List of museums in Illinois

Last updated • 2 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

This list of museums in Illinois contains museums which are defined for this context as institutions (including nonprofit organizations, government entities, and private businesses) that collect and care for objects of cultural, artistic, scientific, or historical interest and make their collections or related exhibits available for public viewing. Also included are non-profit and university art galleries. Museums that exist only in cyberspace (i.e., virtual museums) are not included.

Contents

Museums

Maryville Heritage MuseumMaryvilleMadisonWest CentralLocal HistoryLocal artifacts covering Village's coal mining, farming, baseball & softball history. Firefighters, police & military memorabilia. Restored 1968 Seagrave FiretruckWebsite Maryvilleilmuseum.com
1930s Preserving Agriculture Museum Quincy AdamsWesternAgricultureJohn Deere agriculture machinery that would have been found on a farm in the Midwest during the 1930s, open by appointment [1] [2]
A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum Chicago Cook Chicago area African AmericanContributions made by Black Americans to America's labor history Homepage
Abraham Lincoln Long Nine Museum Athens Menard Central Historic siteAudio narrated diorama tour telling about Abraham Lincoln and the selection of Springfield as the state capital in the late 1830s
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Springfield SangamonCentralBiographicalLife of the 16th U.S. President, Abraham Lincoln, and the course of the American Civil War
Addison Historical Museum Addison DuPageChicago areaLocal historyOperated by the Addison Historical Society Homepage
Adler Planetarium ChicagoCookChicago areaScience
African American Hall of Fame Museum PeoriaPeoriaCentralAfrican AmericanLocated in the John C. Proctor Recreation Center
African American Museum of Southern Illinois Carbondale JacksonSouthernAfrican AmericanLocated in University Mall [3]
Air Classics Museum of Aviation Sugar Grove Kane Northern Illinois AviationAircraft, vehicles, uniforms and aviation memorabilia from the 1930s to the present, located at Aurora Municipal Airport website
Air Combat Museum SpringfieldSangamonCentralAviationHistoric combat aircraft Homepage
Alexis Museum Alexis Warren Quad Cities Local history [4]
All Wars Museum Quincy AdamsWesternMilitaryLocated on the grounds of the Illinois Veterans Home, displays military artifacts from the Revolutionary War to the present website
Altamont Living Museum Altamont EffinghamCentralEntertainment1912 former church, hosts live music and dance performances, as well as fine art exhibits [5]
Alton Museum of History and Art Alton Madison Metro-East Local historyExhibits include world's tallest man Robert Pershing Wadlow, Piasa Bird, Lincoln–Douglas debate, American Civil War, and changing art exhibits
Amboy Depot Museum Amboy LeeNorthern IllinoisRailroadHistory of Amboy and the Illinois Central Railroad
American Farm Heritage Museum Greenville BondSouthernAgricultureIncludes tractors and farm machinery Homepage
American Fluorite Museum Rosiclare HardinSouthernMiningExhibits on fluorspar mining industry, fluorite ore specimens, mining paraphernalia and photographs [6]
American Movie Palace Museum Elmhurst DuPageChicago areaEntertainmentOperated by the Theatre Historical Society of America, objects from the era of the great movie palaces in the U.S. [7]
American Toby Jug Museum Evanston CookChicago areaDecorative art Toby jug and character jug collection Homepage
Anderson Mansion Museum Carlinville MacoupinCentralOpen airOperated by the Macoupin County Historical Society, includes Victorian house with period displays, schoolhouse and print shop
Andover Historical Museum Andover HenryWesternLocal history [8]
Ansel B. Cook House Libertyville LakeChicago areaHistoric houseVictorian-period house, operated by the Libertyville-Mundelein Historical Society
Aplington House Polo OgleNorthern IllinoisHistoric houseOperated by the Polo Historical Society
Apple River Fort State Historic Site Elizabeth Jo DaviessNorthern IllinoisLivingRecreated 1830s fort
Arlington Heights Historical Museum Arlington Heights CookChicago areaOpen airIncludes 1882 Victorian Muller House, coach house, 1906 soda pop factory, 1908 Banta house and a replica 1830s log cabin
Art Center Highland Park Highland Park LakeChicago areaArtNot-for-profit contemporary visual arts organization Homepage
Art Institute of Chicago ChicagoCookChicago areaArt
Arts Club of Chicago ChicagoCookChicago areaArtChanging exhibits of cutting edge and avant-garde art
Atlanta Museum Atlanta LoganCentralLocal history Homepage
Atkinson Historical Society Museum Atkinson HenryWesternLocal history [9]
Atkinson-Peek House Moline Rock IslandQuad CitiesHistoric houseOperated by the Rock Island County Historical Society, early 20th-century period house and adjacent Carriage House Museum Homepage
Augustana Teaching Museum of Art Rock Island Rock IslandQuad CitiesArtPart of Augustana College Homepage
Aurora Regional Fire Museum Aurora KaneChicago areaFirefighting
B&B National Toy Museum Cambridge HenryWesternToy1890 house with advanced engineering [10] [11]
Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture ChicagoCookChicago areaCultural Lithuanian history, culture and art
Banwarth House & MuseumElizabethJo DaviessNorthern IllinoisHistoric house1876 Victorian period house, operated by the Planetary Studies Foundation Homepage
Barrington History Museum Barrington CookChicago areaLocal historyLocated in Old Barrington Center, operated by the Barrington Historical Society Homepage
Bartlett Depot Museum Bartlett CookChicago areaRailroad Homepage
Bartlett History MuseumBartlettCookChicago areaLocal historyLocated in Village Hall Homepage
Batavia Depot Museum Batavia KaneNorthern IllinoisRailroadOperated by the Batavia Historical Society
Beall Mansion AltonMadisonMetro-EastHistoric houseTurn-of-the-20th-century mansion designed by world-famous architect, Lucas Pfeifenberger, former residence of Senator Edmond Beall, politician and industrialist, tours by appointment Homepage
Beardstown Historical Museum Beardstown CassWesternLocal historyLocated in the courthouse with the Old Lincoln Courtroom, collection includes guns, Civil War memorabilia, and Native American artifacts. Homepage
Beith House Museum St. Charles KaneNorthern IllinoisHistoric houseMid-19th-century house, operated by the Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley
Belgian Museum of the Quad CitiesMolineRock IslandQuad CitiesEthnicAlso known as the Center for Belgian Culture Homepage
Beller Museum Romeoville WillChicago areaAutomotiveOpen by appointment. Displays cars, trucks and memorabilia Homepage
Belvedere Mansion GalenaJo DaviessNorthern IllinoisHistoric house1857 mansion and gardens Homepage
Ben Winter MuseumAltamontEffinghamCentralTechnologyAntique steam engines [12]
Benjamin Stephenson House Edwardsville MadisonMetro-EastHistoric houseRestored 1820s period house
Bethalto Historical Museum Bethalto MadisonMetro-EastLocal historyLocated in the former Village Hall
Bethel School Friends Creek Township MaconCentralSchoolOperated by the Macon County Conservation District, 1890 one-room schoolhouse [13]
Big Rock Historical Society Crib Museum Big Rock KaneChicago areaLocal history Homepage
Billy Barnhart Museum Oregon OgleNorthern IllinoisCommodityCollection includes vintage toys, collectibles, sleighs, farm equipment, and other relics of the past [14]
Billy Graham Center Museum Wheaton DuPageChicago areaReligiousHistory of Christian evangelism in the United States, Billy Graham, missions and Christian themes
Birks Museum Decatur MaconCentralDecorative artsPart of Millikin University in Gorin Hall Homepage
Bishop Hill State Historic Site Bishop Hill HenryWesternOpen airSite of a former Utopian community
Blackberry Farm Museum Aurora KaneChicago areaLivingFive museums including the Carriage House, the Farm Museum, the Early Streets Museum and the Huntoon House, Victorian era Homepage
Blackwell History of Education Museum DeKalb DeKalbNorthern IllinoisHistoryPart of Northern Illinois University. Exhibits concern the history of American education, including a replica one-room schoolhouse Homepage
Black Hawk State Historic Site Rock IslandRock IslandQuad CitiesNative AmericanIncludes John Hauberg Museum of Native American Life and Singing Bird Nature Center
Bloomingdale Park District Museum Bloomingdale DuPageChicago areaArtChanging local art exhibits Homepage
Blue Island Historical Museum Blue Island CookSouthernLocal historyOperated by the Blue Island Historical Society in the lower level of the Blue Island Public Library, illustrates the history of the Blue Island area from before the time of the city's founding in 1836. The society also operates the historic Albee House museum. Homepage
Boone County Historical Museum Belvidere BooneNorthern IllinoisLocal historyOperated by the Boone County Historical Society, includes 160-year-old log cabin, general store, bank, barbershop, one-room school displays Homepage
Bradley University GalleriesPeoriaPeoriaCentralArtHeuser Art Center Gallery, Hartmann Center Gallery, Student Project Space Homepage
Braidwood Area Historical Society Museum Braidwood WillChicago areaLocal history Homepage
Breaking the Prairie Museum Mendota LaSalleNorthern IllinoisAgricultureOperated by the Mendota Museum & Historical Society, focus on farm family life, equipment, livestock and faith [15] [16]
Bretton and Black Museum Hampton Rock IslandQuad CitiesLocal historyOperated by the Hampton Historical Society, restored 1849 store
Bronzeville Children's Museum ChicagoCookChicago areaChildren'sFocuses on the historical experiences of African-American children
Brunk Morgan Horse Museum Rochester SangamonCentralHistoric houseExhibits about George Brunk, breeder of the Morgan horse [17]
Bryant Cottage State Historic Site Bement PiattCentralHistoric houseMiddle-class mid-19th-century house Homepage
Bureau County Historical Society Museum Princeton BureauNorthern IllinoisHistoric houseMuseum occupies two adjacent homes, Clark-Norris Home and Newell-Bryant House Homepage
Burpee Museum of Natural History Rockford WinnebagoNorthern IllinoisNatural historyDinosaurs, fossils, geology, area Native Americans, wildlife of the Rock River Valley
