Illinois State Museum

The Illinois State Museum is an art museum housed across multiple floors with exhibits spanning 500 million years of the region's natural history and cultural heritage. The collections range from fossils and Native American artifacts to contemporary artworks and local discoveries.

The museum was founded in 1877 and initially housed within the Illinois State Capitol before relocating to its current building in 1962. This move allowed for expanded collections and improved space for displaying the full range of regional heritage.

The galleries display artworks created by artists from Illinois, showing how creativity takes shape in the region. You can see how artistic traditions have been shaped by local materials and stories.

The museum is centrally located in Springfield and easily accessible on most weekdays, with extended hours on certain days. It is worth planning at least two to three hours to explore the different floors and rotating exhibitions at your own pace.

The Mary Ann MacLean Play Museum allows children to excavate fossils like paleontologists and examine specimens under microscopes themselves. This hands-on section brings scientific discovery to life and helps visitors understand how researchers actually work.

Location: Illinois

Inception: 1877

Address: 502 S Spring St, Springfield, IL 62706

Opening Hours: Monday-Saturday 09:00-16:30; Sunday 12:00-16:30

Phone: +12177827386

Website: http://museum.state.il.us

GPS coordinates: 39.79667,-89.65548

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:02