I was surprised how much my three elementary aged grandchildren liked this little museum. The…read moremuseum consists mostly of taxidermied animals and preserved specimens in glass jars. But it was all inches away from their eyes. Several pages of Scavenger hunt activities led them around the museum. Exhibits spill out into adjoining hallways, most of them decades old and representing students' projects. We spent about an hour there, fully engaged.

It is very small but alot of animals and birds behind glass that are stuffed. Very inpresses as a…read moreadult.

One of the best hidden gems in Illinois! Perfect for both…read morekids and adults -- from the very first moment, you feel connected to the past. Tim is the heart of this place! His passion for classic cars and the way he shares their stories is absolutely inspiring. We had such a great time -- we'll definitely come back and highly recommend it to everyone!

We haven't been there recently but are definitely planning a return visit. Just loved it I think…read morethe gentleman giving us the tour was having as much fun as we were especially when my husband told him he was a mechanic and was building a Model-T frame and all.

Loved the Growing Up Gen X exhibit! I didn't even know this branch of the Illinois museum existed…read moreuntil a post from the museum about the Gen X exhibit popped up on my Facebook feed the other day. I had missed this exhibit when it was in Springfield last year and was so happy to catch it closer to home. The entire exhibit was very well done and it was fun to show my teen things I had or used at her age. My fellow Gen X friend enjoyed it too. John was so knowledgeable about upcoming museum and town activities that I now have a list of things I want to attend in the near future. I saved the Facebook event to attend their upcoming Ferris Bueller movie showing event in a few weeks. I'm interesting in seeing the fine arts exhibit that will be replacing this one in a few weeks too.

Recently came here, what an amazing place to see a constant rotation of ever changing art every…read moremonth. There's no entry fee but donations are what keep this place going. Easy to park but it has limited hours, staff here is absolutely friendly and knowledgeable. It's very quiet and peaceful so nobody will really be bothered. If you're visiting the area too, it's great to get off at the metra stop nearby.

What a fabulous place! I expected to see rocks - polished and unpolished. Yet this small museum…read morecrams in antique and ancient rock carvings - beautiful and impressive. We went on a Wednesday, a free day at the museum. (Make sure you leave a donation.) What you see are beautifully carved stones - precious and not precious, jade, rock crystal, and much more. There is even petrified wood (beautiful without carving). The size of the collection is impressive but (a word I'm overusing) everything is beautiful. There is plenty of free parking right outside the museum. The gift shop was also lovely. Definitely a must go to. We're already arranging another trip to Lazzadro with friends.

This museum has an absolutely beautiful and very impressive collection of jade. Even though they…read moredon't have as big or varied of a collection as a larger museum, each of their pieces are absolute works of art and left my family and I in awe. Despite it's small size, you could easily spend 2-3hrs here. Each piece has a nice introduction and it gives a great introduction to lapidry. In addition to the jade pieces, they also had stone dioramas, mosaics, and a gem collection. While we were there, they also had an exhibit on the minerals that go into cellphones, which was fun to learn about. Additionally, it's quite affordable for a museum with this impressive of a collection. It's $5 for students, $8 for 65yrs or older, and $10 for adults. I think that it is very worth a trip.

This was an interesting museum. I was looking for cultural things to do while visiting Lombard for…read morethe weekend. The large mill had several historical facts. There was a live demonstration of the stone wheel grinding corn into corn meal. There are three stories, with the top two being a museum and the basement floor part of the Underground Railroad station shop. Taking back into little known American History were relics of the slave trade. The museum entrance fee was $6 for adults. The outside grounds were kept nicely and there was a short trail along the river.

Wow! I have to get out of downtown more often!…read more I was car shopping with a friend and she brought me to the museum and the walking trail once she was finished purchasing a car. I was so surprised to see such history and beauty next to a big busy highway. There is a spacious parking lot tucked away as to not impede on the surrounding beauty. The beautifully elegant building looked so interesting. The age was apparent but it was in exquisite condition. We did not go in as it was not open. We walked around it and enjoyed it from the outside. I am looking forward to returning soon. We checked out the big water wheel and bridge and took some pretty photos that did not do justice to the natural beauty of the area. We then walked along the pretty trail inside all of the foliage along the water. It wasn't too crowded so we had space to take our time and enjoy. It was so nice to see the mix of families and singles enjoying nature and some fresh air. Once we were done with our lovely walk, we went next door to the nearby pub for a casual meal. What a great area that deserves another visit.