Bushnell-Wheeler House South Beloit WinnebagoNorthern IllinoisLocal historyOperated by the South Beloit Historical Society Homepage
Butterworth Center MolineRock IslandQuad CitiesHistoric houseFeatures antique Venetian-style ceiling paintings, operated by the William Butterworth Foundation Homepage
Byron Museum of History Byron OgleNorthern IllinoisLocal history Homepage
Cahokia Courthouse State Historic Site Cahokia St. ClairMetro-EastHistoric siteReconstructed frontier courthouse
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site Collinsville St. ClairMetro-EastNative AmericanSite of an ancient American Indian city Homepage
Cairo Custom House Cairo AlexanderSouthernLocal historyIncludes exhibits about local African American heritage, USS Cairo (1861), prehistoric Native American artifacts
Calumet City Historical Society Museum Calumet City CookChicago areaLocal history Homepage
Camp Grant MuseumRockfordWinnebagoNorthern IllinoisMilitaryHistory of Camp Grant and local history Homepage
Cantigny WheatonDuPageChicago areaHistoric site1,000-acre (4.0 km2) estate with two museums: Robert R. McCormick Museum, a 1930s historic mansion with biographical exhibits, and the First Division Museum at Cantigny
Carl Sandburg State Historic Site Galesburg KnoxWesternBiographicalBoyhood home and museum about poet Carl Sandburg
Carnegie Museum Olney RichlandSouthernLocal historyOpen by appointment with the Richland Heritage Museum Foundation
Carthage Jail Carthage HancockCentralPrisonJail that was the location of the murder of Joseph Smith and his brother Hynum
Caterpillar Visitors CenterPeoriaPeoriaCentralIndustryHistory of Caterpillar Inc. and its earth-moving equipment Homepage
Catharine V. Yost House Museum Pontiac LivingstonCentralHistoric houseOpen by appointment, turn of the 20th-century period house [18]
Catlin Heritage Museum Catlin VermilionCentralLocal historyOperated by the Catlin Historical Society Homepage
Cedarhurst Center for the Arts Mt. Vernon JeffersonSouthernArtAmerican art, includes Mitchell Museum, Cedarhurst Sculpture Park, main gallery with changing exhibits
Cedarville Area Historical Society Museum Cedarville StephensonNorthern IllinoisLocal history Homepage
Center for American Archeology Kampsville CalhounCentralArcheologyPrehistory of the lower Illinois River Valley
Center for HistoryWheatonDuPageChicago areaLocal historyFormerly Wheaton History Center, currently seeking new location [19]
Central Wabash Archaeology Museum Robinson CrawfordSouthernArchaeologyArtifacts excavated in the area Homepage
Centralia Museum Centralia MarionSouthernLocal history Homepage
Cernan Earth and Space Center River Grove CookChicago areaAerospacePublic planetarium on the campus of Triton College, includes earth and space-related exhibits
Champaign County Historical Museum Champaign Champaign Champaign–Urbana metropolitan area Local historyIncludes quilts, clothing, toys, furniture, a general store, military items Homepage
Chana School Oregon OgleNorthern IllinoisSchool19th-century two-room schoolhouse
Chaplin Creek Village Franklin Grove LeeNorthern IllinoisOpen airOperated by the Franklin Grove Area Historical Society. Historical restoration depicting a mid-19th-century prairie settlement Homepage
Charles Gates Dawes House Museum EvanstonCookChicago areaHistoric houseAlso known as the Evanston History Center. The 1894 mansion in the French Chateaux style, designed by Henry Edwards-Ficken, features twenty-five rooms, six bedrooms, seven bathrooms and eleven fireplaces.
Charter Oak Schoolhouse Schuline RandolphSouthernSchoolOne-room schoolhouse, open for events
Chatham Railroad Museum Chatham SangamonCentralRailroad Homepage
Cherry Valley Historical Society Museum Cherry Valley WinnebagoNorthern IllinoisLocal history Homepage
Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design GalenaJo DaviessNorthern IllinoisArtArt of design in all areas of the discipline: architecture, industrial and product design, graphics and urban planning
Chicago Athenaeum's International Sculpture Park Schaumburg CookChicago areaArtOutdoor sculpture park on 20 acres (81,000 m2)
Chicago Children's Museum ChicagoCookChicago areaChildren'sLocated at Navy Pier
Chicago Cultural Center ChicagoCookChicago areaArtVisual art exhibitions and cultural performances
Chicago Design Museum ChicagoCookChicago areaDesignIndependently owned and operated
Chicago Great Western Railroad Depot Museum Elizabeth Jo DaviessNorthern IllinoisRailroadOperated by the Elizabeth Historical Society, includes N-scale, HO-scale, and G-scale model railroad layouts
Chicago History Museum ChicagoCookChicago areaLocal historyCity history and culture
Chicago Maritime Museum ChicagoCookChicago areaMaritimeMaritime history of Chicago and the Great Lakes Homepage
Chicago Sports Museum ChicagoCookChicago areaLocal historyChicago sports teams' memorabilia, athletes, interactive sports activities
Children's Discovery Museum Normal McLeanCentralChildren's Homepage
Children's Museum in Oak Lawn Oak Lawn CookChicago areaChildren's Homepage
Children's Museum of IllinoisDecaturMaconCentralChildren's Homepage
Children's Neighborhood Museum Round Lake LakeChicago areaChildren'sLocated in the Robert W. Rolek Community Center Homepage
Chinese-American Museum of Chicago ChicagoCookChicago areaEthnicChinese-American cultural heritage of the Midwest
Clark County Museum Marshall ClarkCentralLocal historyOperated by the Clark County Historical Society in the Manly-McCann House [20]
Clarke House Museum ChicagoCookChicago areaHistoric house1836 pre-Civil War Greek Revival house
Collinsville Historical Museum Collinsville MadisonMetro-EastLocal history Homepage
Colonel Davenport House Rock IslandRock IslandQuad CitiesHistoric house1833 mansion Homepage
Colonel Palmer House Crystal Lake McHenryNorthern IllinoisHistoric houseOperated by the Crystal Lake Historical Society
Crawford County Historical Society Museum Robinson CrawfordSouthernLocal history Homepage
Cuneo Museum Vernon Hills LakeChicago areaHistoric house1914 Mediterranean-style mansion with decorative arts and furnishings
Dana-Thomas House SpringfieldSangamonCentralHistoric housePrairie-style house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War MuseumSpringfieldSangamonCentralCivil WarCivil War artifacts including rifles, medals, photographs, currency, drums, uniforms, and letters from soldiers at the front Homepage
David Adler Music and Arts Center Libertyville LakeChicago areaArtInterprets the historic home of architect David Adler, hosts 7 exhibitions per year, ranging from juried exhibitions to group shows
David Davis Mansion Bloomington McLeanCentralHistoric house36-room Italianate villa mansion
David L. Pierce Art and History CenterAuroraKaneChicago areaMultipleLocal history and art, operated by the City of Aurora, exhibits by the Aurora Historical Society and the Aurora Public Art Commission [21]
David Strawn Art GalleryJacksonvilleMorganCentralArtOperated by the Art Association of Jacksonville, exhibits of local art Homepage
Deere-Wiman House MolineRock IslandQuad CitiesHistoric house1872 home of Charles Deere, operated by the William Butterworth Foundation Homepage
Deerfield Historic Village Deerfield LakeChicago areaOpen airOperated by the Deerfield Area Historical Society, includes 1837 log home, mid-19th-century farmhouse, one-room schoolhouse, 1900 kitchen, antique carriages and farm equipment Homepage
DePaul Art Museum ChicagoCookChicago areaArtPart of DePaul University on the Lincoln Park campus Homepage
Dewitt County Museum Clinton DewittCentralOpen airIncludes the C. H. Moore Homestead, telephone exhibit and farm museum
Dickson Mounds Museum Lewistown FultonWesternNative AmericanArchaeological artifacts and history of the Native American settlement site and burial mound complex
Dietrich Friedrichs House Museum Mount Prospect CookChicago areaLocal historyOperated by the Mount Prospect Historical Society, 1906 farmhouse and education center Homepage
Dillon Home Museum Sterling WhitesideNorthern IllinoisHistoric house19th-century period house, includes the Sterling-Rock Falls Historical Society Museum in the carriage house
Discovery Center MuseumRockfordWinnebagoNorthern IllinoisScienceHands-on science and arts exhibits Homepage
Discovery Depot Children's MuseumGalesburgKnoxWesternChildren's Homepage
Dixon Telegraph MuseumDixonLeeNorthern IllinoisMediaHistory of the newspaper and its role in the history of Dixon [22]
Dollhouses Then & NowQuincyAdamsWesternToyOver 70 vintage furnished doll houses from the 1920s on [1] [23] [24]
Donald E. Stephens Museum of Hummels Rosemont CookChicago areaDecorative arts M.I. Hummel, ANRI and Goebel figurines collected by Donald Stephens Homepage
Donley's Wild West Town Union McHenryNorthern IllinoisHistoryWestern theme park and museum Homepage
Dowling House GalenaJo DaviessNorthern IllinoisHistoric house1820s house and trading post, exhibits of city history
Downers Grove Museum Downers Grove DuPageChicago areaLocal historyLocated in Wandschneider Park, includes the Victorian-period Blodgett House, the pioneer-period Blodgett House, and barn exhibits Homepage
Douglas County Museum Tuscola DouglasCentralLocal history Homepage
Dr. Charles M. Wright House AltamontEffinghamCentralHistoric houseLate 19th-century brick mansion
Dr. Richard Eells House QuincyAdamsWesternHistoric house1835 house that was a site on the Underground Railroad, open for group tours and for special events [25]
Draewell Gallery at Judson University Elgin KaneChicago areaArtLocated in the Harm A. Weber Academic Center Homepage
Driehaus Museum ChicagoCookChicago areaArtDecorative arts, design and architecture of Gilded Age America and the Art Nouveau era
Dundee Township Historical Society Museum West Dundee KaneChicago areaLocal history Homepage
DuPage Children's Museum Naperville DuPageChicago areaChildren'sHands-on exploration integrating art, math, and science Homepage
DuPage County Historical Museum WheatonDuPageChicago areaLocal historyOperated by the DuPage County Historical Society, county history, period displays, model railroad
Durant House St. Charles KaneNorthern IllinoisHistoric houseRestored 1840s prairie farmstead, operated by the Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley
DuSable Museum of African American History ChicagoCookChicago areaAfrican-AmericanHistory, art and culture of African-American DuSable residents
