This is a small museum worth doing once…read more Both screenings were very good. The ghost screening seemed like a real actor, crazy how good it was. One gallery wasn't open. We toured the rest and took less than an hour to go through it.

A must see in Springfield, Ill The Abraham Lincoln…read morePresidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois, is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in American history, the United States President or Abraham Lincoln. It is located in downtown Springfield, and consists of two main structures: the Museum and the Library. We parked in the multi-story parking garage just to the north and west of the museum. The museum and the library was a short, easy walk away. I think the museum is the star of the visit since it contains far more to see and experience. From the moment we entered, we were warmly greeted by a friendly volunteer at the front desk. The entire facility serves as a wonderful tribute to one of America's greatest presidents, many would argue the greatest. The exhibits are thoughtfully designed and take visitors through the various eras of Lincoln's life, from his early years through his presidency and legacy. I think one of the highlights is the excellent short film presentation in the Archives area. It is located to the right as you enter. It's a well-produced show that beautifully explains the importance of preserving historical documents and artifacts. And that is just one of the exhibits. There is simply so much to explore here that you could easily spend an entire day (or multiple days) just trying to see and absorb everything. Overall, the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum was wonderful and well worth the visit. Whether you're a history buff or just passing through Springfield, this is a great educational experience that brings Lincoln's story to life in a meaningful way. I definitely recommend this to anyone in the area.

Review Visit: July 31st, 2012…read more A museum dedicated to more than Illinois. Matt and I had no idea what we were getting ourselves in to when we decided to check out the Illinois State Museum. We set our sights on this place while trying to do all the big Lincoln-y things in Springfield. We had assumed it was just your normal museum dedicated to the state of Illinois, corn, and Lincoln. It was all that and much more. It's hard to put in words how cool this place was. It's also hard because it's been over 8 years since we came here and my memory is a bit fuzzy on it. Who is to say the exhibits haven't also changed or been redone since 2012. Any who, I will say that if you find yourself in Springfield and love awesome museums, check this one out. There is a lot to see pertaining to Illinois but it's all so super cool and really well done. One of the best museums I've ever experienced. I know this is a shorter-than-normal post. If it gets even one person interested in seeing this place, then I feel like I've done a great job.

This was such a nice museum! We were in Springfield for less than a day, but still wanted to check…read moreit out! We are in the Curious Toddler Phase right now so all museums are on our go list. The staff here was VERY welcoming as we entered and explained to us what each floor was. Entry here is completely free! The first floor had a lot of history of Illinois and the common species that could be found. When I say history, it went back millions of years ago. It more of a science exhibit. It was very interactive for little ones with pull out drawers, spinning cranks, and windows at kid level for them to see fossils. We then went to the basement level that was the kid's area. My son loved it. And it was crowded with other kids who loved it. There was a pit to excavate fossils, another area to examine TONS of fossils and bones. My son particularly loved driving the fake jeep lol. It was a very fun experience for us. There was a whole other level dedicated to art that we did not get to see, but maybe the next time we are in the area we will!

This is such a fun place. If you love native plants or monarch butterflies or other pollinators,…read moreyou've GOT to visit the courtyard.

Cute, clean, and plenty to do for a 5 and 7 year old. Was not too busy during winter break and half…read moreof admission with ACM reciprocal network. Parking only on street but meters were not running.

A fantastical site to see. Literal history right before your eyes. Walked through the same house…read morethat Lincoln lived in for 26 years. Amazing. And all for free. No reason not to go.

You can walk through the actual house that Abraham Lincoln lived in. How cool is that!…read moreThe Lincoln Home National Historic Site is located in downtown Springfield, Illinois, just a few blocks from the Illinois State Capitol. The site is operated by the National Park Service which preserves not only Abraham Lincoln's home but also much of the surrounding neighborhood. Your visit begins at the Visitor Center, where you obtain your free tour ticket and can browse several exhibits about Lincoln, his family, and the history of the neighborhood. The staff and park rangers were friendly, helpful, and well organized. When it was time for our tour, our group was briefed in the small theater and then escorted the several blocks through the historic neighborhood to Lincoln's home. The guide lead our group to outside the home first and talked about the history and then we went into the house and moved from room to room. The tour guide did a great job of explaining everything and answering the many questions that our group had about the house. Seeing the actual home where Lincoln lived before becoming President makes the history feel much more personal than simply reading about it in a book or hearing about it on the web. The rooms are furnished in period style, and the guides do an excellent job pointing out interesting details that you might otherwise overlook. Because this is a carefully preserved historic home, visitors are asked not to touch the furniture, walls, or other interior features. There are also several stairways, narrow hallways, and uneven transitions between rooms, so those with mobility limitations may find portions of the tour challenging. The National Park Service works hard to preserve the home while still allowing visitors to experience it as authentically as possible. I would suggest after touring the house that you take some time to walk through the surrounding neighborhood. Many of the neighboring homes have been restored, creating the feeling of stepping back into the mid-1800s. Overall, this was a highlight of our visit to Springfield. The knowledgeable guides, beautifully preserved home, and historic neighborhood made it a memorable experience. I would highly recommend the Lincoln Home National Historic Site to anyone visiting Springfield or anyone interested in American history. Enjoy!

