Exhibitions

The Illinois State Museum's extensive collections can be seen in both permanent and rotating exhibitions. Permanent exhibitions are always available, while rotating exhibitions change every few months.

Rotating Exhibits

New & Noteworthy!

Photograph of exhibit case with a multicolor quilt and dark wooden cane.

Second Floor Corridor

New to the second floor corridor: We the People of Illinois. This exhibit shares just a few of the stories of everyday people who made history. Our state’s history is made up of the memories, experiences, and stories of every single person who has ever lived here. Those featured here all have stories to share. The objects they left behind are windows into their lives. Their experiences can offer understanding and inspiration for us as we move through our lives, making history every single day.

Miles of Memories: Stories of Route 66

Globe on top of a Polly Gas fuel pump with a green parrot in the center.

Second Floor

Miles of Memories brings to life the experience of living, working, and traveling along U.S. Route 66 in celebration of the highway's centennial anniversary. The exhibit incorporates the museum’s Route 66 Oral History Project, a collection of 100 interviews with people who experienced the road when it served as the primary route between Chicago and Los Angeles.

NOIR 6: the Truth

Old State Capitol State Historic Site

NOIR 6: the Truth

Black art stands as a profound and enduring reflection of the Black experience, offering a truthful lens through which history, identity, and cultural memory are preserved and interpreted. Within museum spaces, these works serve not only as aesthetic achievements, but also as vital cultural documents that illuminate the complexities of Black life across generations. Through painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media, Black artists articulate narratives that have often been overlooked or marginalized in traditional historical records.

America's Elephant

First Floor Hot Science Gallery

America's Elephant presents the curious history of our country's first fossil: the American mastodon. This new exhibit explores when the first mastodon fossils were found, how the remains of an unknown animal came to be understood as our country grew, and how the Illinois State Museum has been a leader in the science of mastodons.

This exhibit encourages visitors to think about fossils in new ways. Fans of the natural sciences and of United States history are both sure to find something surprising in our newest Hot Science exhibit.

i feel: exploring emotion through art

Lower Level

Art is personal. Art is inspiring. Art can bring to the surface a variety of different feelings. But sometimes, we feel like art isn’t “for us” if we aren’t experts. However, everyone can look at, critique, and connect with art, even if it is just how the art makes us feel. I Feel ____. an interactive exhibit curated specifically for children and youth to engage with, returns to ISM with brand new art. This installation encourages young visitors to share their opinions on how the artwork makes them feel. Guests can spend time taking in each piece before voting on what feeling the art evokes. While the exhibit is built as an entry point for children into the art world, the installation is open to visitors of all ages.

Permanent Exhibits