Earth & Space Science MuseumElizabethJo DaviessNorthern IllinoisScienceOperated by the Planetary Studies Foundation, includes dinosaur bones, fossils, and the U.S. space program Homepage
Easley Pioneer Museum Ipava FultonWesternLocal historyIncludes history of World War II Army Camp Ellis
Eastern Illinois University Lab School Museum Charleston ColesCentralInstitutional Educational HistoryDepicts the history of the Laboratory School from 1899-1974 Homepage
Edgar Lee Masters Home Petersburg MenardCentralBiographicalHome of poet Edgar Lee Masters [26] [27]
Edgewater Historical Society MuseumChicagoCookChicago areaLocal historyHistory of the Edgewater, Chicago community Homepage
Edwards Place SpringfieldSangamonCentralHistoric houseRestored 1850s period house with ties to famous Illinois political figures, includes art gallery of the Springfield Art Association
Edwardsville Children's Museum Edwardsville MadisonMetro-EastChildren's Homepage
Eklund Museum Glencoe CookChicago areaLocal historyOperated by the Glencoe Historical Society Homepage
Elgin Community College Visual and Performing Arts Center Elgin KaneChicago areaArtChanging exhibits in three fine arts galleries Homepage
Elgin Fire Barn No. 5 Museum ElginKaneChicago areaFirefightingEarly 20th-century former firehouse, includes photos, helmets, badges, uniforms, a hand-drawn hose cart, an 1869 horse-drawn Silsby Steamer, motorized vehicles
Elgin History Museum ElginKaneChicago areaLocal historyIncludes exhibits about the Elgin National Watch Company and American Indian artifacts
Elgin Public Museum ElginKaneChicago areaNatural historyIncludes Mazon Creek fossils, Native American lifeways, Ice Age mammals, the Fox River ecosystem, the La Salle Expeditions, endangered species, rocks and minerals
Elihu Benjamin Washburne House Galena Jo DaviessNorthern IllinoisHistoric houseMid-19th-century period home
Elijah Iles House SpringfieldSangamonCentralHistoric house1830s house with original interior, includes Museum of Springfield History
Elijah P. Curtis House Metropolis MassacSouthernHistoric houseLate 19th-century house, operated by the Massac County Historical Society [28]
Elizabeth History Museum Elizabeth Jo DaviessNorthern IllinoisLocal historyOperated by the Elizabeth Historical Society Homepage
Elk Grove Historical Museum Elk Grove Village CookChicago areaOpen airIncludes schoolhouse, farmhouse, barn, privy and chicken coop Homepage
Ellwood House Museum DeKalbDeKalbNorthern IllinoisHistoric house1879 Victorian mansion Homepage
Elmhurst Art Museum Elmhurst DuPageChicago areaArtArt, architecture and design, includes house designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe Homepage
Elmhurst History Museum ElmhurstDuPageChicago areaLocal historyOperated by the City of Elmhurst, supported by the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation Homepage
Elsah Museum Elsah JerseyCentralLocal history
Empire Township Historical Museum Le Roy McLeanCentralLocal historyLocated in the J.T. and E.J. Crumbaugh Library
Erlander MuseumRockfordWinnebagoNorthern IllinoisEthnicOperated by the Swedish Historical Society of Rockford, 19th-century house that reflects area Swedish heritage Homepage
Ernest Hemingway's Birthplace and Museum Oak Park CookChicago areaBiographical1890s period Victorian home and separate museum about author Ernest Hemingway Homepage
Essley-Noble Museum Aledo MercerQuad CitiesLocal historyOperated by the Mercer County Historical Society Homepage
Ethnic Heritage MuseumRockfordWinnebagoNorthern IllinoisCultureHeritage and culture of six local immigrant groups: Irish, Italians, African-Americans, Polish, Lithuanians and Hispanics Homepage
Eureka College Burgess Hall Gallery Eureka WoodfordCentralArt [29]
Everett Galleries at Monmouth College Monmouth WarrenCentralArtLocated in Hewes Library Homepage
Exploration Station Bourbonnais KankakeeChicago areaChildren's Homepage
Fabyan Villa Museum Geneva KaneNorthern IllinoisHistoric houseHouse redesigned by Frank Lloyd Wright, also Japanese garden, operated by the Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley
Fabyan Windmill GenevaKaneNorthern IllinoisMillAuthentic, working Dutch windmill dating from the 1850s
Fairfield Early History Museum Fairfield WayneSouthernLocal historyOperated by the Wayne Historical Society website
Farnsworth House Plano KendallNorthern IllinoisHistoric house1940s home designed and constructed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Ferguson Art Gallery at Concordia University Chicago River Forest CookChicago areaArtLocated in Kretzman Hall, 5 to 6 exhibitions of works of established and up-and-coming Chicago-area artists Homepage
Fern Dell Museum Newark KendallNorthern IllinoisLocal historyOperated by the Fern Dell Historic Association Homepage
Fayette County Museum Vandalia FayetteSouthernLocal historyPeriod displays
Field Museum of Natural History ChicagoCookChicago areaNatural historyAnimals, insects, dinosaurs and fossils, history and the evolution of life on Earth, Ancient Egypt, gems and minerals, DNA, Native Americans
Fire Museum of Greater ChicagoChicagoCookChicago areaFirefighting Homepage
First Division Museum at Cantigny WheatonDuPageChicago areaMilitaryHistory of the 1st Infantry Division from the Revolutionary War to the present, located at Cantigny
Flagg Creek Museum Burr Ridge CookChicago areaLocal historyOperated by the Flagg Creek Heritage Society Homepage
Flagg Township Museum Rochelle OgleNorthern IllinoisLocal historyOperated by the Flagg Township Historical Society in the former town hall
Fort de Chartres Prairie du Rocher RandolphSouthernMilitaryReconstructed mid-18th-century fort
Fort Hill Heritage Museum Mundelein LakeChicago areaLocal historyOperated by the Historical Society of Fort Hill Country Information
Fort Massac State Park MetropolisMassacSouthernMilitaryReconstructed colonial and early National-era fort
Fourth St. Museum Chillicothe PeoriaCentralLocal historyOperated by the Chillicothe Historical Society Homepage
Fox River Trolley Museum South Elgin KaneChicago areaTransportationElectric trolley cars
Foreman Depot Museum Vienna JohnsonSouthernLocal historyLocal and railroad history and art gallery [30]
Frances Willard House EvanstonCookChicago areaHistoric house19th-century home of Frances Willard and her family that was the longtime headquarters of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union
Franklin County Jail Museum Benton FranklinSouthernLocal historyOperated by the Franklin County Historic Preservation Society
Franklin County Garage MuseumBentonFranklinSouthernAutomobileOperated by the Franklin County Historic Preservation Society Homepage
Franklin Creek Grist Mill Franklin Grove LeeNorthern IllinoisMillIncludes 1930s working mill and area watershed displays Homepage
Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio Oak ParkCookChicago areaHistoric houseRestored 1909-period residence of Frank Lloyd Wright
Frederick Francis Woodland Palace Kewanee HenryWesternHistoric house1890 house with advanced engineering Homepage
Freeport Art Museum Freeport StephensonNorthern IllinoisArtExhibits art from its collection as well as regional contemporary artists Homepage
Fryxell Geology Museum Rock IslandRock IslandQuad CitiesNatural historyPart of Augustana College, dinosaur, fossil, rock and mineral specimens https://www.augustana.edu/locations/fryxell-geology-museum
Fulkerson Mansion & Farm Museum Jerseyville JerseyMetro-EastHistoric houseCivil War period mansion and agriculture tools and equipment information
Fulton (Martin House) MuseumFultonWhitesideNorthern IllinoisLocal historyOperated by the Fulton Historical Society Homepage
Galena & U.S. Grant Museum GalenaJo DaviessNorthern IllinoisLocal historyOperated by the Galena - Jo Daviess County Historical Society Homepage
Galesburg Civic Art CenterGalesburgKnoxWesternArt Homepage
Galesburg Railroad Museum GalesburgKnoxWesternRailway
Garfield Farm and Inn Museum St. CharlesKaneNorthern IllinoisFarm1840s period farmhouse, barn and outbuildings
Gaylord Building Lockport WillChicago areaTransportationImpact of the Illinois & Michigan Canal on the area
Geneseo Historical Museum Geneseo HenryWesternLocal historyOperated by the Geneseo Historical Association Homepage
Geneva History Museum Geneva KaneNorthern IllinoisLocal historyOperated by the Geneva Historical Society Homepage
George Clayson House Museum Palatine CookChicago areaLocal historyOperated by the Palatine Historical Society
George R. Letourneau Home Museum Bourbonnais KankakeeChicago areaHistoric houseOperated by the Bourbonnais Grove Historical Society Homepage
German Valley Historical Society Museum German Valley StephensonNorthern IllinoisLocal history website
Giertz GalleryChampaignChampaignChampaign–Urbana metropolitan areaArtPart of Parkland College Homepage
Glen Carbon Heritage Museum Glen Carbon MadisonMetro-EastLocal history Homepage
Glenview History Center Glenview CookChicago areaLocal historyOperated by the Glenview Area Historical Society, includes the 1864 Farmhouse Museum and the Hibbard Library, a replica of the Victorian coach house Homepage
Glessner House Museum ChicagoCookChicago areaHistoric houseRomanesque-style house designed by Henry Hobson Richardson with English arts and crafts-style home furnishings and decorative arts
Governor Duncan Mansion Jacksonville MorganCentralHistoric houseMid-19th-century period home of the state's fifth governor
Governor Oglesby Mansion DecaturMaconCentralHistoric houseOperated by the Macon County Conservation District, 1870s Italianate style home of 3-time Illinois Governor, U.S. Senator and Civil War General Richard J. Oglesby [13]
Grand Army of the Republic Memorial MuseumSpringfieldSangamonCentralCivil WarIncludes GAR memorabilia, artifacts, papers, diaries, photos, weapons, journals Homepage
Grant Hall Museum Ingleside LakeChicago areaLocal historyOperated by the Fox Lake-Grant Township Area Historical Society Homepage
Graue Mill and Museum Oak BrookDuPageChicago areaMillOperating waterwheel grist mill and homestead
Gray Gallery at Quincy University QuincyAdamsWesternArtPart of the Brenner Library, exhibitions by nationally-noted and regional artists, as well as works by students and faculty [31]
Grayslake Historical Society Museum Grayslake LakeChicago areaLocal history Homepage
Great Lakes Naval Museum Great Lakes LakeChicago areaMilitaryExhibits about the life of a U.S. Navy sailor, United States Marine Corps Recruit Training and the Naval Station Great Lakes
