Top Things to do in Illinois
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10 Specialty Museums in Illinois That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Illinois, United States including Ottawa Historical and Scouting Heritage Museum, Halim Time & Glass Museum, Volo Auto Museum, Rock Island Arsenal Museum, Illinois Railway Museum, IL Route 66 Association Hall of Fame & Museum, Mid America Motorworks, My Garage Museum, Graue Mill & Museum, Aurora Regional Fire Museum, Caterpillar Visitors Center.
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1. Ottawa Historical and Scouting Heritage Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 21 reviews
Reviewed By interceptpubs - Columbus, United States
We stopped in Ottawa mainly because it was the site of the first Lincoln-Douglas debate. This museum has a small display on that event, including a dress won by a woman who was there, but the museum has a whole lot more to offer. There are actually two galleries - the first covers the history of the Ottawa area. We were surprised to learn that Ottawa has a surprisingly rich manufacturing past with a number of unusual products having been made here. In 1922, the Radium Dial Company took over an old high school building in Ottawa and began hiring young women to paint clock dials with luminous paint. At the height of production, over 4,000 clock dials per day were being turned out by a work force of around 1,000. Unfortunately, the luminous paint used a combination of phosphorus and the radioactive element radium. Before long, many of the women started coming down with unusual, debilitating symptoms ultimately traced to radiation sickness. The plant closed in the mid-1930s, but the damage had sadly already been done. Reading the tragic story presented in the exhibit of the most famous of the women who worked here, Catherine Wolfe Donahue, and her quest for compensation is truly heart wrenching. Other manufacturing enterprises with much less dire consequences are also covered: Ghent Motor Company (a World War I era auto manufacturer), Gay Buggy Company (one of their carriages is on display), Porter Manufacturing and King and Hamilton (farm equipment makers), Peltier Marble Company (glass toy marbles that is), Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass (a pioneer sheet glass maker for automobiles, etc.), Weaver Piano Company, and Western Cottage Organ. As noted already, exhibits for each typically include examples of what they manufactured, as well as photos, advertisements, product catalogs, and other artifacts. There are also photos of some of the local mansions, and information on important historic figures from the area, such as Civil War general W. H. L. Wallace who practiced law in Ottawa in the mid 1800s. He also belonged to the Illinois militia with brief service during the Mexican War at the Battle of Buena Vista and much more extensive service during the Civil War where he led troops at the Battles of Fort Donelson and Shiloh, dying from wounds suffered during the latter. General Grant described him as one of the Union's greatest generals. Another famous Ottawa resident, William Boyce, a Chicago newspaper publisher who bought a 38 acre estate in Ottawa in 1903, is featured even more prominently in the museum. After buying his mansion here, he spent most of his time in the city, only returning to Chicago for business when necessary. He had a love of the outdoors that he apparently also loved to share. After meeting Robert Baden-Powell in London in 1909, he founded the American scouting organization, the Boy Scouts of America, in 1910. A great deal of exhibit space is devoted to Boyce with many items on display, including furniture from his mansion. This naturally leads to the museum's second gallery which focuses on scouting history specifically. This is perhaps the largest exhibit of scouting artifacts, ephemera, etc. that one will ever see, including a large amount of Baden-Powell material from a private collection that the museum now holds. We spent about an hour here and really enjoyed all of the exhibits - the presentation and depth is really quite good for a local museum.
2. Halim Time & Glass Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 75 reviews
The Halim Time & Glass Museum is a world class collection of historic timepieces, stained glass windows, and other decorative arts. Permanent exhibits include the American Stained Glass Masters, The Louis Comfort Tiffany Gallery and Clocks of the World. Our Museum Café Gallery hosts rotating exhibits as will our 3rd floor Special Exhibits Hall when it opens.
Reviewed By Beatriz121
Wow! For being a relatively small museum of 2 floors, they really make great use of the space to show off Mr. Halim's collection of masterpieces. The first floor features beautiful stained glass windows, many of them rescued from churches. The second floor features an array of time pieces from both the US and abroad. I especially liked the small video screens scattered throughout the second floor displays that provided visitors with the ability to see the moving parts of the clocks. The creativity and craftsmanship on display throughout the museum is awesome. Staff members were very welcoming and were happy to answer the questions that I had. Parking is at a premium in the neighborhood. After several laps around the block, I was happy to finally discover the free parking provided by the museum. It is down the alley which is located almost directly across from the museum's main entrance.
3. Volo Auto Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 421 reviews
Reviewed By I17Studios
How anyone can complain about this place is beyond me. You step in the door and you're greeted by Michael Keaton's Batmobile and Pee-Wee Herman's bicycle, as well as a variety of different bicycles and Duesenbergs, from there you're introduced to classics for sale in the primary showroom, movie cars and props, the celebrity collection, and whatever else in on site for your viewing pleasure.
