Chicago Public Library - Harold Washington Library Center

The Chicago Public Library's Harold Washington Library Center, the world's largest municipal library building, offers books, periodicals, newspapers, and information in over 100 languages, programs for children and adults, and free access to the internet.

CITY: Chicago

Herrin City Library

This local library features the Herrin History Room.

CITY: Herrin

NIU Art Museum

The NIU Art Museum presents rotating exhibitions from the university collections, thematic contemporary exhibitions of the work of regional and national artists, and nationally traveling exhibitions.

CITY: DeKalb

The Gramercy Park Foundation

Within historic Gramercy Park lies 26 ancient Hopewell Indian Mounds, an archaeological treasure. It affords a superlative view of the Mississippi.

CITY: East Dubuque

Northwestern University

Founded in 1851, Northwestern University is a renowned educational institution rich in history and architecture. More than 150 historically significant and interesting sites on campus are featured in various walking tours, each taking approximately 30 minutes to complete. University highlights include The Arch, University Hall, The Arts Circle, and the University Library. Northwestern is one of the leading university's in the U.S. Its Evanston campus is on the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan.

CITY: Chicago

Goddard Chapel

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this chapel was built in 1918 with a donation from former Marion mayor Leroy Goddard.

CITY: Marion

Bethel One Room Schoolhouse

An icon of days past, this one-room schoolhouse has been restored by the Emden Historical Society.

CITY: Emden

Haskell Playhouse

This Queen Anne-style playhouse was built for Lucy J. Haskell, daughter of Dr. William A. & Florence H. Haskell. The playhouse was an exact replica of the family home. Lucy died at age nine of diptheria and the Haskell's gave the estate to the City of Alton for educational & recreational purposes. The playhouse is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places and can be visited in Haskell Park.

CITY: Alton

Momence Railroad Depot

This privately-owned, 1890'a depot was restored in 2001 and contains photos and artifacts relating to Momence's railroading history.

CITY: Momence

Loyola University Chicago

Loyola University Chicago’s Lake Shore and Water Tower Campuses offer multiple conference and event facilities with full service amenities to ease the planning of your next event. Each campus offers elegant year-round venues, affordable housing, electronic classrooms and auditoriums, on-premise catering options, and a full range of audio/visual equipment to make your next event a success. Loyola’s Water Tower Campus is centrally located in Chicago’s eloquent Gold Coast neighborhood and right off of the Magnificent Mile. Experience all the best Chicago has to offer including world famous steak houses, great shopping, theaters, art museums, and many other exciting tourist attractions. On Chicago’s north side, Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus is just steps from the lake and offers a serene setting for conferences and special events alike. From city to lake, Loyola’s two Chicago campuses are surrounded by all the best this city has to offer.

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

Mineral Springs Paranormal Research Center

Share evidence and peruse scientific research on the paranormal at one of the most haunted buildings in Alton -- the former Mineral Springs Hotel -- now the home of the Mineral Springs Paranormal Research Center. Overnight paranormal events are held at the site, in addition to meetings with other paranormal experts, investigators and researchers. Ghost hunting equipment is used in every investigation and there are over 140 EVPs obtained over the years at the hotel and at other investigation sites.

CITY: Alton

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

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

Cuneo Mansion and Gardens

The opulent Cuneo Museum and Gardens, located on 75 acres and dotted with formal gardens and statuary was the perfect setting for the wedding scenes in "My Best Friend's Wedding." The gazebo where the best friends were caught kissing was built specifically for the film, but Cuneo's owners liked it so much they decided to keep it permanently. Take a guided tour through the historic Mediterranean-style Cuneo mansion to see Renaissance artworks and lavish European furnishings.

CITY: Vernon Hills

Andresen's Cafe

Family oriented restaurant. Dine in or carry out. Plate lunches, dinners, and specials every night. Historical building dating back to 1927.

CITY: Johnston City

Cheney Mansion

As one of the first houses built in Jerseyville, the Cheney Mansion is a 12-room mansion featuring vintage clothing, military artifacts, toys, pictures and other items of historical interest. Serving as the Jersey County Historical Museum, the mansion is available for touring

CITY: Jerseyville

Sacagawea Statue

A beautiful sculpture of Sacagawea graces the campus of Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey, Illinois. The piece was crafted by Glenna Goodacre who also designed the image on the Sacajewea $1 coin.

CITY: Godfrey

The Varsity Center for the Arts

What started as a single-screen movie house in 1940 has become a power house for live music and community theater. This gorgeous theater is one of the greatest components to Carbondale's thriving art & culture scene, as it serves as home to the Jackson County Stage Company, which presents several plays during the year, and hosts the weekly Friday Night Film series. The Varsity serves as a venue for live entertainment during the Carbondale Rocks Revival, an annual city-wide music festival in addition to accommodating local and regional musicians during the year to bring the city exceptional entertainment.

CITY: Carbondale

Hayner Genealogy & Local History Library

The Hayner Public Library District provides a variety of genealogy-related services to support research efforts. Information from various states in addition to Illinois and other countries is available. The digitized newspaper collection is a wonderful resource of The Hayner Public Library District for genealogy research. The collection includes the Alton Telegraph Archives dating as far back as 1836 and access NEWSPAPER ARCHIVE to locate newspaper articles in other parts of the country.

CITY: Alton

Brussels Historic Village Jail

Once known as the local "calaboose", the Brussels Jail was built around 1876 and centered in the heart of the village. The jail mainly housed men overnight for drinking too much and the last person to stay in the jail was in 1952. The jail is open seven days a week.

CITY: Brussels

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

Jenny Lind Chapel

Andover's quaint chapel was endowed by the world-famous opera singer Jenny Lind. Built in 1850, this chapel is the "Mother Church" of the former Augustana Lutheran Synod of America.

CITY: Andover

Jefferson County Historical Village

Experience the past as you walk through a pioneer village of authentic log cabins featuring a calaboose (circa 1820), the Mount Olive Church (circa 1873), a one room school house and more.

CITY: Mount Vernon

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

100th Birthday Celebration Orion Band Shell

It’s time for a Band Shell Bash as Orion’s historic band shell celebrates its one-hundredth anniversary. An all-day event will feature crafts, music, activities for children, food, free birthday cake, a re-dedication of the band shell, a special auction of vintage items, and customized fireworks in Central Park.

CITY: Orion

Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center

Designed to reflect the Route 66 era, the museum houses exhibits which focus on the roles the railroads, Route 66, businesses, agriculture, and the military have played in Litchfield's history.

CITY: Litchfield

Battle of Virden Monument

The 1898 Battle of Virden, the tragic result of local coal miners fighting for worker’s rights, is memorialized on the northeast side town square by a large bronze mural created by sculptor David Seagraves of Elizabeth, IL.

CITY: Virden

Bolingbrook's Clow International Airport

This airport offers general aviation, flight school, air charter, restaurant and Illinois Aviation Museum all within the airport.

CITY: Bolingbrook