Midwest Museum of Natural History facts for kids
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| Established | 2004 |
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| Location | 425 West State Street (Rt 64) Sycamore, Illinois |
| Type | Local history |
The Midwest Museum of Natural History was a cool place in Sycamore, Illinois, USA. It was a museum that showed off amazing things from nature. The building itself had a long history! It was first built in 1875 as a church. Later, in the 1920s, it became the Sycamore Community Center. This center had fun things like basketball courts and a swimming pool.
In February 2004, the old building got a huge makeover. Workers spent $1.2 million to make it a modern museum. They added new exhibit rooms and classrooms. They also improved the roof and air control to protect the museum's items. The museum officially opened its doors to visitors. Sadly, the museum closed for good in February 2020.
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What Was Inside: Museum Exhibits
The museum had awesome exhibits that showed different natural places. These were called dioramas. Dioramas are like 3D pictures that make you feel like you're really there. They showed natural areas from North America and Africa.
Amazing Animal Displays
More than 100 mounted animals were on display in these dioramas. One of the biggest and most special animals was a huge elephant. It was one of the few elephants you could see in a museum in the country. The museum also had a collection of rocks and minerals. There was even a fun, hands-on area just for kids.
Live Animals and Special Collections
The museum was also home to many live animals. You could see different reptiles, amphibians, fish, and even cool bugs called arthropods. They also had special exhibits that changed over time. Many of the mounted animal specimens were given to the museum by Dr. Russell Schelkopf. He was a local veterinarian and a big supporter of nature.
Fun Activities and Programs
The Midwest Museum of Natural History offered many exciting programs. These programs were for people of all ages.
Learning for Students and Groups
Schools often brought students for field trips. Scout groups and homeschoolers also had special programs. The museum offered tours for other groups too. Museum staff would even visit local schools and libraries. They brought their programs right to the students.
Public Events and Workshops
The museum had public events all year long. There were nature classes for young children. Adults could attend interesting lectures. You could even join workshops to learn about things like geology. Live animal presentations were always a big hit. The museum also held special fundraising events. These included "Rockin' for the Reptiles" in June and the "Groundhog Gala" in February.
The museum is now closed.
