Skip to main content
Shedd Aquarium

Illinois State Museum

502 S. Spring St., Springfield, IL 62706

Galleries

Discover Illinois’ natural and cultural heritage, experience exhibits showcasing Illinois art, or visit the Play Museum–a hands-on area where kids learn through play.

The Illinois State Museum is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and interpretation of the natural history, anthropology, history, and art of Illinois. Explore three floors of exhibits that display a vast array of items drawn from the Museum's collections of over 13.5 million artifacts including skeletal specimens of the Mastodon, and the giant Jefferson's Ground Sloth. Interactive elements, thrilling audio and video effects, life-sized dioramas and thousands of authentic fossils and specimens illustrate the processes that shaped and continue to transform Illinois' diverse environments. Learn about how native peoples and frontier Americans lived on the prairie of Illinois, and examine the works of great Illinois artists.

What's happening nearby...

2025 Illinois Bike & Walk Summit

BOS Center •  May 07 – May 08 @ 8:30AM

The 2025 Illinois Bike & Walk Summit (ILBWS25) will take place May 7-8 at the BOS Center.

Read more about 2025 Illinois Bike & Walk Summit

Moonlight Market

500 S 6th Street •  May 07 – Sep 17 @ 6PM

Moonlight Market takes place the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month, May through September on Jackson Street between 6th and 7th.

Read more about Moonlight Market

Fat Ass 5K & Street Party for Charity

Downtown Springfield, IL •  May 09 – May 10 @ 5PM

Thousands of runners gather from all across the U.S. to jog through the streets and enjoy the festivities of the Fat Ass 5k. Join us…

Read more about Fat Ass 5K & Street Party for Charity

You might also be interested...

The Pharmacy Gallery & Art Space

Springfield

The mission of the Pharmacy Gallery & Art Space is to cultivate and celebrate expressions of multidimensional artists. We strive to be a catalyst and forum…

Read more about The Pharmacy Gallery & Art Space

Illinois State Library

Springfield

The Illinois State Library maintains a collection of more than 5 million items. Tours of the first three floors are available.

Read more about Illinois State Library

Ace Sign Company Sign Museum

Springfield

Ace Sign Company Sign Museum has some of the most amazing signage throughout Illinois and beyond. Inside you can find the famous "Sonrise Doughnut" sign…

Read more about Ace Sign Company Sign Museum

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get inspired by top travel stories, gain access to exclusive promotions and contests, and discover even more reasons to #EnjoyIllinois.