Awesome museum with 9 permanent exhibits and a rotating special exhibit in the Campbell Gallery…read more Admission is free which is incredible given the quality of the museum. This museum is both larger and nicer than many museums that have paid admission around Illinois, and also feature some interactive components as well. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the Champaign area as a fun place to spend an afternoon learning. This is also a great spot to visit if you're looking for something to do while dining nearby, or to spend inside on a hot summer day.

My husband and I visited The William R. and Clarice V. Spurlock Museum while at the University of…read moreIllinois. There are six permanent galleries, each one features the history and art of a different continent. There is also a temporary exhibit space. When we were there the temporary exhibit was on the first Farm Aid, held at Memorial Stadium. The museum was very enjoyable. I loved how many different things I could see in a hour. The best partwas that admission free!

Swope Art Museum, officially known as the Sheldon Swope Art Museum, may not have all the…read morerazzle-dazzle of Indy's Newfields, however, this is an impressive regional museum and a source of pride in Terre Haute. The Swope Art Museum has a collection of nearly 2,500 works of American art including paintings, sculptures, and works on paper from the 19th century to the present. Changing exhibitions from the permanent collection include selections from American Scene Painting of the 1930s and 1940s, 19th century American art, early 20th century modernism, Indiana art, and Post-World War II figurative and abstract art. The museum is particularly known for its American Scene Painting collection with artists including Thomas Hart Benton, Charles Burchfield, Reginald Marshall, Grant Wood, and Edward Hopper. 19th century American art movements include William Merritt Chase, George Inness, Frederick MacMonnies, Mary Fairchild MacMonnies, and Tompkins Harrison Matteson. 20th century art includes works by George Bellows, Arthur B. Davies, Manierre Dawson, Jack Levine, George Luks, and Fairfield Porter among others. Indiana artists are also represented here quite extensively - J. Ottis Adams, William Forsyth, Theodore C. Steele, C. Curry Bohm, Otto Stark, Carl C. Graf, Genevieve Goth Grath, and Terre Haute natives like John Rogers Cox, James Farrington Gookins, Janet Scudder (who is directly related to the physician who delivered me!), Caroline Peddle Ball, and Gilbert Wilson. Finally, more contemporary artists like Robert Indiana, Andy Warhol, Paul Jenkins, and Robert Motherwell also have art works here. You can schedule a guided tour here that lasts about an hour. In terms of accessibility, the Swope is on two floors. There is a small elevator that can accommodate most wheelchairs/mobility equipment. They also have a wheelchair that can be utilized in case yours doesn't work (assuming you can transfer). There is 2-hour street parking around the museum (it is watched, so watch the time to avoid fines). For special events, visitors can use the Old National parking lot. This is a 1901 building - so efforts at accessibility are appreciated. Admission is free, however, I'd check the website as there are somewhat limited hours. While Swope is certainly not a national museum, it's a much nicer than expected regional museum with a lot of impressive art and genuinely warm staff and volunteers. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Terre Haute has quite a bit to visit and a stop at the Swope should be a part of any weekend getaway.

It's a small museum, but if you can accept that, there is an interesting mix of Indiana artists,…read moreand others from different areas of the US. Heavy in landscape and 1800+ portraiture, it has several interesting galleries. Go now before June 2025, when it will close for six months, re-opening again in early 2026 after serious renovation. There is only a suggested donation as admission currently; that will likely have to change. It's a volunteer-driven organization, and they're quite helpful. The only downside is bad lighting; perhaps the renovation will pay attention to that. Worth a visit; free parking for 2hrs downtown nearby. Largely ADA accessible; if at standing-observation height.

you GOTTA see this!!…read more internationally-known photo-artiste, larry kanfer is an artist with a camera. he's been shooting gorgeous photos of the illinois prairie for years. add to that his collections of chi-town, portraits, and his new china collection - plus others - and you've got a mind-boggle. you'll never look at the world the same way again. if you're visiting c-u, looking for a memory to take home, a stunning gift, looking for pictures for your new home - or even if you're a c-u native (that's champaign-urbana) - my guess is you'll find something that suits you at kanfer 's gallery. my son & his wife chose 2 large, stunning kanfer photos from his prairiescape collections, imaged onto canvas, and frame-streched to float on their living room wall...."Windsor Sunset" - a prairie sunset, all oranges, golds & blacks at the horizon with a big deepening blue sky & wisps of clouds with the silhouette of 2 trees; and a monochrome - "Congregation " - of a gaggle of geese on a lake, some lifting off in flight trailing water droplets in mid-air. if you don't live in c-u, go to his website - you can order there. kanfer images are also seen in art museums, corporate offices, & private collections across the country.

I love his Prairiescape Calendars. I have them in my home and office as well as give them to my…read moresibs who have moved away from the Midwest. My Father always used to say that the photographs were like the work of a master painter. I love 'em!

The Art Museum of Greater Lafayette is a really fun place to visit. There are galleries on the…read morefirst and second floor. There is also art along the hallway going to the offices and bathrooms. Be sure to check out the art in front of the building and in the lobby. Maybe it was just the time that my husband and I visited but a lot of the art was made by high school students. And wow, are those students talented. There are rotating galleries. The best part is that this museum is free. For a fun afternoon, I highly recommend the Art Gallery of Greater Lafayette!

A short walk from the hotel and centrally located in Lafayette. This free art museum is…read morefamily-friendly. Works by local, national, and international artists are available to view. The retail shop had multiple original prints for sale, along with other items, such as jewelry, journals, and fun crafts for kids. Definitely a must-see if you're in the area.

