Burpee Museum of Natural History

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Burpee Museum of Natural History A gem in the Rockford community since 1942, Burpee Museum is where curiosity comes to life! Proud member of Blue Star Museums.
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Mission Statement: To inspire all people to engage in a lifetime of discovery and learning about the natural world, through preservation and interpretation. (Free admission to any active military family from Memorial Day through Labor Day)

ASTC affiliated General Admission Prices: Adult (13 & up) $12, Kids (4-12y/o) $10, and Toddlers (3 & under) Free! Additional fees for special exhibits my apply.

10/21/2026

Spooky season is officially here: HAUNTED BURPEE: two-day celebration of science thrills, haunted halls, and terrifyingly fun surprises around every corner! Whether you are looking for family-friendly daytime fun or a genuinely eerie evening atmosphere, we have something creeping in the shadows for everyone.
👀 What’s Lurking This Weekend:
🦇 Barnes Mansion Tours: Step inside the historic, shadowy halls for a tour you won't forget... watch out for what's waiting for you.
🦇 Scary Science Treats! Hands-on experiments with a creepy, thrilling twist.
🦇 Haunted Nook: Perfect spooky spaces and photo opportunities for brave explorers of all ages.
COSTUMES ENCOURAGED!
🗓️ When to Visit:
• Saturday, October 24th: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Come after dark for maximum thrills!)
• Sunday, October 25th: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
📍 Location: Burpee Museum of Natural History (737 N Main Street, Rockford, IL)
📞 Questions? Call us at 815-965-3433
🎟️https://burpee.org/haunted-burpee/ Space is limited for the historic mansion tours! Click the link in our bio to grab your tickets ahead of time, tag a friend who needs to go with you, and get ready for the ultimate October weekend.

Museums are worth saving. Museums are worth celebrating!WATCH HERE: https://youtu.be/6Jwhw3PS5Is?si=cJrkE2VImllcI_GmBurp...
10/21/2026

Museums are worth saving. Museums are worth celebrating!
WATCH HERE: https://youtu.be/6Jwhw3PS5Is?si=cJrkE2VImllcI_Gm
Burpee Museum Executive Director Anne joins WTVO’s Off the Clock to share Burpee’s story, highlight our exciting programs and scientific research, and discuss the importance of making science accessible to everyone.
Discover why museums matter and how Burpee continues to inspire curiosity, discovery, and a love of the natural world!

Come see Anne's talk at our next Morning at the Museum!
November 9 at 9:00am
Anne, Executive Director of Burpee Museum of Natural History, will share the museum’s fascinating history of caring for live animals, from founder Milt Mahlburg’s early work to the remarkable species that call Burpee home today. Join Anne for coffee and conversation as we explore the role of living specimens in Burpee’s history and how these animals continue to inspire curiosity, connect our community with the natural world, and enrich science education.

🎨🌱 Get ready for some hands-on science and family fun! 🌱🎨Join the Burpee Museum of Natural History for our next monthly ...
10/20/2026

🎨🌱 Get ready for some hands-on science and family fun! 🌱🎨
Join the Burpee Museum of Natural History for our next monthly VIRTUAL LEARNING Club: Nature and Nurture! We use everyday household materials to inspire curiosity, simple science, art, and nature activities. It’s perfect for caregivers and their special little ones!
🗓️ When: November 10 @ 9:00 AM
🌿 Theme: Exploring Nature's Rhythms
What Awaits You:
Uncover the active world of plants as they follow the sun and shift throughout the day! ☀️
✨ Special November Activities:
• 📔 Create: Design a plant observation journal to document changes in leaves, flowers, and plant growth over time.
• 🌳 Family Challenge: Observe plants and other living things outdoors to discover patterns in their daily activities.
💡 Can't make it this month? Mark your calendar for upcoming sessions (Every second Tuesday of the month):
• 🪵 Dec 15: Light & Color
• ❄️ Jan 12: Snowflakes
• 🏺 Feb 9: Nature Gratitude Jar
🎟️ Registration is required! Sign up today at: www.burpee.org/nature-nurture

New to Burpee!! Meet Dr. Liam Norris: Burpee’s new Director of Collections & Research! A big welcome for Dr. Norris to t...
10/20/2026