Greater Saint Louis Air & Space Museum CahokiaSt. ClairMetro-EastAviationHistoric aircraft, aviation history
Gretna Station Museum and Caboose Carol Stream DuPageChicago areaRailroadOperated by the Carol Stream Historical Society Homepage
Gridley Telephone Museum Gridley McLeanCentralTechnologyEvolution of communication services in rural Illinois Homepage
Grosse Point Lighthouse EvanstonCookChicago areaLighthouse1873 lighthouse open for tours
Grove National Historic Landmark GlenviewCookChicago areaMultipleIncludes 1856 Gothic Revival house, log cabin, Native American longhouse, one-room schoolhouse, Grove Interpretive Center with natural history exhibits, Wetland Greenhouse
Grundy County Historical Society Museum Morris GrundyNorthern IllinoisLocal historyGrundy genealogy archives, Chief Shabbona, Mazon fossils, Tully Monster, Morris historic stores, quilts, Northwestern gumball machines Homepage [32] [33]
Hanna House Museum Fairfield WayneSouthernHistoric houseOperated by the Wayne Historical Society website
Hard Days Nite Bed & Breakfast & Beatles Mini-Museum Benton FranklinSouthernBiographicalRoom where George Harrison slept when in town, includes Beatles memorabilia Homepage
Harris Agricultural Museum Atwood DouglasCentralAgricultureAgricultural vehicles and equipment including soil, tillage, harvesting and planting equipment, replicas of a 1920s farmstead kitchen, grain elevator office and blacksmith shop Homepage
Harrison/Bruce Historical Village Carterville WilliamsonSouthernOpen airOperated by John A. Logan College, includes a school, 19th-century house and two log cabins Homepage
Hawthorne Works Museum Cicero CookChicago areaTechnologyPart of Morton College, history and products of the Western Electric company
Heath Center Gallery at John Wood Community College QuincyAdamsWesternArtLocated in the lower level of the Paul Heath Community Education and Fine Arts Center [34]
Hedges Station Winfield DuPageChicago areaLocal historyOperated by the Winfield Historical Society Homepage
Hegeler Carus Mansion LaSalle LaSalleNorthern IllinoisHistoric house1876 Victorian-period mansion
Henderson County Museum Raritan HendersonWesternLocal historyIncludes schoolrooms, farm kitchens, clothing and farm implements [35]
Henry County MuseumBishop HillHenryWesternLocal historyOperated by the Henry County Historical Society Homepage
Henry N. Barkhausen Cache River Wetlands Center Cypress JohnsonSouthernNatural historyAnimals, plants and ecosystem of the Cache River Wetlands and the Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge
Henry School Polo OgleNorthern IllinoisSchoolOperated by the Polo Historical Society, 1878 country school with local history displays Homepage
Henry Thomas Museum Wyanet BureauNorthern IllinoisLocal historyOpen by appointment, Bureau County Township and early settler Thomas Family memorabilia [36]
Heritage Canyon Fulton WhitesideNorthern IllinoisOpen air Homepage
Heritage Farm Museum Okawville OgleNorthern IllinoisHistoric houseThree historic homes: the Frank Schlosser Complex, the Dr. Robert C. Poos Home, and the Joseph Schlosser Home
Heritage House Museum Salem WashingtonSouthernHistoric houseMid-19th-century house, open by appointment
Heritage Museum OlneyRichlandSouthernHistoric houseLate 19th-century Victorian house, open by appointment with the Richland Heritage Museum Foundation
Highland Park Historical Society Museum Highland Park LakeChicago areaLocal history Homepage
Hinsdale History Museum Hinsdale DuPageChicago areaLocal historyOperated by the Hinsdale Historical Society Homepage
Historic Auto Attractions Roscoe WinnebagoNorthern IllinoisAutomotiveExhibits include famous cars, a wide array of classic Hollywood movie memorabilia, and a section dedicated to John F. Kennedy Homepage
Historic Nauvoo NauvooHancockCentralOpen airIncludes over 30 historic sites from the 1839-1846 time period, history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Homepage
Hoiles-Davis MuseumGreenvilleBondSouthernLocal historyOperated by the Bond County Historical Society Homepage
Holt House Monmouth WarrenCentralHistoric houseHouse where Pi Beta Phi fraternity was founded Homepage
Homestead Prairie FarmDecaturMaconCentralHistoric houseOperated by the Macon County Conservation District, exhibits focus on rural life on the Grand Prairie of Illinois in the 1860s [13]
Horse and Buggy Museum Biggsville HendersonWesternTransportationHorse-drawn vehicles and farm equipment Homepage
Hoosier Grove Museum Streamwood CookChicago areaSchoolOperated by the Streamwood Historical Society Homepage
Hull House ChicagoCookChicago areaHistoric housePart of University of Illinois, former settlement house and museum about Jane Addams and activities at Hull House
Hume Carnegie MuseumMendotaLaSalleNorthern IllinoisLocal historyOperated by the Mendota Museum & Historical Society, includes Wild Bill Hickok collection Homepage
Hutson Memorial Village Hutsonville CrawfordSouthernOpen airSix log cabins recreating homestead life in 1812, operated by the Hutsonville Historical Society [37]
Illinois Amish Museum Arcola DouglasCentralCultural Amish religion and lifestyle including buggies, barns, homes, quilts, weddings, Anabaptist history Homepage
Illinois Aviation Museum BolingbrookWillChicago areaAviationCollection of restored and replica aircraft
Illinois Executive Mansion SpringfieldSangamonCentralHistoric houseGovernor's official residence
Illinois Fire MuseumSpringfieldSangamonCentralFirefightingOpen by appointment, located at the Old Firehouse on Illinois State Fairgrounds Homepage
Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center Skokie CookChicago areaHistory
Illinois Mennonite Heritage Center Metamora WoodfordWesternOpen airFaith and life of Mennonites in Illinois, including worship, home life and agriculture Homepage
Illinois Oil Field Museum Oblong CrawfordSouthernIndustryOil industry tools and equipment, Illinois Basin and surrounding areas of the oil boom era and the oil industry of that area [38] [39]
Illinois Railway Museum Union McHenryNorthern IllinoisRailwayIncludes steam, diesel and electric trains and heritage train rides
Illinois School for the Deaf Alumni Association MuseumJacksonvilleMorganCentralEducationHistory of the Illinois School for the Deaf Homepage
Illinois State Capitol SpringfieldSangamonCentralHistoric site
Illinois State Military MuseumSpringfieldSangamonCentralMilitaryHistory of the Illinois National Guard Homepage
Illinois State Museum SpringfieldSangamonCentralMultipleState natural history, history, culture and art
Illinois State Police Heritage Foundation MuseumSpringfieldSangamonCentralLaw enforcementUniforms, badges, photographs, vintage squad cars Homepage
Illinois State University College of Fine Arts Galleries Normal McLeanCentralArtLocated at Uptown Station Homepage
Illinois Wesleyan University - Merwin & Wakeley Galleries Bloomington McLeanCentralArtLocated in the Ames School of Art Homepage
Ingrams Pioneer Log Cabin Village Kinmundy MarionSouthernOpen air19th-century period log cabin village [40] [41]
Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art ChicagoCookChicago areaArtIntuitive and outsider art gallery
International Museum of Surgical Science ChicagoCookChicago areaMedicalOperated by the International College of Surgeons, history of primitive and modern healing practices of Eastern and Western civilizations
Irish American Heritage Center ChicagoCookChicago areaCultural
ISM Chicago Gallery ChicagoCookChicago areaArtChanging exhibits of fine and decorative arts
Isle a la Cache Museum Romeoville WillChicago areaHistoryFrench fur trade and Native American life
Italian American Veterans Museum Stone Park CookChicago areaMilitaryItalian-American involvement in the defense of America from the Revolutionary War to the present Homepage
Itasca Historical Depot Museum Itasca DuPageChicago areaRailroadOperated by the Itasca Historical Society, local history, area railroad history, model train layout Homepage
Jackson County Historical Society Museum Murphysboro JacksonSouthernLocal history website
James Millikin Homestead DecaturMaconCentralHistoric house1870s mansion, owned by Millikin University
Jarrett Prairie Center ByronOgleNorthern IllinoisNatural historyIncludes natural history museum and observatory, operated by the Byron Forest Preserve District Homepage
Jarrot Mansion Cahokia St. ClairMetro-EastHistoric houseOpened periodically for special events
Jefferson County Historical VillageMt. VernonJeffersonSouthernOpen airOperated by the Jefferson County Historical Society. Includes Schweinfurth Museum with historical collections, and village with log homes, log church, 1820 Jail, windmill & grist mill, and working blacksmith shop and printing shop Homepage
Jersey County Historical Society Museum Jerseyville JerseyMetro-EastHistoric houseLocated in the Victorian Cheney Mansion, also local history exhibits Homepage
J. H. Hawes Grain Elevator Museum AtlantaLoganCentralAgriculture1904 grain elevator
John A. Logan College Museum Carterville WilliamsonSouthernLocal historySouthern Illinois’ visual arts, cultural heritage and natural history, part of John A. Logan College
John A. Logan Museum Murphysboro JacksonSouthernBiographicalLife and impact of John A. Logan, Civil War general, located in the Christopher C. Bullar House Homepage
John Deere Historic Site Grand Detour OgleNorthern IllinoisHistoric houseRecreated blacksmith shop and 1836 pioneer house
John Deere Pavilion MolineRock IslandQuad CitiesAgriculture John Deere tractors and farm equipment
John C. Flanagan House Museum Peoria PeoriaCentralHistoric houseMid-19th-century house, operated by the Peoria Historical Society
John Marshall House Museum Old Shawneetown GallatinSouthernHistoric houseReconstructed 19th-century house and bank
John Shastid House Pittsfield PikeCentralHistoric houseOperated by the Pike County Historical Society, 1838 house, tours by appointment
John Wood Mansion QuincyAdamsWesternHistoric houseOperated by the Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County, 1830s mansion home of the state's 12th governor
Joliet Area Historical Museum Joliet WillChicago areaLocal historyIncludes life-size replica depicting the building of the Illinois Michigan Canal, period store displays, Route 66
Jones Hous PontiacLivingstonCentralHistoric houseOpen by appointment and for events, restored 1857 house
