11 Best Museums In Illinois

From fine art to ancient history, the best museums in Illinois strive to educate and inspire. Whether visiting Chicago’s world-renowned art galleries, exploring artifacts from across the globe, or touring museums shaped by pop culture, education and fun are at the heart of each experience. By transporting visitors across time and space through engaging exhibits, interactive displays, and innovative programs, these Illinois museums allow people of all ages and backgrounds to experience an exciting world beyond their own.

The Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago

Perched on the shores of Lake Michigan in downtown Chicago, the Field Museum of Natural History boasts one of the most significant natural history collections in the world. Established in 1893 as the Columbian Museum of Chicago, it initially showcased artifacts from the World’s Columbian Exposition. In 1905, the museum was renamed after its founder, Marshall Field, and was moved to its current location in 1921.

Since its relocation, the Field Museum has grown to house nearly 40 million specimens and artifacts, spanning 4.6 billion years of natural history. Every year, around 1.3 million guests come to explore its Egyptian mummies, Ancient American artifacts, and “Sue,” the most complete and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex fossil ever discovered. Nearby, the Shedd Aquarium and Lakefront Trail at Grant Park serve as the perfect follow-up, showcasing nature in its present form.

The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago, also located in downtown Chicago, contains over 300,000 works of art from around the globe, “spanning 5,000 years of creativity.” Established in 1879 as both a museum and a fine arts school, it was built during a significant moment in the city's history, just a few years after the Great Fire of 1871. By 1893, the museum was relocated to its current building, where its iconic bronze lions continue to stand guard at the entrance to this day. With famous attractions like Millennium Park and Lurie Garden right next door, these iconic statues help guide passersby to the museum’s wonders.

In recent years, the museum attracts approximately 1.7 million visitors annually, drawn by its esteemed core collection and engaging pop-up exhibits. Within its permanent collection, the Art Institute houses one of the most extensive ranges of 19th-century Impressionism and Post-Impressionism in the world, featuring celebrated works such as Claude Monet’s Water Lilies and Vincent van Gogh’s The Bedroom. In the museum’s Modern Wing, visitors can explore works by renowned artists like Picasso and Pollock, while other collections display an eclectic array of treasures, from medieval armor to Japanese woodblock prints.

DuPage Children's Museum, Naperville

For a more family-focused experience, a forty-minute drive from Chicago will bring you to Naperville, home of the DuPage Children's Museum. Surrounded by green spaces and playgrounds like Burlington Square Park and Kendall Park, the museum neighborhood is a great escape from the city’s congestion, especially for families with kids who need to blow off steam.

The museum itself centers around the power of play, promoting hands-on learning with more than 17,000 sq ft of interactive exhibits. Whether visiting for story-time events or dropping in to explore its displays, the DuPage Children's Museum has something for every young mind. From interactive electricity shows that spark curiosity and illustrate cause and effect, to hands-on construction stations that encourage problem-solving and creativity, the museum proves how fun learning can be, fostering curiosity and exploration.

Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum, Oak Park

Just west of downtown Chicago in the Cook County town of Oak Park, the Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum celebrates the iconic American writer by exploring his earliest days. Built in 1890 by Hemingway’s maternal grandparents, the Queen Anne home was one of the first in town to have electricity. It was here, on July 21, 1899, that the famous author was born, and where he lived for his first six years of life.

In 1992, the Ernest Hemingway Foundation purchased the home and established the museum, restoring it to reflect the period when the Nobel Prize-winning author lived there. Near the end of this restoration, Hemingway's sons even visited their father's former home and gave the museum their blessing. Today, it transports visitors back in time with era-authentic decor, furnishings, and original family photographs. The 50-minute guided tour, available in multiple languages, is led by knowledgeable docents whose engaging storytelling offers remarkable insights into the literary icon. At the end, they may also encourage you to take a quick stroll to the nearby Oak Park Public Library, the perfect complement to your visit.

Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Springfield

Far from the Windy City, in Illinois’s state capital, history buffs can tour the home and neighborhood of another iconic American figure, 16th US president Abraham Lincoln. Attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, the famous residence has since been restored to its original appearance, mirroring the era Lincoln lived here with his family from 1844 to 1861. Tours of the home reveal a deeper look at Lincoln’s legacy and life, including his various roles of father, husband, lawyer, and politician.

The rest of the National Historic Site is equally worth exploring, with 13 additional homes preserved from the Lincoln era. The buildings reflect the neighborhood’s social and economic diversity, with countless indoor and outdoor exhibits throughout. Highlights include the Dean House Exhibit and the Jameson Jenkins Lot, an Underground Railroad site. Just outside of the park, the Elijah Iles House Foundation is a separate site preserving the president’s colorful past. Set in Springfield’s oldest house, the 1837 home-turned-museum welcomed the president countless times as a guest, and can now be toured by the public.

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Springfield

A ten-minute walk from the Lincoln Home will bring you to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, another site preserving the president’s legacy. While the museum houses an estimated 13 million items from various eras in Illinois history, its collection of Lincoln-related books, manuscripts, and artifacts is the star attraction. Among these, the museum includes nearly 1,600 original manuscripts and letters written or signed by the president and over 280 artifacts linked to him and his family.