We had such a wonderful time visiting the David Davis Mansion. Our tour guide, Jeff, gave us a long…read moreand detailed tour that was both informative and engaging. He was extremely knowledgeable, helpful, and made the history of the mansion come alive. One highlight was learning about David Davis's close connection to Abraham Lincoln, which added an even deeper historical significance to our visit. That piece of history was fascinating and memorable. We highly recommend the David Davis Mansion to anyone visiting Bloomington. It's a beautiful historic home with a rich story, and with guides like Jeff, you're guaranteed an excellent experience.

We toured the David Davis Mansion on a chilly December afternoon. There was one else there for a…read moretour so we had our own private tour. The mansion was beautiful and decorated for Christmas. The house has many artifacts that are true to the Davis family. We learned a treasure of information from our tour guide Jeff. He was able to answer both of our questions and we had many of them. Jeff was able to tailor the tour to our interests providing a personalized experience. This tour of an exquisite mansion was top-notch due to Jeff and his wealth of knowledge and pleasant personality.

The best surprise of my visit to Pontiac. This museum has such an amazing and eclectic collection…read moreof items to delight everyone. From the outside it seems like any regular historical building -- but the quantity and quality of the displays within create a fun spot to enjoy an afternoon with plenty of learning opportunities. I'm not sure you'll find any larger collection of Route 66 themed items than on the lower floor here. Being immersed in these objects really gave me a feel of the history of Route 66. Attached to this are several other museums covering everything from murals to the Titanic to the Civil War to the 1940's and more. Truly a must visit set of museums that's worth a special trip.

Housed in a historic firehouse, this is a nice stop on the way to Springfield along Route 66…read more The museum is just one room packed with Route 66 memorabilia, but it is part of a maze of museums. Fun to be able to wander through the interconnected displays. Would not make a special stop here unless you want to explore Pontiac. While you are there, definitely check out the Pontiac-Oakland Automobile Museum and the murals. Get your kicks on Route 66!

A great small children's museum in Decatur. It doesn't have everything like some of the bigger…read moreones, but it is a great place to take your children to learn and explore. I think their hours are weird, but if you can get there right after school, or a Saturday, you won't be disappointed.

Great place nestled by the lake and zoo! Reasonable admission prices and enough for kids to do for…read morean hour or two! Great experience!

After I read that Senator Bernie Sanders received the 60th Eugene V. Debs Award in October 2025, I…read moredecided to visit the historic home of this Socialist leader in Terre Haute, Indiana, Debs' hometown. I'm glad I did, because not only is it a beautiful house, but it is also a landmark of American civil rights history. Debs became famous in America after his involvement in the 1894 Pullman Strike, because he was the President of the American Railway Union at the time. After his release from prison in 1895 he changed his party affiliation from Democrat to the Socialist Party of America and became its five-time candidate for President. In his last campaign in 1920 Debs ran while being imprisoned in the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary. His campaign pins read "For President: Convict No. 9653" and you can buy replicas of this pin at the gift shop. The library is a prominent room on the main floor. Through reading, campaigning and giving speeches, Eugene Debs became the prominent labor leader and civil rights activist of the country. Inspired by the ideals of social justice, Debs became an advocate, not only for the rights of workers, but also for women and African Americans as well. Since the year 1900, the Socialist Party became a strong supporter of women's rights. It came to the attention of the major parties how much vigor and excitement women were adding to the Debs' presidential campaigns. Throughout his life Debs always spoke and acted in support of bringing full equality into the lives of women. He was for women's right to vote and equal pay in the workplace. The voting right for women in 1920 was partly credited to Debs and the Socialist Party. Debs also supported the African Americans' struggle for equality. He believed that civil rights for Blacks were critical to the realization of true democracy in America. This position put him at odds with other white Socialists, but it won the admiration of African American civil rights advocates. Today when the visitors arrive at Debs' home, they often wonder how a Socialist could afford such a nice and big house. But Debs built his home from his own salary he received as a union leader, and the railway laborers appreciated him so much that they offered their time and help to build him a proper home. Compared to the American upper-class homes, the Debs house certainly is not extravagant. It emphasizes his conviction that every workman should make enough money that he can build a proper home for his family. The top floor of the house has wall murals presenting Debs' life and career. They were made by John Laska (1918-2009), professor of art at Indiana State University. Guided tours are available at the house, but since it has so much history in it, reserve at least an hour for your visit.

Great house museum! Chronicles the life of Debs along with artifacts, paraphernalia, period…read morefurniture and great programming and interpretation.

Honestly, this museum is so well done! I was so excited and impressed! There are multiple floors of…read moreexhibits that cover the gamut of McLean County history from agriculture to civil rights to local celebrities and innovators! I really enjoyed the rotating exhibits, too, you can tell a lot of work and care was put in, and everything was well-maintained and recent. Volunteers are there to help, too, would highly recommend a visit!

This is a history museum on par with counties that have 5x the population of McLean County, IL…read more There was an entry level slightly below ground with information and a few exhibits with people to explain where best to go and where exhibits were. Then there are three floors that had multiple rooms with different themes such as farming, Abraham Lincoln, jobs in Central Illinois, and even a little kids area to play as if they were on a farm. in total, I counted eleven different rooms - and we spent 3.5 hours there. Some of the exhibits can get a bit wordy; if you read it all - you'd be there all day - but that's great for a deep dive for stuff you're interested in.