Come to the Illinois State Museum in Springfield and see nature's mysteries and the wonderful world of art.

Natural History

In our life-sized exhibits, you can see all of Illinois -- the prairies and woodlands, Lake Michigan's shores, the Shawnee Hills, and Horseshoe Lake. Learn about our minerals, plants, fossils, birds, and mammals -- their beauty and their significance.

Anthropology

Visit the world of the Americans Indians in the Peoples of the Past exhibit. "... Like travelers in a science fiction movie, visitors can step back into prehistoric Illinois...." (Chicago Tribune)

Art

In our galleries, you can explore art in Illinois, from painting, prints, photograhy, sculpture, and decorative arts to folk art and contempory crafts.

Hands On

In A Place for Discovery, a special room where things can be handled, you can examine scientific specimens and artifacts, use a microscope, dig for fossils, and listen to bird calls.

Take an Online Tour of our physical exhibits

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ISM Welcome Page.