Joseph F. Glidden Homestead & Historical Center DeKalbDeKalbNorthern IllinoisHistoric houseMid-19th-century home of the inventor of barbed wire Joseph Glidden
Joseph Smith Historic Site Nauvoo HancockCentralOpen airOperated by the Community of Christ. Tour of several sites including Nauvoo House, Joseph Smith Homestead, Mansion House, Red Brick Store
Jubilee College State Historic Site PeoriaPeoriaCentralHistoric siteFormer pioneer college, currently closed
Kaeser Park Highland MadisonMetro-EastHistoric houseOperated by the Highland Historical Society. Includes log cabin building museum, local history exhibits Homepage
Kankakee County Museum Kankakee KanakeeNorthern IllinoisOpen airComplex includes main museum with local history exhibits, Dr. A.L. Small House, a Victorian historic house, and Taylor School House Homepage
Kankakee Railroad MuseumKankakeeKankakeeNorthern IllinoisRailroad Homepage
Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum Rock IslandRock IslandQuad CitiesHistoryLocated in the former First Church of Christ, Scientist, exhibits from its collections of original manuscripts and documents
Kenilworth Historical Society Museum Kenilworth CookChicago areaLocal history Homepage
Kent Fuller Air Station PrairieGlenviewCookChicago areaNatural history32-acre (130,000 m2) tall-grass prairie and Evelyn Pease Tyner Interpretive Center with prairie environment exhibits and education programs Homepage
Kewanee Historical Society Museum Kewanee HenryWesternLocal historyOfficially the Robert & Marcella Richards Museum Homepage
Kibbe Museum Carthage HancockCentralLocal history Homepage
Kidzeum of Health and ScienceSpringfieldSangamonCentralChildren's Homepage
Kirkland Fine Arts CenterDecaturMaconCentralArtPart of Millikin University, includes Perkinson Art Gallery and Lower Gallery Homepage
Kishwaukee College Art Gallery Malta DeKalbNorthern IllinoisArt Homepage
Kline Creek Farm WinfieldDuPageChicago areaFarm1890s living history farm and farmhouse Homepage
Knox County Museum Knox KnoxWesternLocal history Homepage
Koehnline Museum of Art Des Plaines CookChicago areaArtPart of Oakton Community College Homepage
Kohl Children's Museum GlenviewCookChicago areaChildren's
Krannert Art Museum Champaign ChampaignChampaign–Urbana metropolitan areaArtPart of University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, all periods of art from ancient Egyptian to contemporary photography
Kruse House Museum West Chicago DuPageChicago areaHistoric houseOperated by the West Chicago Historical Society, 1917 period home Homepage
L. Haas Store Museum Carmi WhiteSouthernLocal historyOperated by the White County Historical Society
Labor & Industry Museum Belleville St. ClairMetro-EastIndustryTools, photos and exhibits of local industries, businesses, workers and products Homepage
La Grange Area Historical Society Museum La Grange CookChicago areaLocal historyLocated in the Samuel Vial House Homepage
Lake Bluff History Museum Lake Bluff LakeChicago areaLocal history Homepage
Lake County Discovery Museum Wauconda LakeChicago areaMultipleLocal art, history and popular culture
Lake Forest College Art Galleries Lake Forest LakeChicago areaLocal historySonnenschein Gallery, Albright Room and Deerpath Student Gallery Homepage
Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Historical Society MuseumLake ForestLakeChicago areaArtMuseum of local history Homepage
Lamon House Danville VermilionCentralHistoric houseOperated by the Vermilion County Museum Society Homepage
LaSalle County Museum Utica LaSalleNorthern IllinoisOpen airIncludes local history museum with Native American and period displays, barn with agriculture equipment, school and blacksmith shop Homepage
Latvian Folk Art MuseumChicagoCookChicago areaEthnicOperated by the Chicago Latvian Association, Latvian folk art Homepage
Latzer Homestead Highland MadisonMetro-EastHistoric houseOperated by the Highland Historical Society Homepage
Laura A. Sprague GalleryJolietWillChicago areaArtArt gallery of Joliet Junior College, located on the first floor of J-Building Homepage
Laurent House RockfordWinnebagoNorthern IllinoisHistoric house1952 house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for a person with a disability
Leaf River Historical Museum Leaf River OgleNorthern IllinoisLocal historyOperated by the Leaf River Historical Society Homepage
Leather Archives and Museum ChicagoCookChicago areaSexLeather, fetishism, sadomasochism, and alternative sexual practices Homepage
Lederman Science Center BataviaKaneNorthern IllinoisScienceOperated by Fermilab, hands-on exhibits for ages 10+ Homepage
Lee-Baker-Hodges House Carrollton GreeneCentralLocal historyOperated by the Greene County Historical and Genealogical Society
Lemont Area Historical Society Museum Lemont CookChicago areaLocal historyIncludes general store, schoolroom, stable, medical office, war relics, and other local history displays
Lena Area Historical Museum Lena StephensonNorthern IllinoisLocal historyOperated by the Lena Historical Society Information
Lewis and Clark State Historic Site Hartford MadisonSouthernHistoryCamp of the Lewis and Clark Expedition from December 1803 to May 1804
Lincoln Heritage Museum Lincoln LoganCentralBiographicalPart of Lincoln College, life and times of Abraham Lincoln Homepage
Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site Lerna ColesCentralLiving1840s home of Thomas and Sarah Bush Lincoln, father and stepmother of Abraham Lincoln, living history farm
Lincoln-Douglas Debate Interpretive CenterQuincyAdamsWesternHistoryHistory of the Lincoln–Douglas debates and Quincy’s stories of Lincoln and Douglas’s friendships and influences in the Quincy area Homepage
Lincoln Home National Historic Site SpringfieldSangamonCentralHistoric houseHome that Abraham Lincoln lived in from 1844 to 1861
Lincoln-era Log Cabin VillageQuincyAdamsWesternOpen airFour 1800s log cabins, a corn crib, stone smoke house and log church open for exterior viewing website
Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices State Historic Site SpringfieldSangamonCentralHistoric siteRestored to 1840s period
Lincoln-Manahan Home MuseumSterlingWhitesideNorthern IllinoisHistoric houseOperated by the Sterling-Rock Falls Historical Society, 19th-century house where Sheriff William Manahan hosted Abraham Lincoln during his 1856 visit to Sterling Homepage
Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site New Salem MenardCentralOpen airReconstruction of the village where Abraham Lincoln lived in the 1830s
Lithuanian Museum of Art Lemont CookChicago areaArtFine and folk art by native and emigrant Lithuanian artists Homepage
Little Brick House VandaliaFayetteSouthernHistoric houseRestored 1860s middle class home, open by appointment, operated by the Vandalia Historical Society
Little White School Museum Oswego KendallNorthern IllinoisLocal historyOperated by the Oswegoland Heritage Association Homepage
Livingston County Historical Society's Local History ExhibitPontiacLivingstonCentralLocal historyDisplay in the Livingston County Courthouse website
Livingston County War MuseumPontiacLivingstonCentralMilitaryMilitary museum dedicated to honoring central Illinois veterans from World War I to the present Homepage
Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art Oak BrookDuPageChicago areaDecorative artsMore than 200 pieces of jade and other hard stone decorative carvings, dioramas featuring animals carved from various gem materials, rocks and mineral collections Homepage
Lockport Gallery Lockport WillChicago areaArtSatellite gallery of the Illinois State Museum, changing exhibitions of past and contemporary Illinois artists and artisans
Loveland Community House and Museum Dixon LeeNorthern IllinoisLocal history Homepage
Loyola University Museum of Art ChicagoCookChicago areaArtExplores the spiritual in art from all cultures, faiths, and periods; formerly the Martin D'Arcy Museum of Art
Lyon Farm Yorkville KendallNorthern IllinoisOpen airOperated by the Kendall County Historical Society, opened for special events Homepage
Macktown Living History Education Center Rockton WinnebagoNorthern IllinoisLiving1830 - 1846 frontier town Homepage
Macon County History MuseumDecaturMaconCentralOpen airOperated by the Macon County Historical Society, features a prairie village complex Homepage
Madison County Historical Museum Edwardsville MadisonMetro-EastLocal historyOperated by the Madison County Historical Society in the John Weir House
Magnolia Manor CairoAlexanderSouthernHistoric houseLate 19th-century period Victorian mansion
Manteno Historical Society Museum Manteno KankakeeNorthern IllinoisLocal historyEarly 20th-century period displays Homepage
Marie Louise Olmstead Memorial Museum Somonauk DeKalbNorthern IllinoisLocal historyExhibit also includes natural history artifacts [42] [43]
Marion E. Wade Center WheatonDuPageChicago areaLiteraryMemorabilia and artifacts from its collections about seven authors from the United Kingdom: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, G. K. Chesterton, Dorothy L. Sayers, Charles Williams, Owen Barfield, and George MacDonald, and C. S. Lewis's wife, the poet Joy Davidman
Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art EvanstonCookChicago areaArtPart of Northwestern University, historical and contemporary visual art and culture
Matthew T. Scott House Chenoa McLeanCentralHistoric houseMid-19th-century period home of town's founder
McConnell Area Historical Society Museum McConnell StephensonNorthern IllinoisLocal history [44]
McCormick Tribune Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum ChicagoCookChicago areaHistoryNatural, social and cultural history of the Chicago River Homepage
McDonald's No. 1 Store Museum Des Plaines CookChicago areaFoodRecreation of the first McDonald's Restaurant
McHenry County Historical Society Museum Union McHenryNorthern IllinoisLocal historyPeriod displays Homepage
McKendree University Gallery of Art Lebanon St. ClairMetro-EastArtWorks by students, faculty, alumni and artists from the region Homepage
McLean County Museum of History BloomingtonMcLeanCentralLocal historyCentral Illinois history with themes of people, politics, work and farming
McPike Mansion AltonMadisonMetro-EastHistoric house
Menard County Historical Society Museum Petersburg MenardCentralLocal history [45]
Metamora Courthouse State Historic Site Metamora WoodfordWesternHistoric siteRestored to 1850s period, also includes local history exhibits
