Exhibitions
The Illinois State Museum's extensive collections can be seen in both permanent and temporary exhibitions. Permanent exhibitions are always available, while temporary exhibitions rotate every few months.
Listen to the stories of real people who lived in Illinois. Immerse yourself in the dramatic changes in household life over the past 300 years.
At Changes visitors will see, hear, and touch Illinois’ natural history through engaging hands-on interactive displays, audio and video effects, thousands of authentic fossils, and more. Marvel at all the strange and intriguing species that once inhabited Illinois through a multitude of life-size dioramas.
Life-sized dioramas and finely crafted artifacts bring to life Illinois' rich Native American heritage.
First Floor Hot Science Gallery
Dogs were the first domesticated species and have been human companions for over 16,000 years.
Illinois State Museum Second Floor Gallery
This major exhibition, in celebration of the State’s 200th birthday, features rare and rarely-seen artifacts from the Museum’s 13.5–million-object Illinois Legacy Collection to highlight the dynamic story of Illinois.