Elgin Public Museum

Elgin Public Museum Visit the only natural history museum in the Fox Valley region! There's always a scavenger hunt for kids, and they'll enjoy making our T-Rex skull roarrrrrr!!!
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Admission:
Adults $2; Kids 3-12, $1; under 3, Museum Members, and Elgin Township Senior Access Pass holders free.

Kids had fun learning about Animal Superpowers at today's Adventures in the Zoo! Abby, Andrea, and Lola discussed camouf...
06/23/2026

Kids had fun learning about Animal Superpowers at today's Adventures in the Zoo! Abby, Andrea, and Lola discussed camouflage, specialized vision, and other adaptations that make animals safer ... or more deadly predators! As with most AIZ programs, Gail Borden Public Library's Book Bike was also on hand, with an assortment of on-topic books. Thanks Glenna and Emily!

UPDATE: Looking like a great Tuesday morning to come on out to Lords Park Zoo! It's free -- opens at 11, closes at 3. Tw...
06/21/2026

UPDATE: Looking like a great Tuesday morning to come on out to Lords Park Zoo! It's free -- opens at 11, closes at 3.

Two fun and FREE programs coming up this week, hosted by Elgin Public Museum, sponsored by Friends of Lords Park Zoo - Elgin, Illinois and Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church! Both take place INSIDE THE ZOO, with no registration, no admission -- totally free! Come enjoy beautiful Lords Park,

One -- and not the largest -- of several ant irruptions I saw on my walk to work this morning. Summer Solstice ritual? A...
06/21/2026

One -- and not the largest -- of several ant irruptions I saw on my walk to work this morning. Summer Solstice ritual? Antapalooza? Sunday Worship of Emmet, the ant god? Give them a break and step around them if you see them! They have their place on the planet and a right to their little anty lives, too.

A Joyful Juneteenth! We have a special craft for kids today, making Mancala game sets. Mancala is a game that goes back ...
06/19/2026

A Joyful Juneteenth! We have a special craft for kids today, making Mancala game sets. Mancala is a game that goes back to ancient Egypt and spread throughout Africa. When African people were captured and taken away by ship to the Americas as slaves, they had nothing of their old lives with them, except their memories. Playing mancala was one of those memories, and so the tradition would live on here through the centuries. Come make a mancala set and learn to play the world's oldest-known board game! We are open today (Friday/19th) 12-4, and same hours Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $3 adults, $2 kids 3-12 and Seniors 60+, free for under 3, Museum Members, and Elgin Township Senior Access Passes.

I feel just CAW-ful! In all the hoopla of our Annual Meeting the other day, I forgot to post an ad for Miss Judy's NATUR...
06/19/2026

I feel just CAW-ful! In all the hoopla of our Annual Meeting the other day, I forgot to post an ad for Miss Judy's NATURE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD program, which takes place INSIDE THE ZOO at 11:30 this morning (Friday/19th). This storytime and craft's topic is CROWS, truly amazing birds! Please visit the zoo and bring the little ones to the program -- ¡También en español, con la señorita Andrea!

We held our Annual Meeting at the museum last night -- thank you to those who attended! 2025 was a good year for EPM, it...
06/19/2026

We held our Annual Meeting at the museum last night -- thank you to those who attended! 2025 was a good year for EPM, it's officially official ... and now we can get back to our 2026 work! One Board member departed -- Linda Howell, we will miss you, but don't be a stranger! And one Board member was made official -- Deb Allan. Left to right in this crummy photo by Sharry: Linda, Treasurer Karin Jones, Museum Assistant Abby Rasmussen, former Board member Mary Seisser, two random ornithomimuses, Board President Judy Hayner, Board member Niki Marabotti, and Board member Deb. Thanks all for a great 2025 and let's keep making 2026 even better!

Fantastic turnout for Scales & Tales Traveling Zoo today -- and yes, Xena the Sloth was there! Thanks to Judy Hayner for...
06/13/2026

Fantastic turnout for Scales & Tales Traveling Zoo today -- and yes, Xena the Sloth was there! Thanks to Judy Hayner for taking these pics ...

Our thanks to author Joel Greenberg for braving the crazy weather yesterday to speak about his new book, To Life: Jews E...
06/11/2026

Our thanks to author Joel Greenberg for braving the crazy weather yesterday to speak about his new book, To Life: Jews Exploring Nature. Here, he is discussing "The Bad Apple" among the naturalists featured in the book -- Nathan Leopold, the infamous early 20th century killer who also had a brilliant scientific mind. Our thanks, too, to the audience members who came out after the storm, and to Board President Judy Hayner and Board member Deb Allan for providing lovely refreshments!

Here's a link to Joel's fascinating book -- makes a great Father's Day gift, by the way!

https://www.amazon.com/Life-Jews-Exploring-Nature/dp/1978844484/ref=sr_1_1?crid=113WFD0264JYS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.IV-dkDE8KttuOXLncNtJBQ.TppLEfBjo1qZFpv82yxK9SWuT_AdQCN4LDDinraS32c&dib_tag=se&keywords=joel+greenberg+to+life+jews+exploring+nature&qid=1781197432&sprefix=joel+greenburg+to+life+jews+exploring+nature%2Caps%2C136&sr=8-1

Don't forget, this evening is our special program with author Joel Greenberg! Joel has done presentations in the long-ag...
06/10/2026

Don't forget, this evening is our special program with author Joel Greenberg! Joel has done presentations in the long-ago past at EPM, including on the extinct Passenger Pigeon. Tonight, he discusses his new book, TO LIFE: JEWS EXPLORING NATURE. From Leopold of the Leopold & Loeb murder, to "Botanist and Spy" (huh?! Aaron Aaronsohn, this promises to be a fascinating evening! Free, donations appreciated ... no reservations required. Light refreshments will be served. You can also purchase Joel's book and get it signed!

Fantastic show today with Jimmy of Chi-Town Exotics! And great pics, as always, by Teryl Teeter ...
06/06/2026

Fantastic show today with Jimmy of Chi-Town Exotics! And great pics, as always, by Teryl Teeter ...

Address

Elgin, IL

Opening Hours

Thursday 12pm - 4pm
Friday 12pm - 4pm
Saturday 12pm - 4pm
Sunday 12pm - 4pm

Telephone

+18477416655

Website

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