Midway Village Museum RockfordWinnebagoNorthern IllinoisOpen air1890-1910 Victorian village with 24 historical buildings, costumed interpreters, local history exhibits Homepage
Midwest Museum of Natural History Sycamore DeKalbNorthern IllinoisNatural historyDioramas depicting the natural biomes of North America and Africa
Mineral Pride Society, Inc. Museum Mineral BureauNorthern IllinoisLocal history Homepage [46]
Mississippi Valley Antique Auto MuseumQuincyAdamsWesternAutomobileOperated by the Mississippi Valley Historic Auto Club in Quincy Park, may be closing [47] [48]
Mitchell Museum of the American Indian EvanstonCookChicago areaNative American
Money Museum ChicagoCookChicago areaNumismaticHistory of the Federal Reserve and currencies
Monticello Railway Museum Monticello PiattChampaign–Urbana metropolitan areaRailroad
Morrison Heritage Museum Morrison WhitesideNorthern IllinoisLocal history [49]
Morton Grove Historical Museum Morton Grove CookChicago areaHistoric houseOperated by the Morton Grove Historical Society and the Morton Grove Park District in the mid-19th-century period Haupt-Yehl House Homepage
Mother Rudd Home Museum Gurnee LakeChicago areaLocal historyOperated by the Warren Township Historical Society Homepage
Mount Pulaski Courthouse State Historic Site Mount Pulaski LoganCentralHistoric siteRestored to 1850s period
Mount Pulaski Township Historical MuseumMount PulaskiLoganCentralLocal historyOperated by the Mt. Pulaski Township Historical Society Homepage
Moweaqua Coal Mine Museum Moweaqua ShelbyCentralMiningArea coal mining, history of the 1932 Moweaqua Coal Mine disaster Homepage
Museum of Broadcast Communications ChicagoCookChicago areaMediaHistoric and contemporary radio and television content, includes National Radio Hall of Fame
Museum of Contemporary Art ChicagoCookChicago areaArt
Museum of Contemporary Photography ChicagoCookChicago areaArt
Museum of Land Surveying Petersburg MenardCentralOtherHistory and equipment used in land surveying [50] [51]
Museum of Science and Industry ChicagoCookChicago areaScienceExhibits include mining, transportation, period businesses, Earth, farming, energy, inventions
Museum of the Gilding Arts PontiacLivingstonCentralArtHistory, craft, and use of gold and silver leafing in architecture and in decoration
Museum of the Grand Prairie Mahomet ChampaignChampaign–Urbana metropolitan areaLocal historyOperated by the Champaign County Forest Preserve District, includes American Indian, pioneer, railroad and Black American exhibits, formerly the Early American Museum
Museums at Lisle Station Park Lisle DuPageChicago areaOpen airIncludes 19th-century period displays at the Lisle Depot Museum, Netzley/Yender Farmhouse, Beaubien Tavern and blacksmith shop Homepage
MY Garage Museum Effingham EffinghamSouthernAutomotiveAutomotive collectibles and memorabilia, rare Corvettes and Volkswagens Homepage
Naper Settlement Naperville DuPageChicago areaOpen air19th-century historic museum village
Nathan Manilow Sculpture Park University Park WillChicago areaArtOutdoor contemporary sculpture park, part of Governors State University Homepage
National Great Rivers Museum  [ Wikidata ] East Alton MadisonMetro-EastMaritimeOperated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, adjacent to Melvin Price Locks and Dam Homepage, information, Further information
National Hellenic Museum ChicagoCookChicago areaCulturalGreek history, art and culture and the Greek immigrant experience
National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame ChicagoCookChicago areaHall of fame
National Museum of Mexican Art ChicagoCookChicago areaArtMexican, Latino, and Chicano art and culture
National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture ChicagoCookChicago areaEthnicArts and culture of the Puerto Rican people and of the Puerto Ricans in Chicago
National Museum of Ship Models and Sea History Sadorus ChampaignChampaign–Urbana metropolitan areaMaritimeShip models from around the world and throughout history
National Road Interpretive CenterVandaliaFayetteSouthernTransportationHistory of the National Road at its western terminus Homepage
National Shrine of St Therese Darien DuPageChicago areaReligiousRoman Catholic shrine and museum about Thérèse of Lisieux
National Veterans Art Museum ChicagoCookChicago areaArtArt produced by veterans
Naval Air Station Glenview MuseumGlenviewCookChicago areaAviationAviation and the history of Naval Air Station Glenview, operated by the Glenview Hangar One Foundation Homepage
Nehring GalleryDeKalbDeKalbNorthern IllinoisCultureExhibits gallery of the Nehring Center for Culture and Tourism [52]
Newberry Library ChicagoCookChicago areaLibraryFree changing exhibits of art, culture and history drawn from its collections.
The Next Picture ShowDixonLeeNorthern IllinoisArtNon-profit fine arts center Homepage
Niles Historical Museum Niles CookChicago areaLocal historyOperated by the Niles Historical Society Homepage
Norris University Center - Dittmar GalleryEvanstonCookChicago areaArtStudent-run gallery of Northwestern University, works of emerging and underrepresented artists from the Chicago area and the Midwest
Northbrook History Museum Northbrook CookChicago areaLocal historyOperated by the Northbrook Historical Society, changing exhibits of local history and re-created 1890s Shermerville home Homepage
Northwest Territory Historic CenterDixonLeeNorthern IllinoisLocal historyIncludes exhibits on Ronald Reagan Homepage
Norwood Park Historical Society Museum ChicagoCookChicago areaLocal historyPeriod displays about Norwood Park community, located in the Noble-Seymour-Crippen House
Norsk Museum Norway LaSalleNorthern IllinoisEthnicNorwegian culture and arts of area settlers website
North Central College GalleriesNapervilleDuPageChicago areaArtOesterle Library Gallery and Schoenherr Gallery in the Fine Arts Center Homepage
Northern Illinois Fire Museum Marengo McHenryChicago areaFirefightingPlanned museum Homepage
NIU Art Museum DeKalbDeKalbNorthern IllinoisArtPart of Northern Illinois University, focus is contemporary art Homepage
O'Connor Art Gallery at Dominican University River ForestCookChicago areaArtLocated in Lewis Hall Homepage
O'Fallon Historical Society Museum O'Fallon St. ClairMetro-EastLocal history Homepage
Ogle County Historical Society Museum Oregon OgleNorthern IllinoisHistoric houseAlso known as the Nash Home and Museum, 1880s period house Homepage
Old Courthouse Museum Watseka IroquoisCentralLocal historyOperated by the Iroquois County Historical Society
Old Lincoln Courtroom & MuseumBeardstownCassWesternHistoric siteCourtroom where Abraham Lincoln defended Duff Armstrong in the famous Almanac trial Homepage
Old Market House GalenaJo DaviessNorthern IllinoisLocal historyHistory of the mid-19th-century former market house
Old Settlers' Log CabinDixonLeeNorthern IllinoisHistoric houseOperated by the Lee County Historical and Genealogical Society for events Homepage
Old Six Mile Museum Granite City MadisonMetro-EastHistoric houseLocated in the Emmert-Zippel House
Old State Capitol State Historic Site SpringfieldSangamonCentralHistoryRestored to 1860s period
Oquawka Museum Oquawka HendersonWesternLocal historyOpen by appointment [53]
Oriental Institute ChicagoCookChicago areaArchaeologyPart of the University of Chicago, exhibits focus on history, art, and archaeology of the ancient Near East
Orpheum Children's Science Museum ChampaignChampaignChampaign–Urbana metropolitan areaScience
Ottawa Historical and Scouting Heritage Museum Ottawa LaSalleNorthern IllinoisScoutingHistory and memorabilia of the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Camp Fire Guides Homepage [54]
Owen Lovejoy Homestead Princeton BureauNorthern IllinoisHistoric houseFormer station on the Underground Railroad
Owen P. Miles Museum Mount Carroll CarrollNorthern IllinoisHistoric houseOperated by the Carroll County Historical Society [55]
Paulson Agriculture Museum of Argyle Caledonia WinnebagoNorthern IllinoisAgricultureAntique agriculture equipment, tractors, cast iron implement seats, windmills, washing machines Homepage
Pearson MuseumSpringfieldSangamonCentralMedicalPart of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, showcases the history of medicine, health care, nursing, dentistry, and pharmacy from all cultures and eras Homepage
Pecatonica Heritage Museum Pecatonica WinnebagoNorthern IllinoisLocal historyLocated in a historic grain elevator Homepage
Chicago Academy of Sciences/Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum ChicagoCookChicago areaNatural historyNatural history of the Chicago region
Peoria Riverfront Museum PeoriaPeoriaCentralMultipleFine art, decorative arts, folk art, ethnographic art, natural history, local history
Perry County Jail Museum Pinckneyville PerrySouthernLocal historyOperated by the Perry County Historical Society
Perry Farm Park BourbonnaisKankakeeChicago areaFarm170-acre park with living history Perry Farm and house
Pettengill-Morron House PeoriaPeoriaCentralHistoric houseVictorian-period house, operated by the Peoria Historical Society
Piatt County Museum Monticello PiattChampaign–Urbana metropolitan areaLocal historyIncludes agricultural equipment and household items, civil war artifacts, clothing, quilts, dolls and toy trains Homepage
Pick Museum of Anthropology DeKalbDeKalbNorthern IllinoisAnthropologyPart of Northern Illinois University, formally known as the James B. and Rosalyn L. Pick Museum of Anthropology Homepage
Pierre Menard Home State Historic Site Ellis Grove RandolphSouthernHistoric house1810 French Creole-style home of Pierre Menard, the first lieutenant governor of Illinois
Pike County Historical Society Museum Pittsfield PikeCentralLocal history
Pioneer Sholes SchoolSt. CharlesKaneNorthern IllinoisSchool1900-period one-room schoolhouse[Homepage]
Place de la Musique Barrington Hills McHenryNorthern IllinoisMusicOpen for group tours and events, collection of antique music machines including phonographs, player pianos, fairground and band organs, calliopes
Pleasant Home Oak ParkCookChicago areaHistoric housePrairie style mansion, local history exhibits by the Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest
Polish Museum of America ChicagoCookChicago areaEthnic Polish history, culture and art
