Illinois State Museum
Illinois State Museum
4.5
Speciality MuseumsNatural History MuseumsScience MuseumsArt MuseumsHistory Museums
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
12:00 PM - 4:30 PM
About
The Illinois State Museum inspires exploration of Illinois' past and present to inform and enrich everyday life and to promote stewardship of cultural and natural resources for the future. The Museum's extensive collections and research activities provide the foundation for exhibitions and public programs that tell the story of the land, life, people, and art of Illinois. The Illinois State Museum is headquartered in Springfield, with branch facilities near Lewistown and Lockport.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles325 reviews
Excellent
182
Very good
90
Average
33
Poor
18
Terrible
2

ClarkGriswold1179
Chicago, IL25 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
Nailed it! The Growing up X exhibit was spot on. I felt like I was transported back 30 years. I really can’t believe my youth is now in a museum. Was it really that long ago???

Great attention paid to detail. I loved the “Rec Room” area. It was great to be immersed in the feel of the 80s and 90s. My son, who loves all things old school, really liked interacting with the old television sets, VCR, and gaming consoles.

The rest of the exhibit is also very well done. I really liked that they included the quotes and perspectives of kids growing up at that time. I could definitely relate to a lot of their thoughts and feelings.

The whole exhibit made me proud to be part of Gen X, and left me longing for a Time Machine to go back to a simpler time.

(The rest of the museum is also very nice and showcases a lot of geological history of Illinois and the Midwest. Free admission daily and free street parking on the weekends. Weekdays might be trickier to find parking, check the website. Super friendly and welcoming staff!)

Don’t forget to check out the state Capitol building as well. It’s just a quick walk from the museum. Easily accessible and worth checking out.
Written 6 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

C C
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023
Very well presented information about the geology of Illinois, as well as the history and culture of the state. My grandchildren absolutely enjoyed the basement childrens' section with hands on experiences.
Written 13 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lorna B.
Bechtelsville, PA766 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2022
We visited here recently as part of a road trip from our home in southeastern PA out to New Mexico. Since Springfield isn’t that far from I-70, we made a little detour to fill some free hours in our itinerary (we will return to Springfield in nicer weather for its other attractions). We always seek out state museums in our travels, in order to learn about that area’s settlement and development. This was a good state museum, although not as large and comprehensive as some we have been to. We enjoyed the natural history exhibits and especially the state history displays. Visiting here was easy; admission was free, as was parking on a Saturday (the museum’s website gives very helpful parking information). Allow 90 minutes to fully explore the galleries here.
Written 17 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Abbey
1 contribution
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022 • Family
Very outdated, not exciting for kids. There’s no parking close to the building, only open at weird times, no concessions, very blah.
Written 3 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

A L
Edinburg, IL19 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022
The museum isn't well funded and is not well staffed anymore. It isn't all that great. There are attempts to do something for the kids, and it could be worth about an hour for some free family fun.
Written 14 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Zesti
Monmouth, IL108 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022
This museum has something for everyone to enjoy. My husband, a biologist, enjoyed the first floor with its science-based exhibits. We both enjoyed the climate change temporary exhibit. The art exhibits on the second floor are terrific! The basement has an area for younger kids, and the first floor is kid-friendly, too, with lots of things to touch and drawers to open. The museum is currently free. Be sure to visit the Capitol building, which is next door.
Written 2 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ChickenParm41
USA769 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022
Museum was okay.

They had art exhibits and local artifacts depicting the local topography and history.

Good museum to visit if you need something to do or it's a rainy day. It's adjacent to the State Capital, which is a must visit. Parked on the street for free. Metered parking was not being enforced.
Written 9 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dave C
Illinois1,544 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
July 2022
Small museum; 2 floors of exhibits; great set up with the history of Illinois throughout. Ranges from the early geology and dinosaurs, to life from the first settlers up to the present. Took us about 90 minutes. Has a few interactive things, helps with kids. Easy to follow; generally a one-way path through it.
Written 16 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Taylor B
Chicago, IL8,761 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022
The Illinois State Museum features the life, land, people and art of Illinois. Located at 502 South Spring Street in Springfield, at Spring and Edwards Streets, one block southwest of the Illinois State Capitol, it also focuses on natural history exhibits, Illinois' cultural and artistic heritage, local fossils and mining, household displays from different historic periods, dioramas of Native American life, archaeological and ethnographic artifacts and a collection of glass paperweights. Founded in 1877, as a showcase within the sixth Illinois State Capitol, the museum collection was moved from the Capitol Building to the newly constructed Centennial Building, now known as the Michael Howlett Building, in 1923. With continued growth of its collections and the need to have a dedicated location in Springfield for tourists and school groups, the museum was moved to a newly constructed, first purpose-built state site in 1962. The museum's mission is "to collect and preserve objects of scientific and artistic value, representing past and present fauna and flora, the life and work of man, geological history, natural resources and the manufacturing and fine arts, and to interpret for and educate the public." The Illinois State Museum also operates the Dickson Mounds Museum in Lewistown, which depicts Illinois' Native American history from the Ice Age to the 19th century. The 230-acre site includes the Eveland Village, the excavated remains of three early Native American buildings.
Written 6 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Julie F
New Lenox, IL161 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022 • Family
I brought my 2 kids (age 7 and 10) to the Illinois State Museum on a rainy day while visiting Springfield. It's a great museum to learn more about Illinois history, with enough interactive displays to keep the kids interested. Best part, free admission! Small children's area in the basement, definitely geared towards little ones. Would return if back in the area!
Written 4 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Illinois State Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Frequently Asked Questions about Illinois State Museum

Illinois State Museum is open:
  • Sun - Sun 12:00 pm - 4:30 pm
  • Mon - Sat 9:00 am - 4:30 pm