The Raupp Museum in Buffalo Grove is out of the way but is well worth the visit. This Museum tells…read morethe history of Buffalo Grove. There is one exhibit that follows the village from its founding to the present day. There are artifacts and displays that the whole family will enjoy. Here you are encouraged to open drawers and explore in the exhibits. Another exhibit features a life size train platform and a general store. This is perfect for the kids. There are rotating special exhibits on the lower level.

Hidden on top of a hill, a little off Mchenry Rd. and Checker Rd. is a small, but well designed…read moremuseum with high quality displays like the ones you see off the Rt 66 museums. This covers a wide timeframe from the Potawatomi Indians all the way through the late 20th century. In addition to Buffalo Grove and other local history, there is also items significant to each time period on display like cameras, food, irons, and various tools and machines. These displays have plenty of descriptions to help visitors understand what they are looking at. Overall, worth a visit if you're in the area. Like other local historical museums, admission is free and there's plenty to learn.

I am a huge fan of train museums. This one is a small museum but you do get to visit the inside of…read morethe train cars. It is located only a few blocks from the main train station of Bensenville. This museum is only open for a short amount of time 2 days a week. Inside the train cars you'll find history of the railroad in the Bensenville area and even more about the surrounding areas. It's a great little museum!

I've been wanting to visit the Mitchell Museum since I learned about it about a year ago. It's a…read morevery small museum--you might pass it and not realize what it is, or maybe think it's a church or something. In two stories, they tell you a bit about the history of Native Americans the US and Canada, with a particular emphasis of the history of Native peoples in the city and region. The museum is about 45 years old and one of the few that focuses exclusively on this population. I spent about an hour and a half viewing the exhibits. The various exhibits introduced various indigenous groups (Plains, Woodlands, etc.) and how those groups lived. There were displays of the crafts, both ceremonial and utilitarian, that each tribe was known for, and they were careful to share in most or all instances how those crafts and traditions changed pre- and post-contact. Upstairs there was a section that talked about the presence of American Indians in Chicago and the near region, from explaining the atrocities that the government perpetrated against them to simply explaining the origins of well-known Chicago areas such as Portage Park, Sauganash, and Caldwell Woods. When I visited, there was an exhibit about missing and murdered indigenous women (MMIW). Long ignored, indigenous women are by far the most endangered when it comes to the murder or disappearance of these women. Women on reservations are ten times more likely to end up part of the MMIW, and in just the last few years (2019, I believe) over 5,500 indigenous women were missing or murdered. Too long this has been a crisis that has been ignored by majority culture. Although the exhibit as a whole was very powerful, Nayana LaFond's contribution to the exhibit was especially moving. She paints images of MMIW that have been provided to her by family or friends of the missing women. She explained that she hadn't intended for it to become a project, but once she started receiving dozens of requests for paintings she couldn't turn down some and not others. The Mitchell Museum will be doing some programming soon, and I think that part of that programming in May will be related to MMIW education and causes. There's a small parking lot in back--probaly enough for three to four cars. But when I was here (on a Tuesday in April), I was the only one here for most of the time so I think parking won't be an issue. For an adult non-tribal member, entrance was only $7 (2023). There is a lift (not an elevator) from the main floor to the lower level, but I'm not sure if there's any way to ascend to the second floor besides the stairs so you may want to inquire about that if climbing the stairs would be difficult.

Wow, this place is the local hidden gem I thought it was.  I tried to come here a couple of years…read moreago, but it was closed due to Covid.  It's a quiet, unassuming place but for just a modest $5 admission ($5 for seniors, and $7 otherwise), you can see a lot of neat American Indian artifacts, artwork, history, and information.  I really enjoyed my 75 minute visit, and that's maybe all you may need (1-2 hours) to peruse their two floors.  You can look at my photos for an idea of what's there, but I had 2 notable personal highlights.  One was seeing a map of North America that showed the names of 1200 tribes(!) and their locations, and that was quite impressive I thought.  Most you wouldn't know, but many of the famous ones you would, from movies and what not.  The other highlight was meeting and chatting with Josee Starr, the staffer that initially greeted me.  There were actually 2 friendly staffers - her and a fellow named Joseph Gackstetter, but I met Josee upon entering and she was the only one there at the time.  After my milling around, I finally got up my nerve to ask her if she was at least partially American Indian as she looked the part, and yippee-yayaay, she told me she was 99% American Indian and 1% French (fur trader French).  Very cool, and she has tracked her genealogy back 9 generations!  I only really knew of one other full native American in my life (an old work colleague), so this was a treat.  I also took the opportunity to give her fellow staffer Joseph some hell for being just a regular Caucasian working here (lol, and he took the kidding in stride).  I highly recommend this place for some cultural enlightenment, and also as a great place to educate youngsters.