Pontiac Museum Complex PontiacLivingstonCentralMultipleIncludes the Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame and Museum, Livingston County War Museum, Walldog Mural and Sign Art Museum, Bob Waldmire Experience, Life in the 1940s Exhibit, Music of the Civil War Exhibit [56]
Pontiac-Oakland Automobile Museum PontiacLivingstonCentralAutomobilePontiac and Oakland automobiles and brand items website
Pope County Historical Society Museum Golconda PopeSouthernLocal history Information
Popeye Museum Chester RandolphSouthernLocal historyLocated in the home town of Popeye Homepage [57]
Poplar Grove Vintage Wings & Wheels Museum Poplar Grove BooneNorthern IllinoisTransportationVintage aircraft, automobiles and other modes of transportation and memorabilia Homepage
Postville Courthouse State Historic Site Ellis Grove LoganSouthernHistoric siteReconstructed frontier courthouse
Prairie Aviation MuseumBloomingtonMcLeanCentralAviationMilitary aircraft Homepage
Prairie Grass Nature Museum Round Lake LakeChicago areaNatural history Homepage
Prairie Land Heritage MuseumJacksonvilleMorganCentralAgricultureAntique farm machinery, steam engines, tools and equipment Homepage
Prairie Mills Windmill Golden AdamsWesternMillRestored Dutch smock windmill, includes Golden Museum of local history; operated by the Golden Historical Society Homepage
Princeville Heritage Museum Princeville PeoriaCentralLocal history Homepage
Pritzker Military Museum & Library ChicagoCookChicago areaArtExhibits of military art drawn from its collections
Prophetstown Historical Society Museum Prophetstown WhitesideNorthern IllinoisLocal historyLocated in the Asa Crook House [58]
Pullman National Monument ChicagoCookChicago areaHistoric siteIncludes Hotel Florence, Administration and Factory Complex, Pullman Railroad Porters National Museum
Quincy Art CenterQuincyAdamsWesternArt Homepage
Quincy Museum QuincyAdamsWesternLocal historyIncludes period rooms, local history exhibits, store display, dinosaur room
Randolph County Archives and Museum Chester RandolphSouthernLocal history [59]
Ratcliff Inn CarmiWhiteSouthernLocal historyOperated by the White County Historical Society
Raupp Museum Buffalo Grove LakeChicago areaLocal history
Reddick Mansion OttawaLaSalleNorthern IllinoisHistoric housePre-Civil War Italianate mansion Homepage
The Renaissance Society ChicagoCookChicago areaArtExhibits of contemporary art
Rheinberger MuseumNauvooHancockCentralHistoric houseOperated by the Nauvoo Historical Society in Nauvoo State Park, mid-19th-century period house Homepage
Richard W. Bock Sculpture MuseumGreenvilleBondSouthernArtPart of Greenville College, houses collection of bronze and plaster sculptures by Richard Bock Homepage
Ridge Historical SocietyChicagoCookChicago areaLocal historyExhibits related to Chicago neighborhoods of Beverly Hills, Morgan Park and Washington Heights, open by appointment Homepage
Riverside Historical Museum Riverside CookChicago areaLocal historyOperated by the Riverside Historical Commission Homepage
Robert R. McCormick Museum WheatonDuPageChicago areaHistoric house1930s historic mansion with biographical exhibits about Robert R. McCormick, publisher of the Chicago Tribune, located at Cantigny
Robert Vial House Burr Ridge CookChicago areaHistoric houseMid-19th-century farmhouse, operated by the Flagg Creek Heritage Society
Robie House ChicagoCookChicago areaHistoric houseDesigned by Frank Lloyd Wright
Robinson-Stewart House CarmiWhiteSouthernHistoric houseOperated by the White County Historical Society, 1814 house with furnishings, many of which date to the 1830s
Rochelle Fire Department Museum Rochelle OgleNorthern IllinoisFirefighting [60]
Rochelle Railroad Park RochelleOgleNorthern IllinoisRailroadCity park where railfans can safely view and photograph trains, includes a 7-ton Whitcomb locomotive, recreated hobo jungle
Rockford Art Museum RockfordWinnebagoNorthern IllinoisArtAmerican art from the 19th century to the present Homepage
Rockford Auto MuseumRockfordWinnebagoNorthern IllinoisAutomobileClassic American muscle cars Homepage
Rockford University Art GalleryRockfordWinnebagoNorthern IllinoisArtLocated in the Clark Arts Center Homepage
Rock Falls Fire Department Museum Rock Falls WhitesideNorthern IllinoisFirefighting Homepage
Rock Island Arsenal Museum Rock IslandRock IslandQuad CitiesMilitaryHistory of Rock Island Arsenal, Arsenal Island and small arms development
Rock Island Railroad MuseumChillicothePeoriaCentralRailroadOperated by the Chillicothe Historical Society Homepage
Rock N Roll McDonald's ChicagoCookChicago areaFoodRestaurant with McDonald's memorabilia and rock and roll artifacts
Rockton Township Historical Society Museum Rockton WinnebagoNorthern IllinoisLocal history Homepage
Rolling Meadows Historical Museum Rolling Meadows CookChicago areaLocal history1950s period displays Homepage
Ronald Reagan Birthplace Tampico WhitesideNorthern IllinoisBiographicalEarly life of President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home DixonLeeNorthern IllinoisHistoric house1920s period boyhood home of President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan Museum at Eureka College Eureka WoodfordCentralBiographical
Roselle History Museum Roselle DuPageChicago areaLocal historyIncludes local history museum and 1920s period home Homepage
Rossville Depot Railroad Museum Rossville VermilionCentralRailroadOperated by the Danville Junction Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society Homepage
Russell Military Museum Russell LakeChicago areaMilitaryTanks, military vehicles, weapons, memorabilia Homepage
Ryan Round Barn KewaneeHenryWesternAgricultureLocated in Johnson-Sauk Trail State Park
Savanna Museum and Cultural CenterSavannaCarrollNorthern IllinoisLocal history Homepage
Savanna Train Car MuseumSavannaCarrollNorthern IllinoisRailroad Homepage
Schingoethe Center of Aurora University AuroraKaneChicago areaNative AmericanPart of Aurora University, historic and contemporary American Indian culture Homepage
Schmidt-Burnham Log House Winnetka CookChicago areaSchoolOperated by the Winnetka Historical Society Homepage
Schuyler County Historical Jail Museum & Genealogical Center Rushville SchuylerWesternLocal history Homepage
Science Center of Southern IllinoisCarbondaleJacksonSouthernScienceHands-on science activities Homepage
SciTech Hands On Museum AuroraKaneChicago areaScience Homepage
Shabbona-Lee-Rollo Historical Museum Shabbona DeKalbNorthern IllinoisLocal history Homepage
Shedd Aquarium ChicagoCookChicago areaAquarium
Sheffield Museum Sheffield BureauNorthern IllinoisLocal historyOperated by the Sheffield Historical Society Homepage
Sheldon Peck Homestead LombardDuPageChicago areaHistoric house1840s-1860s period home, operated by the Lombard Historical Society
Shiloh House Zion LakeChicago areaHistoric houseOperated by the Zion Historical Society, early 20th-century mansion of town founder John Alexander Dowie Homepage
Silkwood Inn Mulkeytown Franklin SouthernHistoric houseWaypoint along the historical Shawneetown–Kaskaskia Trail, and home of Priscilla Silkwood
Silvercreek MuseumFreeportStephensonNorthern IllinoisHistoryEarly Americana including crockery, dolls, recreated schoolroom and kitchen, art exhibits, quilts, old-fashioned tools and agricultural equipment, engines, vehicles, trains Homepage
Skokie Heritage MuseumSkokieCookChicago areaHistoric houseHistoric engine house with fire equipment and original 1847 log cabin Homepage
Slovenian Heritage MuseumJolietWillChicago areaEthnicOperated by the Slovenian Women's Union of America Homepage
Smart Museum of Art ChicagoCookChicago areaArtPart of the University of Chicago
Sousa Archives and Center for American Music UrbanaChampaignChampaign-Urbana Metropolitan AreaMusicExhibits about American music from its collections
Southern Illinois Art & Artisans Center Whittington FranklinSouthernArtSatellite gallery of the Illinois State Museum
Southern Illinois University Carbondale University MuseumCarbondaleJacksonSouthernArt, Science & HumanitiesLocated in Faner Hall (SIUC) Homepage
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville ADW GalleryEdwardsvilleMadisonMetro-EastArtLocated in the Art & Design West building Homepage
Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership ChicagoCookChicago areaReligiousExhibits on Jewish culture and history
Spring Valley Historic Association Museum Spring Valley BureauNorthern IllinoisLocal history Homepage [46]
Spurlock Museum Urbana ChampaignChampaign–Urbana metropolitan areaAnthropologyPart of University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. Houses exhibits on the ancient Mediterranean, Africa, Asia, Oceania, Europe, and the Americas
Stacy's Tavern Museum Glen Ellyn DuPageChicago areaHistoric siteOperated by the Glen Ellyn Historical Society, 1840s wayside stagecoach inn
Star Worlds Arcade DeKalb DeKalbNorthern Illinois Arcade Exhibition of video gaming collectibles and 1980s pop culture
Starved Rock State Park Utica LaSalleNorthern IllinoisMultipleVisitor center exhibits about the park's natural and cultural history
St. Charles History Museum St. CharlesKaneNorthern IllinoisLocal history Homepage
Stephenson County Historical Society Museum FreeportStephensonNorthern IllinoisMultipleIncludes the Oscar Taylor House, one-room schoolhouse, Industrial/Arcade Toy Museum, Irish Homestead Log Cabin, arboretum Homepage
Stewart House Museum Monmouth WarrenCentralHistoric houseBirthplace of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, Victorian period house
Stockdale Soldier Citizen MuseumGalesburgKnoxWesternMilitaryLocated in the Admiral James Stockdale VFW Building [61]
Stockton Heritage Museum Stockton Jo DaviessNorthern IllinoisLocal history [62]
Stone Mill Museum Sandwich DeKalbNorthern IllinoisLocal historyOperated by the Sandwich Historical Society [63] [64]
Streatorland Museum Streator LivingstonNorthern IllinoisLocal historyOperated by the Streatorland Historical Society Homepage
Super MuseumMetropolisMassacSouthernMedia Superman memorabilia Homepage
Swedish American Museum ChicagoCookChicago areaCultural
Sycamore History Museum Sycamore DeKalbNorthern IllinoisLocal history Homepage
Tampico Area Historical MuseumTampicoWhitesideNorthern IllinoisLocal history Homepage
Tarble Arts Center Charleston ColeCentralArtPart of Eastern Illinois University Homepage
Teutopolis Monastery Museum Teutopolis EffinghamCentralReligiousHistory of the Franscicans and other area pioneers [65]