The Treasures Gallery is where visitors can discover a variety of these Lincoln-related artifacts, which are carefully displayed and constantly changing to preserve the integrity of the items. As for the museum’s other exhibits, “Journey 1” and “Journey 2” explore Lincoln’s life through galleries of figures and scenes, depicting his early childhood and sombre end. Once you have absorbed all you can, you can then step next door to Union Square Park, where fresh air and statues of Lincoln will round off your day.

The Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, Skokie

Returning to Cook County, right across from Skokie’s Harms Flatwoods nature preserve, visitors can discover a powerful attraction that welcomes around 130,000 guests annually: the Holocaust Museum and Education Center. After hearing threats of a neo-Nazis march through Skokie in the late 1970s, Holocaust survivors formed the Holocaust Memorial Foundation of Illinois to combat the hate. What began as a small Skokie storefront, created to educate the public, has since become the 65,000-square-foot museum we see today, founded with the mission to “Remember the Past, [and] Transform the Future.”

One of the museum’s most innovative and powerful features is its award-winning hologram exhibition. Through high-definition holographic recordings, visitors can hear stories from Holocaust survivors like Fritzie Fritzshall and even participate in interactive question-and-answer sessions. For younger visitors, the museum also houses exhibits like the Take a Stand Center, a collection of interactive galleries created to teach young minds the importance of speaking out against prejudice.

The Super Museum, Metropolis

In Metropolis, "The Home of Superman,” the Super Museum proudly exhibits one of the largest collections of Superman memorabilia in the world. Located right across from the World's Largest Superman Statue in downtown Metropolis, the brightly painted museum is impossible to overlook, appearing as if it has leaped from the pages of a comic book.

Since opening in 1993, the family-owned and operated gallery has amassed over 70,000 Superman items. A longtime fan of the superhero, museum founder Jim Hambrick collected everything from Superman merchandise to genuine movie props, including one of the last remaining George Reeves Superman costumes in the world. Having passed in December of 2024, Hambrick’s legacy lives on through the joy his museum brings to thousands each year.

Discovery Depot Children's Museum, Galesburg

Conveniently located near Galesburg’s Amtrak station, families can deboard and take a short stroll to the Discovery Depot Children's Museum, where fun and learning go hand in hand. Geared towards children aged one to twelve, the museum aims to inspire wonder and excitement for learning, promoting technology, art, science, and more.

Since opening in 1996, the museum has grown to welcome over 40,000 visitors each year, opening a second floor of exhibits in 2019 to account for its popularity. The 14,000-square-foot facility includes a diverse range of exhibits, including an art studio, a make-pretend village, an indoor climber, and a train table in homage to Galesburg’s railroad heritage. Across from the museum, families can also stop by the Galesburg Railroad Museum to learn more about this local history.

Joliet Area Historical Museum, Joliet

Local history is equally ingrained at the Joliet Area Historical Museum, whose collections and exhibitions preserve the city’s storied past. Located in downtown Joliet near landmarks like the Route 66 & Lincoln Highway Marker, the museum is one of the city’s top attractions, welcoming 50,000 visitors each year. Whether grabbing a bite nearby at Juliet's Tavern or planning a prelude to your night at the The Forge concert hall, the Joliet Area Historical Museum is the perfect addition to your time downtown.

Beyond its traditional photo galleries, the museum is known for its captivating interactive exhibits. At the Joliet Streetscape, visitors can “ride” a virtual trolley through the vibrant streets of Joliet during the 1920s and 1930s. Elsewhere, the Illinois & Michigan Canal exhibit guides guests through a life-sized canal base, formed to replicate the Illinois & Michigan Canal base built in 1800s Joliet. Other museum highlights include Made in Joliet artifacts, the authentic off-campus Old Joliet Prison, and a quirky life-sized Route 66 Diner Scene commemorating the city’s inclusion in the initial 1926 routing of Route 66.

LaSalle County Historical Museum, North Utica

Finally, we have the LaSalle County Historical Museum, another Illinois attraction devoted to the preservation of local history. Although the museum is located in the quiet village of North Utica, it still draws significant crowds, largely due to its proximity to Starved Rock State Park, whose beauty attracts 2.2 to 2.8 million visitors each year. Originally a general store, the museum’s main two-story building was built in 1848, serving pioneers and traffic from the nearby Illinois & Michigan Canal. The remainder of the museum is set in three additional historic buildings: an 1865 school, an 1874 barn, and an 1896 working blacksmith shop.

Setting itself apart from Illinois’ larger urban museums, the LaSalle County Historical Museum focuses on local heritage, offering an authentic glimpse into the state’s small towns. However, these small towns were anything but boring. Museum visitors can encounter Indigenous artifacts, learn about the tragic LaSalle County Radium Girls, and discover special curations like the LaSalle County Sheriff's Exhibit. Set to run from January 16th to October 5th, 2025, the exhibit delves into stories connecting the county to prohibition and the infamous gangster Al Capone.

Discover The Best Museums in Illinois

In a world where so many are glued to their screens, these Illinois museums invite us to step outside our usual boxes to embrace curiosity and learn about worlds and lifetimes beyond our own. While many museums have embraced this technological age, like the holograms at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, even then, visitors are invited to interact and engage with the exhibits, replacing the usual act of scrolling.

Whether letting your kids loose at the DuPage Children's Museum, exploring ancient artifacts at The Field Museum of Natural History, or having some good old-fashioned fun at The Super Museum, each experience offers a chance to connect with history, art, or culture in a tangible way. These museums not only entertain but also inspire deeper connections and understanding, reminding us of the value of real-world experiences in an increasingly digital age.