4. Rock Island Arsenal Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 119 reviews
The Rock Island Arsenal Museum is the Army’s second oldest museum. It first opened to the public on July 4, 1905. The museum tells the story of Rock Island Arsenal and Arsenal Island from the establishment of Fort Armstrong in 1816 to today. Among the museum's highlights is its firearms collection. Consisting of more than 1200 military and civilian firearms, the collection is one of the most unique in the country. Visitors can see a wall-gun from the American Revolution, rifles from the Little Bighorn Battlefield and Custer’s last stand, and experiment firearms from Rock Island Arsenal’s Rodman Laboratories. The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday from Noon to 4:00pm
Reviewed By 567arisl
Unbelievable amounts of guns! Any gun and military enthusiast would enjoy their time here! The amount of information on all the weaponry there is very extensive
5. Illinois Railway Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 287 reviews
The Illinois Railway Museum is the largest museum of its kind in America. Ride historic trains on the museum's five-mile demonstration railroad. See giant steam locomotives, powerful diesels and elegant electric cars on display and in operation. Enjoy educational displays, a train-themed playground for children, and immersive exhibits. Bring a picnic or dine at the Central Avenue Diner. The museum's collection includes such highlights as the "Nebraska Zephyr" streamliner, featured in the movie "A League of Their Own;" the 1941 "Electroliner" train which helped inspire Japan's famous Bullet trains; the last surviving "Green Hornet" streetcar from Chicago; and a 1918 steam locomotive originally built for export to Imperial Russia.
Reviewed By davidkP9117MP - Thornhill, Canada
The IRM is a railfan must-see but even non fans will enjoy the museum's excellent and very extensive collections. It specializes in Midwest interurbans since the area had many such services, but there are plenty of fine examples of steam, diesel and electric railroad equipment too. Many are rare or unique. You can ride a beautifully restored interurban car on their extensive trackage and on summer weekends they run steam and diesel trains. Wear comfy shoes; it's huge.
6. IL Route 66 Association Hall of Fame & Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 319 reviews
Reviewed By TeamWard - Nottingham, United Kingdom
A great place to start your immersion of Route 66,housed in a historic fire station, several different rooms to venture through, my favourite the WWII stuff, some cool people work their, very friendly, well worth your time.
7. Mid America Motorworks, My Garage Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 66 reviews
Reviewed By Ruffian72 - Highland, United States
I have been here numerous times for Corvette FunFest, SwapFest, and just to check out MY Garage (full of memorabilia and cool cars). The owner has always been very accommodating, friendly, and his passion for what he does is contagious. I have never missed a FunFest, thousands of beautiful Corvettes, followed by a great concert on Saturday night.
8. Graue Mill & Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 78 reviews
Reviewed By O6378WFannag - Park Ridge, United States
I stop here almost always when I need to breath between meetings and clients . Perfect spot for a short or longer walk and for relaxing. I went to the museum once so now I just walk around it’s grounds.
9. Aurora Regional Fire Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 26 reviews
The Aurora Regional Fire Museum is located in Aurora's old Central Fire Station. The museum is open to the public regular hours, and features a variety of interactive exhibits designed to educate and entertain children, families, and firefighters.The museum's primary exhibit, "Getting There, Getting Water, Getting Rescued" traces the evolution of the tools and technology used by firefighters. Visitors can pass a leather fire bucket from the early 1800s. See the horse stalls and the "real" fire horses. Discover what was found under the floor boards of the old central fire station. Marvel at the strange looking Vajen-Bader smoke mask. See and hear how modern fire apparatus clears the streets with sirens, air horns, and devices that change traffic lights green. Watch vintage film clips of firefighters and fire engines on one of five video touch-screens. All this in addition to five pieces of fire apparatus on display in a fully restored 1894 fire station.
Reviewed By Wander13815769068 - Yorkville, United States
Great for kids of all ages. New exhibit's open quite regularly, great story's of the men/hero's who put their lives on the line for the great city we live in.
10. Caterpillar Visitors Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 440 reviews
The Caterpillar Visitors Center is a fascinating look at the company, the iron and the people making sustainable progress possible around the world. From the humble beginnings of the first tractor to the company's present-day leadership in building infrastructure and powering the planet — it's all right here on Peoria's beautiful riverfront. We invite you to experience Caterpillar like never before and plan your visit today.
Reviewed By DallasTricia
We have two family members who work for CAT. Visited for the second time and found it even more interesting than before. There’s a fun LEGO/robotics room for kids and all of the machines on display were decked out in holiday lights and bows. Very festive. We had four children in our group from 2-8 years old. Every staff member was very welcoming. Loved the gift shop, too. They’ve thought of everything when it comes to branded gift items. Good quality and reasonable prices.