Thomson Depot Museum Thomson CarrollNorthern IllinoisRailroadRailroad artifacts and pioneer items Homepage [66]
Thornton Historical Museum Thornton CookChicago areaLocal historyOperated by the Village of Thornton Historical Society in a former Lutheran church [67]
Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum RockfordWinnebagoNorthern IllinoisHistoric houseVictorian Swiss-style home with decorative arts and furnishings
Tiskilwa Historical Society Museum Tiskilwa BureauNorthern IllinoisLocal historyNative American artifacts, village, military and school memorabilia, Hennepin Canal construction photos, farm implements, domestic items, railroads, churches, toys Homepage
Trailside Museum of Natural History River Forest CookChicago areaNatural historyOperated by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, live animals, focuses on area wildlife and plants Homepage
Trapshooting Hall of Fame and Museum Sparta RandolphSouthernSportsLocated in the Illinois Department of Natural Resources World Shooting & Recreational Complex website
Tremont Museum Tremont TazewellCentralLocal historyOperated by the Tremont Museum and Historical Society Homepage
Trutter MuseumSpringfieldSangamonCentralCulturePart of Lincoln Land Community College, features art, world and cultural items Homepage
Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art ChicagoCookChicago areaArtContemporary art as a shared expression of the Ukrainian and American experience
Ukrainian National Museum ChicagoCookChicago areaCulturalUkrainian artifacts, artwork, musical instruments and embroidered folk costumes
Ulysses S. Grant Home GalenaJo DaviessNorthern IllinoisHistoric houseHome and museum about President Ulysses S. Grant
Union County Museum Cobden UnionSouthernLocal historyOperated by the Union County Historical & Genealogy Society Homepage
Union Depot Railroad Museum MendotaLaSalleNorthern IllinoisRailroadOperated by the Mendota Museum & Historical Society, includes rolling stock, HO scale model of Mendota in the 1940s
Unity Temple Oak ParkCookChicago areaHistoric siteChurch designed by Frank Lloyd Wright
University of Illinois Springfield Visual Arts GallerySpringfieldSangamonCentralArtLocated in the Health and Sciences Building Homepage
University of St. Francis GalleryJolietWillChicago areaArt Homepage
University Museum, SIU CarbondaleJacksonSouthernMultiplePart of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Local and world connections behind the arts, humanities, and sciences Homepage
Vachel Lindsay House SpringfieldSangamonCentralHistoric houseBirthplace and home of poet Vachel Lindsay
Vandalia State House State Historic Site VandaliaFayetteSouthernHistoric siteRestored to 1830s period
Vermilion County Museum DanvilleVermilionCentralLocal historyIncludes museum and Fithian Home
Vermilion County War Museum DanvilleVermilionCentralMilitaryMemorabilia and artifacts from the American Revolutionary War to the Iraq War Homepage
Veterans Educational MuseumVandaliaFayetteSouthernMilitaryMilitary artifacts from World War I through Desert Storm Homepage
Victorian Cottage Museum Lombard DuPageChicago areaHistoric houseVictorian period rooms, operated by the Lombard Historical Society Homepage
Villa Kathrine QuincyAdamsWesternHistoric house1900 Moroccan-style home and visitor information center
Villa Park Historical Society Museum Villa Park DuPageChicago areaLocal historyHoused in a former depot
Volkening Heritage FarmSchaumburgCookChicago areaFarm1880s living farm museum Homepage
Volo Auto Museum Volo LakeChicago areaAutomotiveCars from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s as well as from famous television shows and movies
Wabash County Museum Mt. Carmel WabashSouthernLocal history Homepage
Wadsworth Family Gallery at Lewis University RomeovilleWillChicago areaArtVisual art created by national, regional, and local artists and University artists Homepage
Wagner FarmGlenviewCookChicago areaAgricultureHistoric working dairy farm, Wagner Farm Heritage Center with farming exhibits, 1930s grocery store Homepage
Warren County History Museum Monmouth WarrenNorthern IllinoisLocal historyOperated by the Warren County Historical Society Homepage
Warrenville Historical Museum Warrenville DuPageChicago areaLocal historyOperated by the Warrenville Historical Society Homepage
Waterman Area Heritage Society Museum Waterman DeKalbNorthern IllinoisLocal history Homepage
Waukegan History Museum Waukegan LakeChicago areaLocal historyOperated by the Waukegan Historical Society in the late 19th-century period Haines House Homepage
Weber House and Garden Streator LaSalleNorthern IllinoisHistoric house18th-century-style storybook house of Ted Weber Homepage
Weld House MuseumNauvooHancockCentralLocal historyOperated by the Nauvoo Historical Society, mid-19th-century period house Homepage
West Chicago City Museum West ChicagoDuPageChicago areaLocal historyLocal history and art
West Franklin Historical Museum MulkeytownFranklinSouthernLocal historyCivic history of townships and communities in Western Franklin County
West Town Museum of Cultural History Maywood CookChicago areaLocal historyIncludes exhibits of African-American culture, Maywood and the Proviso Township area Homepage
Westclox Museum Peru LaSalleNorthern IllinoisIndustryHistory of the Westclox company, its clocks and employees Homepage
Western Illinois Museum Macomb McDonoughWesternLocal history Homepage
Wheaton College Walford Art GalleriesWheatonDuPageChicago areaArtThree gallery spaces in Adams Hall Homepage
Wheeling Historical Society Museum Wheeling CookChicago areaLocal history Homepage
Wheels O' Time Museum PeoriaPeoriaCentralTransportationAntique vehicles, farm equipment, tools, collectibles Homepage
Wiley House Museum Galva HenryNorthern IllinoisHistoric houseOperated by the Galva Historical Society Homepage
Will County Historical Society Museum Lockport WillChicago areaOpen airIncludes local history and canal museum, one-room schoolhouse, depot, 1873 farmhouse, village jail, 1830s log cabin, blacksmith's shop, and tinsmith's shop
William and Florence Schmidt Art Center Belleville St. ClairMetro-EastArtPart of Southwestern Illinois College, includes paintings, photography and pre-Columbian artifacts
William Jennings Bryan Boyhood Home Salem MarionSouthernHistoric houseMid-19th-century house, open by appointment
William L. Gregg House Museum Westmont DuPageChicago areaHistoric houseOperated by the Westmont Historical Society
Williamson County Museum Marion WilliamsonSouthernLocal historyFeatures Victorian period rooms in the former jail and sheriff's house, operated by the Williamson County Illinois Historical Society
William Tanner House Museum AuroraKaneChicago areaHistoric houseAntebellum Italianate-style house, owned and operated by the Aurora Historical Society
Williamsville Historical Museum Williamsville SangamonCentralLocal historyConstructed from two railroad boxcars [68]
Wilmette Historical Museum Wilmette CookChicago areaLocal historyOperated by the Wilmette Historical Society Homepage
Winnetka Historical Society MuseumWinnetkaCookChicago areaLocal history Homepage
Winslow Historical Society Museum Winslow StephensonChicago areaLocal history [69]
WIU Art Gallery MacombMcDonoughWesternArtPart of Western Illinois University Homepage
WIU Geology Museum MacombMcDonoughWesternNatural historyPart of Western Illinois University, first floor of Tillman Hall Homepage
Wonder Works Oak ParkCookChicago areaChildren's
Woodlawn Farm JacksonvilleMorganCentralHistoric house1840s house, part of the Underground Railroad
World Aerospace MuseumQuincyAdamsWesternAviationAircraft from former Soviet countries, open by appointment Homepage
Worth Historical Museum Worth CookChicago areaLocal historyOperated by the Worth Park District Homepage
Wyanet Historical Society Museum Wyanet BureauNorthern IllinoisLocal history [36] [46]
Wyatt Earp Birthplace Monmouth WarrenCentralHistoric houseBirthplace of lawman Wyatt Earp
Yesterday's Farm Museum Wood Dale DuPageChicago areaFarmOperated by the Wood Dale Historical Society, 1850s farm [70] [71]
Manhattan Township Historical MuseumManhattanWillChicago areaLocal historySix rooms of displays and a caboose

Defunct museums

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Springfield, Illinois</span> Capital city of Illinois, United States

Springfield is the capital city of the U.S. state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County. The city's population was 114,394 at the 2020 census, which makes it the state's seventh most-populous city, the second largest outside of the Chicago metropolitan area, and the largest in central Illinois. Approximately 208,000 residents live in the Springfield metropolitan area which consists of all of Menard and Sangamon Counties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dana–Thomas House</span> Historic house in Illinois, United States

The Dana–Thomas House is a home in Prairie School style designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Built from 1902–1904 for the philanthropist Susan Lawrence Dana, it is located along East Lawrence Avenue in Springfield, Illinois. The home reflects the mutual affection of the patron and the architect for organic architecture, the relatively flat landscape of the U.S. state of Illinois, and the Japanese aesthetic as expressed in Japanese prints.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Museum of Funeral Customs</span> Museum in Springfield, Illinois, U.S.

The Museum of Funeral Customs was located at 1440 Monument Ave. in Springfield, Illinois, US. It featured exhibits dealing with American funerary and mourning customs. The museum was near Oak Ridge Cemetery, the site of Abraham Lincoln's tomb. Collections at the museum included a re-created 1920s embalming room, coffins and funeral paraphernalia from various cultures and times, examples of post-mortem photography, and a scale model of Lincoln's funeral train. The museum hosted tours and special events and provided resources to scholars who are researching funeral customs. A gift shop provided books and funeral-related gifts, including coffin-shaped keychains and chocolates. The museum was closed in March 2009 due to poor attendance and handling of the museum's trust fund. The contents of the collection were transferred to the Kibbe Hancock Heritage Museum in Carthage, Illinois, in February 2011.

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