Updated Review: We…read morewanted to see the 1893 Columbian Exposition exhibits that are thru out the gardens paying tributes to the Architecture,Culture and Foods that debuted at the Worlds Fair. In the Summer,the gardens are full of color! We like to go on Wednesday as the parking is free as long as you pre-register online otherwise it is 6.00. This offer is available March thru October. A real Hidden Gem in the Western suburbs.

Cantigny Park is basically therapy with better landscaping…read more One of my favorite things about this place is that it somehow manages to be both incredibly family friendly and peaceful at the same time. There's tons of space for kids to run around, explore, and burn off energy without feeling crowded or chaotic. And if you need a little reset yourself, there's always a quiet corner waiting for you. Whether it's a walking path, a bench, or just a peaceful stretch of the gardens, it's one of those rare places where you can step away, clear your head, and just breathe for a while. Beautiful grounds, relaxing atmosphere, and something for everyone. I came for a walk and left feeling lighter. Cantigny really is a little escape hiding in plain sight.

There's something for everyone!!! Our toddler and friends had such a blast here. There's so much to…read moredo, including water play, building, open sensory areas, play with lighting, experiment sections, and book areas. We are easily able to spend a couple hours here, and it's great to be able to grab a bite downstairs too. We would love to make our visits recurring in the year!

I brought my very active 51/2 Yr old grandson for the first time. He loved the water area, the…read moregreen wooden hills, the quiet area, and the mechanical (for lack of a better word) area. Sadly two fo the mechanical things were broken: one would not work, and the other the one of the hoses the balls were to go through was tearing and while there were extra hoses available, they did not hook up correctly. However, because there is still so much to see, we will be back.

We went to the museum expecting to see a few old photos and not much else. Instead we stepped…read moreseemingly back in time to an immersive experience of a founding Downers Grove family. The curator clearly pours her heart and soul into curating every aspect of the museum, from the objects in the house to information about the people who walked its walls. We even walked through the cellar where the family hid people for the Underground Railroad. The long history of the house is imbued with mysteries and surprising details about how people used to live... paintings hidden in the walls, a wife's letters kept from past suitors, a wreath of faux flowers made from feathers... we were absolutely floored. We spent over an hour learning so much about American history through the prism of this fascinating house. Bravo!

An interesting local museum with about half a Victorian house on display; special exhibits in the…read morebarn; and another building visible only from the outside. Small wildflower walk. It's free (donations happily accepted). This was perhaps a stop on the underground railroad, though there's no proof. Visit is on your own, and a couple of rooms are given over to administrative purposes. Check out a small selection of items that are marked "please touch" (notably some items in the kitchen, such as the irons heated on the stove during the period; a period corset; etc.). The stereopticons (they have 2) are not included in "please touch" and are positioned so you can't actually use them, which is frustrating (hoping they'll buy a stand). In a hallway upstairs are photos and capsule bios of some noted DG citizens; I had no idea noted Egyptologist Henry Breasted had a connection. Signage is somewhat lacking, though there are small cards in most rooms asking kids "can you find {list of items}?" which will help you find some things. The barn includes an early/midcentury fire truck lovingly restored, with displays on the 1976 Bicentennial painted fire hydrants; a beloved firefighter who dressed as a clown to teach kids about fire safety. The temporary exhibit on travel was interesting, and the staff was preparing for a "Victorian dinner." Overall, worth a look if you have an interest in local history or the lives and possessions of the Victorian well-to-do. Did I mention it's free?

We went last week. Wait until after Aug 15 to go. Currently there is little or no explanation of…read morelife in the 1800's (except the mansion - the mansion was the regular docent-led tour - well done). For some insane reason, they have decided to "feature" the 1980's. Poorly. A quiz about TV commercials in the 80's. We were there with children, 30-somethings, and a tourist from another country. No one knew any of these answwers and they wouldn't stop. NOTHING about the newspaper printing in the 1800's. Blacksmith was at least about being a blacksmith, but no history. School - "Well, schools were pretty much the same as they are now. Not like this one." Our kids understood that Twister was a game and movies were on a tape in the 80's. But they were not interested. Nice craft opportunity with the scrunchee. But not about early settlement. If not for the mansion, 2 stars (things were open to go inside, at least). I will check carefully again before I would take kids for any history that they would care about. Must be a big draw for the 50 -60 year olds! Huge disappointment for us and our grade-school kids.

Came here for the Halloween trick or treating. There was lots to do and it was fun for all ages…read morefrom 12 months to 65 years old. We played with the dinosaurs eggs, bubbles, entered the costumes contest, and took a tour of the mansion. The decorations were pretty great!