Dillon Home Museum

Built in 1858, this Italian Renaissance-style home displays the history of the Dillon family and Northwestern Steel, as well as fine antiques which belonged to the Dillons.

CITY: Sterling

Will County Historical Society

Incorporated in 1964, the Will County Historical Society exists to connect people and organizations to the county's rich history. The Society's museum is housed in the original headquarters of the I&M Canal. Built in 1837, the structure played a central role in the design, financing, and construction of the Canal and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Changing exhibits highlight the history of Will County and the Canal. The Society's extensive collection includes significant county and canal-related records, including maps, plats, land records, obituaries, photographs, newspapers, receipts, and correspondence.

CITY: Lockport

Windmill Cultural Center

The Windmill Cultural Center houses an extensive collection of 21 European windmills representing ten European countries. Interpretive exhibits provide unique information on the products produced by windmills, country of origin, windmill specifications, and the cultural impact of windmills. The Education Area features video presentations of the windmill countries and an education area contains children's activities including coloring, puzzles, and toys promoting scientific concepts. The gift shop sells fresh stone-ground flour, Delft pottery, and souvenirs of Fulton, the Windmill Cultural Center and the windmill.

CITY: Fulton

Heritage Canyon

On the Mississippi River in an old 12-acre quarry is where you will find a restored and furnished mid-1800s settlement. Paths through the wooded hillsides lead from one home site to another.

CITY: Fulton

Elijah Iles House: Springfield's History Museum

Experience the historic Greek Revial-style house once owned by a founder of Springfield: Elijah Iles. It houses a permanent exhibit, Springfield as Urban Frontier 1818-1836.

CITY: Smithfield

Prairie Land Heritage Museum

This museum is home of the annual Steam Show and Fall Festival, as well as the Prairie Land Liberty Church, which was built in 1900. Enjoy antique tractors, train rides and local history.

CITY: Jacksonville

Museum Of Geology

This museum features earth science displays.

CITY: Macomb

D'Arcy Museum, Loyola University Chicago

Medieval, renaissance and baroque art, including paintings, sculpture, and rare decorative art.

CITY: Chicago

Block Museum of Art

Northwestern University's Mary & Leigh Block Museum of Art is one of the largest fine art museums in the Chicagoland area.

CITY: Evanston

Silver Creek and Stephenson Railroad and Museum

All aboard as a 36-ton 1912 Heisler steam locomotive pulls three cabooses, including an antique red caboose reported to be the oldest in the state, for a four-mile ride through farmlands. Purchase your ticket at the Silver Creek Depot, a turn-of-the-century replica filled with railroad artifacts, and browse the Freight House Gift Shop and Silvercreek Museum that's filled with early Americana.

CITY: Freeport

Ukrainian National Museum

A collection of Ukrainian history and folk art is gathered under one roof and includes everything from festive costumes to colored eggs.

CITY: Chicago

Czechoslovak Heritage Museum

DuPage County, Chicago’s Western Suburbs - Highlights the history and culture of the Czech Republic and Slovakia through authentic folk costumes, lead crystal, chain, ceramics, embroidery, and historical displays. Donations welcome.

CITY: Oak Brook

Children's Museum of Edwardsville

Toddlers to 12-year-olds can enjoy the unique interactive exhibits and seasonal events at this fun children's museum.

CITY: Edwardsville

NIU Art Museum

The Museum serves to educate, preserve, exhibit and enlighten by balancing the challenges of contemporary art with the riches of traditional media for a comprehensive examination of visual culture. The Museum pursues its goal of furthering understanding of the visual arts by presenting a balance of high-quality, professional contemporary art exhibitions supplemented by written educational material, gallery talks, artist lectures, panel discussions, symposia and other related activities.

CITY: DeKalb

Christopher Art Gallery

Located on the main campus of Prairie State College, the Christopher Art Gallery hosts six to eight shows annually, featuring local, regional and national artists, as well as student works. Programming varies by media, theme, and artists represented.

CITY: Chicago Heights

Evanston Arts Depot

This cultural center, located in a restored train station in the heart of Evanston, is home of the Piccolo Theatre and features classes in movement and meditation.

CITY: Evanston

William Tanner House

Built in 1856, this Italianate is home to the Aurora Historical Museum which offers tours of the fully furnished home.

