SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) -Â Ice sheets, tropical forests, and sea creatures all existed long before us in the state we now call home. A treasure trove of Illinois' living history is waiting to be discovered "Around the 217" at the Illinois State Museum in Springfield.Â
At the museum, you can dig for fossils in the interactive play area located on the lower level, perfect for kids. The museum features three floors filled with millions of artifacts that tell the story of the state's natural evolution. One permanent exhibit guides you through an impressive 500 million years of changes in the environment.
One amusing exhibit you'll find at the Illinois State Museum is the humorous sign that reads "Closed due to lack of specimens." It highlights the fact that no dinosaur bones have been found in our state—yet there are interesting finds, such as a mastodon named Millie that roamed Kane County 13,000 years ago, and a giant sloth.
Curator Alex Ruger tells WAND news, "We have not found a single Dinosaur fossil in Illinois, yes. You are looking at Prehistoric Mammals and Dinosaurs are what kind of animal? Reptiles. They've got scaley skin they lay eggs."
Another notable exhibit is named after amateur fossil hunter Frances Tully, who made an important discovery in 1958. This creature, with its tube-shaped body, skinny snout, and eyes located at the end of short stalks, roamed the area about 300 million years ago. Discoveries like giant millipedes and dragonflies illustrate the landscape changes over millions of years, as told through the rocks.
The museum itself is a piece of history, founded in 1877. It serves as a place to learn and relive childhood curiosity.
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