Illinois

Prairies in the Prairie State

From site:  This exhibit is a detailed look at Illinois prairie plants and animals. It focuses on Midewin Prairie, a restoration in progress on the property of the old Joliet arsenal. Insects, birds, and mammals are featured.

Prairies in Illinois

From site:  This exhibit traces the various types of Illinois prairie through time. Conservation and preservation are emphasized. Lesson plans for all grades include activities on surveying, plant adaptations, dye plants, poetry, and prairie restoration. There is a field guide…

Native Americans in Illinois

From site:  Learn about the Archaic, Woodland, Late Prehistoric and historic eras of Native American lifeways in Illinois. Lesson plans include the topics of foodways, architecture, clothing, rituals, symbols, and games. This is the most thorough exhibit on the Web…

Mazon Creek Fossils

From site:  The plants and animals found in concretions recovered from the Francis Creek Shale are some of the most exciting and important fossils that have been found in the state of Illinois. These fossils are known as the Mazon…

Lewis & Clark in the Illinois Country

From site:  Learn about what Lewis and Clark did, whom they met, and what they saw in Illinois during the winter of 1804 when they were preparing for their epic journey to the West.

Ice Ages in Illinois

From site: This Web exhibit answers some of the basic questions about the Ice Ages in Illinois. The astronomical and geological conditions that cause ice ages are described.

Harvesting the River

From site:  This rich Web exhibit features the economic history of the central Illinois River communities from Liverpool to Meredosia. It includes waterfowl hunting, commercial fishing, ice harvesting, and musseling. The transportation section includes information about the many kinds of…

Illinois State Symbols

The State of Illinois has eighteen official state symbols, pictured here.  Learn more about the symbol and find a list of books or Web sites where you can find out more. There are also online and hands-on activities you can do while…

Changes: Dynamic Illinois Environments

From site:  Earth forces are continually at work causing change. Climate, land, and living things are all connected. They interact with each other in complex ways. Even a small change can start a chain reaction that, over time, has big…

A Family Farm Album: The Photography of Frank Sadorus

From site: In the exhibit, A Family Farm Album, Frank Sadorus shows us what life on a small farm in eastern Illinois was like in the first decade of the twentieth century. Photographic artists use camera, film, and techniques to record…