This USED to be a great museum and stop along the road…read more Now its on complete and utter disrepair and apparently funded by the budget given to an outhouse. The picnic area along with the play ground are closed. The grass doesnt appear to have been mowed. There are literally pieces of the building falling off, with caution tape around the area by the entrance. Parking lot and road is basically one pot hole after another. Exhibits are VERY limited compared to ten years ago. The "theater" is now closed. It appears the State of Hellinois has forgot its history and doesnt want reminded. Guess the state has Pritzker to thank for no funding other than Shitcago. If you planned to visit here, do NOT do it just keep going. The employees inside are very nice and are trying but this place has been forgotten.

This used to be a nice museum. Now almost all of the extra items are closed like the spiritual…read morewalk and the top floor view. Stuff missing from displays. Clothing on the native Americans covering? No idea what happened but talk about disappointing.

We reserved a free tour at Eventbrite. Jennifer brought 15 of us through this massive, historic…read morehome. She pointed out specific pieces, told stories about the owners & was very knowledgeable about Frank Lloyd Wrights work. We started our tour with a brief video about the glass work. We went into several sitting areas, Dana's bedroom, nursery, dining room, pantry & kitchen.library, bowling alley & billiards room. The 3rd largest home Frank Lloyd Wright ever designed. this remarkably preserve Prairie School icon dates from 1902 until 1904. It's more interesting than his home in Oak Park. The 16 floor home was considered experimental with a duckpin bowling alley & 2 barrel vaulted ceiling's. There is exquisite color shifting art glass & 90% of the furniture is original. Susan Lawrence Dana (1862-1946) was an heiress to a silver mines fortune . She was widow in 1900 & had complete control over her household & fortune. She was a leading philanthropic figure in Springfield. Dana decided to completely remodeled her home commissioning Frank Lloyd Wright. Her new home reflected her flamboyant personality & was designed for display & entertainment. The concept of "expanding space" was evident throughout the house with windows placed to continually draw the attention to the outside. Wright designed approximately 450 art glass windows, skylights, door panels, sconces & light fixtures for the house. The interior Torii gates are magnificent.hallway into two of the largest rooms in the house. The musical gallery for entertaining and the library contains special easels. Wright designed white oak furniture for Dana to display Japanese prints. In1928, Dana had dementia & financial constraints. In1944, the home and its contents were sold to Charles C. Thomas, a medical publisher. Thomas lived here & used this home as his publishing company. He sold the house to the state for a million dollars. It became a historic site. Jennifer shared that the house is still being utilized for social community events.

This was so cool! What an amazing experience! This was my first Wright house, and I'm not sure it…read morecan be topped! I understand why photos aren't allowed inside, but I was expecting more postcards depicting the various rooms to be available in the gift shop. There was cool stuff, for sure, but more postcards of the interior would be great since photos aren't allowed. My tour guide was Allicent and she did a great job talking about all the artistic and architectural features of the home. There was also a video at the beginning about the manufacture of some of the glass. I was sorry that the intro video didn't tell us more about the historical and social context of Mrs Dana, but I imagine most visitors would be more interested in the architectural technique. My only complaint with my tour is that there were two little kids on it. They were like 3 and 5. They were totally distracting the whole time--talking, whining, trying to grab at things. I'm not sure why the museum has such strict rules about other things but also allows in kids under 12. There's nothing they could possibly glean from the tour. It's really not designed for kids. Nor should it be!

This is such a whimsical and rockin' (I think I'm funny lol) store! They have a nice selection of…read moredifferent rocks, gemstones, fossils, and more fun earthy things! The owners seemed super cool, down to earth, and real about everything too! Stop on by and look at their rocks!

Went in here today, and had an amazing visit! Service was amazing and so friendly! Big variety of…read moreproducts and information attached to each item! They also has a great mix and match deal on several of their products, and reasonable prices! Definitely will be back soon!