General Info

Illinois State Museum was founded in 1877, and its first home was in the State Capitol building. The Museum was founded as a natural history museum with outstanding geology and biology collections. What is the mission of Illinois State Museum Illinois State Museum promotes discovery, learning, and an appreciation of Illinois' natural, cultural, and artistic heritage. Our full mission statement is here. The Museum is guided throught its mission by Illinois State Museum Board, as well as Illinois State Museum Society Board. The headquarters of Illinois State Museum is in Springfield. The public museum with exhibits and educational programs is located in the State Capitol Complex on the corner of Spring and Edwards Streets. The Museum's Research and Collections Center, which houses collections, research laboratories, and a Technology Learning Center is located at 1011 East Ash Street in Springfield. Branch facilities include Dickson Mounds Museum in Lewistown, Lockport Gallery in Lockport, the Southern Illinois Artisans Shop and Southern Illinois Art Gallery at Rend Lake, and the Illinois Artisans Shop and Chicago Gallery in the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago. Illinois State Museum was housed in the Centennial Building ( now the Howlett Building ) from 1923 until the new museum building was constructed and dedicated in February 1963. This marked the first time in Illinois State Museum's history that the Museum was located in a facility devoted exclusively to Illinois State Museum. We have more on the history of Illinois State Museum here. Illinois State Museum's permanent and transitional exhibitions, extensive collections, and educational programs tell the story of the art, Native American heritage, history, and natural history of Illinois.