great Swedish emigration in 1996, emphasizing the importance of maintaining strong transatlantic contacts before and during these events.

Although a fully staffed consulate general was not deemed necessary, the importance of having a person with a strong interest and sufficient resources to serve as a vital link between Sweden and Illinois was emphasized.

The motion also urged the government to plan for continued presence in Chicago before any decisions regarding the closure of the consulate general were made.

[10] Since 2019, the executive director of the Swedish American Museum, Karin Moen Abercrombie, serves as the honorary consul of Sweden in Chicago.

The effort to spread awareness about Sweden and Swedish culture, both spiritual and material, came to play a subordinate role until the autumn of 1940 and depended on the personal initiative and workload of the respective consul.

[2] From at least 1969 to 1975, the district, in addition to the city of Chicago, included the states of Illinois, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wyoming.

[13][14] In 1976, responsibility for the states of Arkansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Tennessee was transferred from the Consulate General of Sweden, Houston, which was now vacant.

[32][33] In 1987, the consulate general moved to the newly built Crain Communications Building at 150 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 1250, in downtown Chicago.

[20] The honorary consulate that opened instead has operated at the same address until February 2024 when it moved to 5211 North Clark Street and the Swedish American Museum in the Andersonville Commercial Historic District.