CITY: Aurora

Hoosier Grove Schoolhouse Museum

Originally built as a one-room schoolhouse in 1904 on the corner of Old Church and Barrington Roads, the museum was moved to its present site in 1991.

CITY: Streamwood

Arlington Heights Historical Museum

The Coach House, a replica Log Cabin, the 1882 home of F.W. Muller and the 1908 Banta House tell the story of Arlington Heights over the last 150 years. Tour guides introduce you to the life of early residents. Tours: Sat. & Sun. 2pm & 3pm Heritage Gallery & Gift Shop: Fri.-Sun. 1:30pm-4:30pm

CITY: Arlington Heights

On Any Sunday Motorcycle Museum

See 40 motorcycles on display, including European bikes built from 1942-1978.

CITY: Polo

Tampico Area Historical Museum

This museum that focuses on the Tampico area features exhibits related to schools, agriculture, prominent families and businesses. Items on display include newspapers, funeral records and memorabilia.

CITY: Tampico

Sterling-Rock Falls Historical Society Museum

This local museum explores the history of Sterling and Rock Falls.

CITY: Sterling

New River Model Railroad Museum

See model trains in operation, an HO-scale model of the Chesapeake & Ohio RR circa 1950s West Virginia, and running diesel and steam locomotives on a double main line.

CITY: Sterling

Lake County Discovery Museum

Hands-on interactive exhibits introduce the history of Lake County in a fun learning environment. The Museum also displays the nation's largest permanent exhibition on the history and significance of postcards. Changing exhibits throughout the year.

CITY: Wauconda

Highland Park Historical Society

This museum is a 12 room, two story Italianate Victorian house donated to the Society in 1969. The Society’s mission is to discover, preserve, provide access to and disseminate the history of the general area and of Highland Park, in particular.

CITY: Highland Park

Carbondale Train Museum

Built in 1903 by the Illinois Central Railroad, the Old Railroad Passenger Depot has since been restored and now serves as home to the Carbondale Train Museum. Filled with information, artifacts and souveniers, the museum contains significant facts relating to Carbondale's history. Ring the bell of an original train car from the Illinois Central Railroad, which still sits on the track!

CITY: Carbondale

Pioneer Sholes School

Restored, One-room schoolhouse serves as living museum. Open June to early September. Groups welcome by appointment. They actually sit at desks in the one room schoolhouse while a docent explains how teaching was done in 1872. They also participate in playing the games the students played during their recess periods.

CITY: St. Charles

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

The urban gateway to nature and science. The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is a place where city dwellers can reconnect with the wonder of the natural world. From a hands-on water lab to a wilderness walk to the only international, year-round butterfly haven, science comes alive.

CITY: Chicago

Grayslake Heritage Center

A state of the art history museum dedicated to collecting and sharing the history of the greater Grayslake area. The Grayslake Heritage Center offers programs, exhibitions and special events all year round and includes two galleries, a community room and classroom.

CITY: Grayslake

Bethalto History Museum

A log cabin originally built in 1873 is this city's history museum. The cabin is authentically furnished as it might have appeared 150 years ago. The building once housed Bethalto's water, fire and police departments. The tiny one room jail can still be seen. Open M - F 1 - 4 p.m. for tours. Call for tour appointment.

CITY: Bethalto

Historic Museum of Torture Devices

Displays of torture devices from around the world, pictures and written explanations are part of this self-guided tour. Hours: Jan. 1 - May 31: Saturday & Sunday, Noon to 5 p.m. June 1 - Aug. 31: Friday - Sunday, Noon to 5 p.m.

CITY: Alton

Village of Elsah Museum

Discover what life was like in historic Elsah when it was founded in 1853 by James Semple. The museum, housed in the Elsah Village Hall built in 1887, showcases former residents, architectural styles used in constructing buildings, and implements used by residents in the mid-1800s. The museum is open Saturday and Sundays only from 1 - 4 p.m.

CITY: Elsah

Wood River Museum and Visitors Center

The Wood River Heritage Council has worked diligently to preserve the town's past at the Wood River Museum and Visitors Center. It is here that you will find exhibits on the Wood River massacre of 1814, Olde Downtown, the Flood of 1915, the World's largest swimming pool, and the impact of Standard Oil on this growing community. Hours Thursday - Saturday, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.

CITY: Wood River