Although the space is small, they've managed to stuff as much history as they possibly can into…read morethis building. Make sure you look up and down at each exhibit as you're sure to miss some items if you're not looking carefully. With that said, the amount of general historic items are limited here compared to larger nearby museums such as the one in Arlington Heights and Deerfield, so many of the items on display are specific to famous buildings around Wheeling and the schools. As Wheeling was founded in 1894, the items you'll find here are newer than other places in Illinois. You can get through all the displays fairly quickly here, so you can make this a quick stop anytime you're in the area.

I obviously went in the wrong entrance cause I found myself wandering around the basement for 45…read moreminutes looking for the exhibits lol. I had some adjustments to my medication made kind of recently and sometimes I get confused for no reason at all. Once I made it upstairs I learned all about the history of Wheeling and I took advantage of the free coffee. The secuirty guard cut me off after my fourth cup and suggested that I had drank enough lol. Anyways it was a great journey back through time and Wheeling has some very interesting roots.

I have been going to Volo for years. My wife and I went today and was shocked that the admission is…read morenow $39.95 and that is just for the cars. No other exhibits. My last visit to Volo and last recommendation to others.

From the Titanic area to mini golf, famous cars, dinosaurs, and a military museum…read more 3 generations had a blast. Great museum! It's an all-day activity that our 5-year-old enjoyed just as much as grandpa (65 years old). It's a large area, so bring good walking shoes.

Our daughter was invited to the Media Preview of "Alex Ross: Heroes & Villains" special exhibition…read moreat Bess Bower Dunn Museum of Lake County in Libertyville before it opened to the public, and we were thrilled that she invited us, her parents, to join her. It was our first time visiting the museum, and it left a lasting impression. The Dunn Museum, operated by the Lake County Forest Preserves, recently expanded with a brand-new 3,000-square-foot gallery designed specifically for large-scale exhibitions. Alex Ross's special exhibition is the first one to be unveiled there. I found the new gallery very spacious, comfortable, thoughtfully designed, and professionally executed. Renowned for his use of gouache to paint incredibly lifelike portraits of Marvel and DC icons, Ross has elevated comic book illustration into the realm of fine art. The exhibition showcases 100 stunning portraits, each reflecting the unique personality and attitude of the character, which naturally shapes their pose. The portraits form two larger-than-life murals that fully immerse visitors, creating a perfect backdrop to step into the world of comics and pose with your favorite characters. We were so grateful and pleasantly surprise that Alex Ross was present at the Media Preview. Although he is such an iconic artist in the comic world, he is so friendly, warm, and down-to-earth. We were absolutely delighted to meet and chat with him. The museum's slogan is "Arrive curious. Leave inspired." That was exactly how I felt. I have only had casual exposure to the comic universe through superhero movies like Superman, Batman, and Spiderman, and I did not know much about the artists behind the scenes. However, after seeing Ross's work up close, I came away a true fan of Ross, with a newfound respect for his comic art! Although this is a ticketed special exhibit to the public, $5 - $10 in addition to the general admission, it is well worth the price and special trip to see it. The exhibition runs from June 29 through February 16, 2026. Go see it if you have a chance! We did not have time to explore the museum's permanent exhibits, but we certainly look forward to coming back. We did stop by the gift shop, which is well-stocked with comic books and merchandise that fans will love. There are even Heroes books and Villains books signed by Alex Ross available behind the counter for $100 each. Alex Ross: Heroes & Villains is the Dunn Museum's second exhibit featuring the celebrated artist's work, following 2019's Marvelocity: The Art of Alex Ross. This exhibition also supports the Preservation Foundation's "Every Acre Strong" initiative, which raises funds to help maintain and protect Forest Preserve lands, making sure they stay healthy and thriving for generations to come.

