Elgin Public Museum facts for kids
Elgin Public Museum before the east wing was added in 1998
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| Established | 1907 |
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| Location | 225 Grand Boulevard Elgin, Illinois |
| Type | Natural history, anthropology |
The Elgin Public Museum of Natural History and Anthropology is a cool natural history museum located in Elgin, Illinois. It's over 100 years old and sits inside the huge 108-acre Lords Park. This museum helps visitors learn about the natural world and different cultures.
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What the Museum is All About
The museum's main goal is to help people learn about nature and anthropology. Anthropology is the study of humans, past and present. They do this through fun exhibits and hands-on activities.
The museum wants to help you understand and appreciate our natural world. They also want you to learn about different cultures, both old and new. They hope you'll see how human choices have changed the world over time.
A Look Back: Museum History
The Elgin Public Museum building has a long and interesting story. It was built in 1907 and opened in 1920. It is the oldest museum building in Illinois that is still used as a museum today!
The museum started with a special gift. Mr. and Mrs. G. P. Lord gave their amazing collection of natural history items. These items were first shown in 1898 at the Lords Park Pavilion. But the Lords wanted their collection to have its own building.
So, a local architect named David E. Postle designed the building in 1904. The original plan was for a building with three sections, called wings. However, only the west wing and the middle hall were finished at first because they ran out of money.
In 1998, the east wing was finally added. This made the building look like its original design, with a balanced and classic style. The new wing was built to match the old part perfectly. It used the same brick and special limestone. Inside, the museum has beautiful original oak wood, fancy plaster decorations, and ceramic tile floors.
In July 2000, the museum reopened with exciting new features. It got a new entrance that is easy for everyone to use, an elevator, and new restrooms. They also added cool new exhibits. These included "Exploring the Waterways: The LaSalle Expedition" and "Nature of Elgin." A special "Children's Discovery Room" was also added, where kids can learn by doing. The museum's gift shop also got bigger.
Explore the Exhibits
The Elgin Public Museum has many interesting exhibits for you to explore. You can see Mazon Creek fossils, which are very old plant and animal remains. You can also learn about Native American ways of life.
Other exhibits show you giant Ice Age mammals that lived long ago. You can also discover the amazing plants and animals of the Fox River ecosystem. Learn about the La Salle Expeditions and what explorers found.
The museum also teaches about endangered species and why it's important to protect them. You can see many different rocks and minerals. There are also many stuffed animals and natural history items. These show the wildlife that lives in the Fox River Valley.
A super fun place is the Discovery Room. This is an interactive playroom especially for kids! It has games, puzzles, and a hands-on collection. You can touch animal furs, turtle shells, and other cool natural objects.
Outside the museum, in the 108-acre Lords Park, you can see even more. There's a farm zoo, and you can even see live bison and elk!
Learn and Discover
The museum offers many ways to learn for both kids and adults. They have special classes and programs for schools and scouting groups. You can learn about different topics like:
- Anthropology (the study of people and cultures)
- Ecology (how living things interact with their environment)
- Geology (the study of Earth's rocks and soil)
- Paleontology (the study of fossils and ancient life)
- Zoology (the study of animals)
They also have fun seasonal events throughout the year, so there's always something new to experience!
