Illinois State Museum, Illinois, United States
4.5 (323 reviews) Friday: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Spent 1-2 hours Ranking #7 in Springfield Speciality Museums • Natural History Museums • Science Museums • Art Museums • History Museums
Great museum, free admission
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.
Address
502 S Spring St, Springfield, IL 62706-5000
Mobile
Website
http://www.illinoisstatemuseum.org
Working hours
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
Current local date and time now
Friday, May 10, 2024, 3:42
User Ratings
4.5 based on (323 reviews)
Reviews
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4ellenbee56 5:00 PM Jan 16, 2023
a good state museum
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.
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4Michelle R 5:00 PM Jun 11, 2021
Free admission
This visit was during the Illinois Bridge Phase. The museum was practically empty for an early June weekday visit around lunchtime. Admission to this museum was free, I simply had to provide my zip code. I was reminded to wear my mask properly so it covered my mouth and my nose and there was hand sanitizer readily available. I was told that the basement exhibit was closed but there was art work to see (I did not visit that section). I am a teacher so I tend to enjoy my museum visits. I thought this museum was very good but I'm comparing it to Chicago museums. Everything was relevant to Illinois. There was a Juneteenth timeline outside the museum. There was a special exhibit "Journal of a Plague Year: Illinois in 2020" with artwork and quotes from Illinois residents. Their other exhibits included Fashioning Illinois (pick up the free booklet to see the dresses photographed in situ), Changes about how Illinois has evolved from a geologic and scientific perspective, and Noir, a temporary exhibit showcasing African American artists.