Our daughter invited us to the media preview of Alex Ross: Heroes & Villains at the Bess Bower Dunn…read moreMuseum in Libertyville. I didn't know what to expect. It was my first time at the museum, but I walked away seriously impressed. The new 3,000 square foot gallery is well done. It's spacious, comfortable, and designed to showcase large-scale work the right way. And Alex Ross's art? Incredible. His portraits of Marvel and DC characters are lifelike, powerful, and packed with personality. The layout includes two massive murals that completely pull you into the comic world. Best part? Ross himself was there. The guy is a legend in the comic world, but down-to-earth and genuinely kind. It was a real pleasure to meet him. I've only scratched the surface of comics through the usual superhero movies, but seeing Ross's work up close gave me a whole new appreciation for the art behind it. I walked in curious and left a fan. The exhibit runs through February 16, 2026. It's a special-ticketed show with an extra five to ten dollars on top of regular admission, but it's absolutely worth it. We didn't get to explore the rest of the museum this time, but we'll definitely be back. The gift shop is great too, with plenty of comic merch, including signed Ross books behind the counter. If you're into comics, art, or just want to see something unique, go check it out.

A hidden gem!…read more Located in Lincoln Park, this museum offers education, fun kids' activities, a ballroom you can rent for wedding or events, a cafe with good food, interactive exhibits, and tons of Chicago info, of course. + Affordable entrance fee + Complimentary coat check + Educational, thought provoking exhibits + Children's section with interactive exhibits + Cafe with good food + Friendly staff + Museum store with cool Chicago souvenirs + Beautiful architecture + Ballroom to rent for events overlooking Lincoln Park The only negative: - Street parking is hard to find. Approx time you'll spend here: 2 hrs Highly recommended!

To understand who we are we must look at our history. It's…read moreamazing how much creativity, protest and innovation came out of Chicago and continues to come out of Chicago. Start on the second floor and you will see the products, the protest and special exhibits including Al Capone stuff. On the bottom floor are some amazing dioramas from back in the day. Can easily spend three hours here. The person who checked me in and give me a great history lesson of the combination of San Francisco in Chicago.

On a recent fresh air walk, I was drawn to the Stupey Cabin. For those who don't know, it's the…read moreoldest building in Highland Park built in 1847. It's been moved from another location, saved by the town, and resurrected from it's older self into a fresh updated version that stands tall and proud right near City Hall. In a time when so many of us are seeking hope and strength, there's something very peaceful and majestic about this little cabin on the lawn. There are park benches for resting, tables for picnicking, and a nearby rose garden (not yet in bloom). The cabin is currently not open, but you can schedule a tour...hopefully when the COVID-19 ban is lifted. I'm pretty sure this little log cabin has survived its share of national pandemics.

Stupey Cabin sure isn't stupey(d). It reminds me of The Little House on the Prairie. Except this is…read moreLittle House on the North Shore so our prairie kids corn cob dolls probably had Lacoste polos. Anyhoo it was built in 1847 and is Highland Park's oldest freestanding structure. One room house with a fireplace, spinning wheel for yarn and wool, butter churn, a bed . . . the usual jive that Amish folks still use today or that come with kids Kirsten American Girl doll. To get inside you need to arrange for a showing. Of course there's the Annual Stupey Cabin event every June 1st where they have cabin tours, a ho down, people jamming, BBQ picnic, petting zoo. It seems like EVERY YEAR they hold this fundraiser to SAVE the cabin (sotto voice "That's what the definition of 'annual' is beeyotch. Every year") I mean its a tinyass wood plus sized shack, how much money to they need to collect each year? I mean it should be fine now, LOL. So next time you are in the area take a gander. It's nice to have a respect for history in Highland Park and a respect for such a tiny house here!