New to Burpee!! Meet Dr. Liam Norris: Burpee’s new Director of Collections & Research!
A big welcome for Dr. Norris to the Burpee Museum family! Liam is an award-winning paleontologist, geochemist, and museum educator who strives to engage people’s natural curiosity and inspire lifelong learning.
Liam received his B.S. in geology from Texas A&M University and his Ph.D. from The University of Texas at Austin. He previously served as the Exhibition and Outreach Associate at the Texas Science & Natural History Museum, where he helped bring the incredible Epic Encounters paleontology gallery to life.
🦖 His Research:
Liam’s work dives deep into the Mesozoic era, studying the fascinating relationship between ecology and evolution in dinosaurs. He seeks to unlock how dinosaur biology—like their unique body plans, growth stages (ontogeny), and ecological structures—made them completely distinct from modern large land animals.
🗺️ Fieldwork & Methods:
His research has taken him across North America, including major fossil sites like Dinosaur Park in Alberta, Canada, and Dinosaur National Monument in Utah. Through his fieldwork, Liam contributes to advanced scientific methods using stable isotopes to reconstruct prehistoric diets and lifeways.
🏆 Accolades & Media:
Among his academic honors, Liam was awarded the Cohen Award for Student Research from the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. You might also recognize his face from the screen! As a self-proclaimed lifelong nerd and pop-culture aficionado, Liam loves using everyday media to spark accessible science discussions, even hosting his own educational TV segment, “I Didn’t Know That with Dr. Liam” on CBS Austin.
💬 Let's give him a warm Midwest welcome! He officially starts at Burpee Museum in late November. Drop a comment below to welcome Dr. Liam to Rockford and the Burpee community! 👇
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🔗 Learn more about our team at burpee.org/staff

🦖Dino Club: Plaster and Casts 🦖Tuesday, October 20, 2026 | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PMAudience: YOUTH When paleontologists discove...
10/19/2026

🦖Dino Club: Plaster and Casts 🦖
Tuesday, October 20, 2026 | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Audience: YOUTH
When paleontologists discover a massive fossil in the field, they can't just throw it in a backpack! They protect it using specialized plaster jackets to ensure it survives the journey back to the lab intact.
Join us this month to discover how scientists build these protective layers and cradles. Plus, participants will get an exclusive opportunity to WORK ON REAL FOSSILS that have never been put on public display!
🦖Secure your tickets here: https://burpee.org/dino-club/
Photo: Our field crew out in the badlands showing off their messy plaster hands next to a freshly wrapped fossil jacket!)

10/19/2026

Spooky season is officially here: HAUNTED BURPEE: two-day celebration of science thrills, haunted halls, and terrifyingly fun surprises around every corner! Whether you are looking for family-friendly daytime fun or a genuinely eerie evening atmosphere, we have something creeping in the shadows for everyone.
👀 What’s Lurking This Weekend:
🦇 Barnes Mansion Tours: Step inside the historic, shadowy halls for a tour you won't forget... watch out for what's waiting for you.
🦇 Scary Science Treats! Hands-on experiments with a creepy, thrilling twist.
🦇 Haunted Nook: Perfect spooky spaces and photo opportunities for brave explorers of all ages.
COSTUMES ENCOURAGED!
🗓️ When to Visit:
• Saturday, October 24th: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Come after dark for maximum thrills!)
• Sunday, October 25th: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
📍 Location: Burpee Museum of Natural History (737 N Main Street, Rockford, IL)
📞 Questions? Call us at 815-965-3433
🎟️https://burpee.org/haunted-burpee/ Space is limited for the historic mansion tours! Click the link in our bio to grab your tickets ahead of time, tag a friend who needs to go with you, and get ready for the ultimate October weekend.

Spooky season is officially here: HAUNTED BURPEE: two-day celebration of science thrills, haunted halls, and terrifying...
10/19/2026

Spooky season is officially here: HAUNTED BURPEE: two-day celebration of science thrills, haunted halls, and terrifyingly fun surprises around every corner! Whether you are looking for family-friendly daytime fun or a genuinely eerie evening atmosphere, we have something creeping in the shadows for everyone.

