Will County Museums Offer Affordable Outings Near You

This summer, stay close to home and explore local history at Will County museums. They offer interactive and educational outings for all ages at affordable prices.

Joliet Historical museum of the region: The Joliet Area Historical Museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and offers attendees the opportunity to learn about Joliet’s heritage and history. The museum features exhibits ranging from the early days of Native American settlers to the industrialization that shaped Joliet into what it is today. Attendees can view a variety of artifacts related to transportation, industry and culture. General admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and full-time students, $5 for youth ages 4-17, and free for museum members and children ages 3 and under. The museum is also hosting a Rooftop Concert Series in 2024. The series began May 10 and will run through September 14. During these performances, a full beverage bar is available, as well as a vendor selling snacks and more. General admission is $14. The museum is located at 204 Ottawa Street. To contact the museum, call 815-723-5201 or email [email protected]. For more information, visit jolietmuseum.org/about-jahm.html.

Martin & Emma Planinsek Grocery and Butchery Museum: This museum was purchased by the Joliet Area Historical Museum and aims to share the Slovenian immigrant experience in Joliet through the lens of the Planinsek family. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission is $5 and free for children ages 3 and under. It is located at 1314 Elizabeth St. in Joliet. To contact the museum, call 815-723-5201 or email [email protected]. For more information, visit jolietmuseum.org/martin–emma-planinsek-grocery-and-meat-market-museum.html.

Will County Historical museum and research center: The Will County Historical Museum and Research Center is operated by the Will County Historical Society and is open from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday; it is closed Monday and Tuesday. The museum offers a variety of interesting exhibits, such as the Weird of Will County exhibit which features interesting artifacts related to the history of Will County. Other exhibits include Fiber Arts, Tools and Instruments, Office Machines, Dr. Dougall’s Office, and The Greatest Change: Early Will County from 1830-1850 and Gold Fever: Will County and California. Admission is free. The museum is located at 803 S. State St., Lockport. In addition, there is also an outdoor Will County Heritage Village museum with a variety of historic buildings on display. Heritage Village is open from the first weekend in May to the first weekend in October. It is located at 249 W. Second St., Lockport. To contact the museum, call 815-838-5080. For more information, visit willhistory.org/.

Isle à la Cache Museum: The Isle a la Cache Museum at the Will County Forest Preserve immerses visitors in the cultural and natural history of Will County, particularly as it relates to the 18th-century fur trade. It is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, and closed Monday. The preserves are open from 8 a.m. to sunset. Visitors can touch a beaver pelt, view birch bark canoes, and walk inside a wigwam. Free district publications and trail maps are available inside the museum, as is a gift shop. The Isle a la Cache preserve offers opportunities for biking, hiking, running, fishing, canoeing, and more. From 1 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10, there will be a free Discovery Isle: River Critters event where visitors of all ages can learn about the animals and plants that live around the museum. There will be an optional dip-netting activity, and participants are encouraged to wear clothing/shoes that can get wet. The museum is located at 501 E. Romeo Road (135th Street), east of Illinois Route 53, in Romeoville. To contact the museum, call 815-722-9301. For more information, visit reconnectwithnature.org/preserves-trails/visitor-centers/isle-a-la-cache-museum/.

Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66: For those interested in learning more about music, the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66 is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The museum features a gift shop and a variety of exhibits based on musicians, such as REO Speedwagon, Cheap Trick, Train, Daughters of Eve, Steve Dahl and Teenage Radiation and Ministry. The museum’s exhibit, “Radio Lane’s,” is named for Lane Lindstrom, who devoted his life to broadcasting. The museum also hosts events, many of which are car-related. From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays, July 9, 23 and Aug. 6, the fourth annual Cars & Guitars event will be held at the Joliet Junior College City Center Parking Lot, 235 N. Chicago St., Joliet. The event will combine a car show with music. The museum is located at 9 W. Cass St., Joliet. To contact the museum, call 815-927-1540 or email [email protected]. For more information, visit roadtorock.org/lets-rock/exhibits/.

Plainfield Historical Society Museum: The Plainfield Historical Society Museum is a civilization museum focused on the history of Plainfield. It is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday. Hours of operation are available on its Facebook page. The museum is located at 23836 W. Main St., Plainfield. To contact the museum, call 815-436-4073 or email [email protected]. For more information, visit facebook.com/plainfieldhistoricalsociety.

Pilcher Park Nature Center: The Joliet Park District’s Pilcher Park Nature Center is a great place for families to hike and learn about nature. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The center can be rented for overnight trips, and Pilcher Park offers playgrounds, picnic areas, hiking trails, biking trails and cross-country ski trails. Cross-country ski rentals are available for purchase during center hours and cost $20 for two hours for adults and $10 for two hours for children. The center aims to educate children and adults about nature. It is located at 2501 Highland Park Drive in Joliet. To contact the center, call 815-741-7277. For more information, visit jolietpark.org/pilcher-park-nature-center.

Museum of the Grundy County Historical Society: The Grundy County Historical Society Museum aims to provide a permanent home to preserve and display the county’s historical artifacts. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Special exhibits include the Nettle Creek Aqueduct, which chronicles the construction of the new aqueduct over the I&M Canal after the original aqueduct collapsed in the April 2013 flood, and the Hough Native American Exhibit, which features Native American memorabilia collected by Harry Hough. Permanent exhibits feature artifacts from Grundy County history, such as the Treasures from Matteson Hardware exhibit, which features items from the 1906 Matteson Hardware store. On June 29, the Dora E. Schoonmaker Exhibit opened, honoring Schoonmaker’s legacy as the first female Methodist missionary to Japan after teaching and serving as assistant principal at Morris Central School. The museum is located at 510 W. Illinois Ave., Morris. To contact the museum, call 815-942-4880 or email [email protected]. For more information, visit grundycountyhs.org/.