Very interesting, changed my outlook on the history that actually happened in this area!! Take the…read moretour, and buy some goods at the end to help preserve this awesome place! Or just donate!! Loved it!!!

Great place for genealogical research of Will County. Tours are very interesting. Ask to see the…read moreland grants signed by previous presidents. And special things in the vault.

This is a nice little local history museum located in an old church in downtown Lemont…read more The museum itself is downstairs in the bulding, the church itself can be rented for weddings and baptisms. Though I haven t been wed there, I do think it would have been beautiful with it s old charme. They even have a little garden at the backside of the church, where pictures can be taken. I really think of it ideal for a romantical wedding. It s a little hidden gem. :-) The museum downstairs has lots and lots of exhibition pieces and the nice lady from the museum can give you a great informative tour. I think the museum is also great for kids of all ages. It s worth the trip, because it s not expensive at all! They just ask for 1 Dollar admission for kids of the age 12 and older and 2 Dollars for adults. You can get lots of great books there too and even get a little book on the history of most buildings in downtown Lemont, which itself is already a nice little place, where you really feel like 50 years back in time! :-) It s even possible to do some research on your ancestors in the archive of the museum. But you have to get an appointment for that. It s possible to drop by and just ask or even call them for that. I ve been volunteering there and going through local history by checking old newspapers and yearbooks is lots of fun. Hope for lots of people to find this on yelp, because the museum and all the volunteers there are so nice and helpful. :-D

I came here for a Saturday opening and reception of Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas and…read moreBeyond Boundaries: Three Decades of Contemporary Chinese Art. It was so nice to go to a reception on a Saturday afternoon instead of a week night. The setup of the place is such that the food and drinks are floor level, but no food/drinks are allowed in the gallery space. Not convenient but understandable. This was my 2nd or 3rd time in this space. There was cheese/meat/fruit in one area, sealed pieces of cake in another area, and bartenders pouring wine, beer, soda, and water. Also a special drink dedicated to Alma Thomas. I was not familiar with her work, she was big admirer of outer space. It coincided with the Artemis II lunar space trip, so that was just awesome! The other exhibit about the University of Chicago's history with Chinese art was visually arresting and thought-provoking. There was a space separate for kids to do crafts as well. the bathrooms were small but clean, and a coat rack was provided, which was quite convenient. It is not far from public transportation, and I can't speak to parking, but the campus is so nice, if you live a mile or so away, it's a nice walk.

Family Day at the Smart Museum…read more When my daughter booked our family for Family Day as what we thought was part of U Chicago's Family Day, we were quite excited. A fun crafting adventure for the weekend. We almost didn't go as we were running late. Called and they said to come, so we did. Lucky to find a parking spot next to the Smart Museum on the University of Chicago campus. Walked in to the open atrium where we saw families of preschool aged kids with their mommies and daddies weaving on paper looms. My daughters have progressed to grad school, so we were a bit surprised. The museum curator also said when she scheduled Family Day at the Smart Museum of Art, she didn't realize that was also UChicago's Family Day. What a coincidence! So....we explored the museum first for inspiration. The museum is small, but had some beautiful installations. My favorite was the sunflower quilt print. The Sunflower Quilting Bee at Arles. Rosa Parks. Sojourner Truth. Ida Wells. Mary McLeod Bethune. Harriet Tubman. Vincent Van Gogh watching strong women advocate for equality from a distance. So powerful. Then, back to the atrium to pick up paper looms and fill brown paper bags with and assortment of strands of yarn, cord, shells and cards. Not having a plan, we went to work. Creativity inspired by our love for each other. Nice to have their featured artist come check on us. No, we were not on our phones. We were weaving small works of art. A great opportunity to spend a few quality hours with my daughters away from their responsibilities as adults studying to make an impact on the world. Family Day at the Smart Museum of Art. #2700

If you are a Blues Brothers fan, or a fan of Gothic and Romanesque architecture, you will enjoy…read moreviewing the old, no-longer-in-business Joliet Prison. It dominates the landscape! You can't go inside (too bad - I would be willing to pay for tours!) but you can park in a lot, walk around outside the imposing walls, peer into a few windows and through the fences, and read the large interpretive signs. If you are in Joliet, or "doing" Route 66, this is definitely a stop to make. It will make you ponder crime and punishment in the USA.

While this says "museum", it is two train cars sitting on a small train track. There are signs…read moreshowing fun facts about the area and a small parking lot. Overall it's a great little side quest to visit if you're in the area. Since it is all outside, there is no actual opening or closing time.

I really wouldn't call this a museum, it's more like looking at preserved history. Off of the minor…read moreroute 66 alignment you'll find this caboose and this very rare train station (it was originally placed a mile and a half from this site) and you can read all of the history that's has been beautifully preserved here. It has parking and it's welcomed for patrons too if you're going to eat at the place next door. Highly recommend for history buffs like myself!

It's an awesome place to visit. There was memorabilia there from my high school teacher and also…read morefrom my cousin. I was really impressed

Got it enjoy Oktoberfest here and really enjoyed exploring the museum! Super informative and really…read moreliked the outdoor format. Beautiful to walk around and see all the original (or replica) structures from the 1800/1900s Definitely going back!

Great weather for an Octoberfest! Delicious food, great crowds…read more I had a chicken schnitzel, potato salad, apple tart, pretzel, and an amazing Diet Coke. The tour is informative with the professional people showing us great exhibits and buildings. Thanks for a great time and experience!!!

First time coming here, I absolutely never knew this place existed and I live nearby. It's a small…read morelittle place inside the Lockport Metra station, it's pretty unorganized with a lot of clutter, mainly because they get tons of donations but you get to learn all about the native Americans around the Midwest and many other native tribes. Great stuff on display, informative on events, small little gift shop as well.