👀 What’s Lurking This Weekend:
🦇 Barnes Mansion Tours: Step inside the historic, shadowy halls for a tour you won't forget... watch out for what's waiting for you.
🦇 Scary Science Treats! Hands-on experiments with a creepy, thrilling twist.
🦇 Haunted Nook: Perfect spooky spaces and photo opportunities for brave explorers of all ages.
COSTUMES ENCOURAGED!
🗓️ When to Visit:
• Saturday, October 24th: 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Come after dark for maximum thrills!)
• Sunday, October 25th: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
📍 Location: Burpee Museum of Natural History (737 N Main Street, Rockford, IL)
📞 Questions? Call us at 815-965-3433
🎟️https://burpee.org/haunted-burpee/ Space is limited for the historic mansion tours! Click the link in our bio to grab your tickets ahead of time, tag a friend who needs to go with you, and get ready for the ultimate October weekend.

Why is this bird collecting BLUE things? TODAY! Homeschool & Enrichment Science Day at Burpee! 2-4pmThis bird isn't bui...
09/28/2026

Why is this bird collecting BLUE things? TODAY! Homeschool & Enrichment Science Day at Burpee! 2-4pm

This bird isn't building a nest. He's carefully collecting and arranging colorful objects as part of an elaborate display to attract a mate! The male satin bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus), is an Australian species famous for elaborate courtship behavior. He doesn't just dump the decroations, he arranges and maintains the display!

Join Us To Learn More: Animal Architects | Sept 28 | 2:00-4:00pm | Ages 6-12
The museum wide event focuses on the incredible builders of the animal world. Students will investigate how animals create spider webs, bird structures, termite mounds, beaver dams and more, and how they solve complex problems using the materials around them.

Wondering what a Homeschool & Enrichment Science Day looks like? Check out a few photos from our last one! These afternoons are designed for kids to explore, investigate, ask questions, and experience science throughout the museum.

Monday, September 28th, 2026
2:00-4:00pm
Ages 6-12 perfect for siblings and homeschool groups
Burpee Museum of Natural History
Register Today at https://burpee.org/homeschool/

October 12 | 2:00–4:00pm | Ages 6–12
Save the date and get ready to discover the adaptations that make the difference between catching dinner and becoming dinner.
🐍🦅🐇 Predator and Prey!
Who wins when everything is trying to survive?
Faster prey creates pressure for faster predators. Better camouflage makes sharper senses more valuable. Armor gets tougher. Teeth get stronger. Venom gets more effective.

🏺 MANNY INVESTIGATES: BURPEE ARCHAEOLOGY & CULTURE CLUB🦣Manny is highly protective of things found in the Earth. After a...
09/11/2026

🏺 MANNY INVESTIGATES: BURPEE ARCHAEOLOGY & CULTURE CLUB

🦣Manny is highly protective of things found in the Earth. After all, as a prehistoric mammal, he knows how important it is to uncover the stories hidden beneath the dirt!

Naturally, he launched an immediate inquiry. 🔎

The Case Report: Manny investigated and found spectacular contemporary artwork by Sac and Fox artist T. Tiger right alongside the historical legacy of Sauk leader Black Hawk.

Manny is intrigued. 🦣

This club isn't just about uncovering pieces of the past. It's about exploring how the past connects to the people, cultures, art, and communities of the present.

Manny officially approves. ✨

🏺 Burpee Archaeology & Culture Club
🗺 September 17 Focus: Indigenous America
🗓 Thursday, September 17 | 6:00–7:00 PM
Meets the 3rd Thursday of each month
🏛 Burpee Museum of Natural History | Rockford, IL

In our first session, ‘Pottery: More Than Just a Pot,’ participants will explore the rich pottery traditions of regional American cultures, and discover why pottery is such an important source of evidence that archaeologists use to understand how people lived, ate, stored food, and traded. Kids will examine how pottery can help us understand people and the past, then design and shape their own pinch pot to take home.

🎟 Drop-In: $25, includes museum admission
Burpee Members: $5

Case remains wide open... 🦣🔎

👉 Lock in your child's spot for September 17:
https://burpee.org/archaeology-club/

Address

737 N. Main Street
Rockford, IL
61103

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+18159653433

Website

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