Museums and Observatories

This page contains links to online museums throughout the world and also lists local museums, observatories, botanical gardens and zoological gardens in Illinois and Missouri. For those which are online, links are provided.

Online Science Museums and Exhibits

The Global Museum: This site provides links to online museums, museum organizations and networks, special online exhibits, and the Global Children's Museum.
Yahoo provides a searchable listing of science museums and links to online exhibits around the: world. To go directly to this, click

Online Museums in the U.S.

Online Museums throughout the World

Museums and Observatories in Illinois

Adler Planetarium: 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605; 312-322-0300 Planetarium seats 450
Burpee Museum of Natural History: 813 N. Main Street, Rockford, IL 61103; 815-965-3132
Cernan Earth & Space Center: Triton College, 2000 Fifth Ave., River Grove, IL 60171; 708-456-0300 Planetarium seats 100
Henry Crown Space Center: Museum of Science & Industry, 57th Street & Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 69637; 312-684-1414
John Deere Planetarium: Augustana College, Rock Island, IL 61201; 309-794-7327 Planetarium seats 92
Discovery Center Museum: 711 N. Main St., Rockford, IL 61103; 815-963-6769 Planetaruim seats 48
Field Museum of Natural History: Lake Shore Drive at Roosevelt Ave., Chicago, IL 60605; 312-922-9410
Illinois State Museum: Spring & Edwards Sts., Springfield, IL 62706; 217-782-7386
Illinois State University Planetarium: Physics Department, Normal, IL 61761; 309-438-2496 Planetarium seats 110
Jurica Natural History Museum: Illinois Benedictine College, 5700 College Rd., Lisle, IL 60532; 708-960-1500
Lakeview Museum of Arts & Sciences: 1125 W. Lake Ave., Peoria, IL 61614; 309-686-7000 Planetarium seats 80
Lizzardo Museum of Lapidary Art: 220 Cottage Hill Ave., Elmhurst, IL 60126; 708-833-1616
Museum of Natural History, U of IL: University of Illinois, 1301 W. Green St., Urbana, IL 61801; 217-333-2517
Museum of Science and Industry: 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60637; 773-684-1414
Museum of the Chicago Academy of Sciences: 2001 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60614; 312-549-0606
The National Coal Museum, Mine 25: P.O. Box 369, West Frankfort, IL 62896; 618-YES-COAL
Oriental Institute
William M. Staerkel Planetarium: Parkland College, 2400 W. Bradley Ave., Champaign, IL 61821; 217-351-2446 Planetarium seats 144
Strickler Planetarium: Olivet Nazarene University, P.O. Box 592, Kankakee, IL 60901; 815-939-5267 Planetarium seats 100
The Science Center: University Mall, 1237 E. Main St., Space C-2, Carbondale, IL 62901; 618-529-5431
Time Museum: 7801 E. State Street, P.O. Box 5285, Rockford, IL 61125; 815-398-6000
Herbert Trackman Planetarium: Joliet Junior College, 1216 Houbolt Ave., Joliet, IL 60436; 815-729-9020 Planetarium seats 70
University Museum: Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Carbondalle, IL 62901
Walter H. Blacke Observatory: Illinois College, Jacksonville, IL 62650
Dearborn Observatory/Lindheimer Center: 2131 Sheridan, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208; 708-491-7650
Illinois Wesleyan University Observatory: Bloomington, IL 61702; 309-556-3176
Northern Illinois University Observatory: Physics Department, DeKalb, IL 60115; 815-753-1772
Sangamon State University Observatory: Astronomy-Physics, Springfield, IL 62708; 217-786-6720
University of Illinois Observatory: Astronomy Dept, 103 Astronomy Building, 1002 W. Green Street, Urbana, IL 61801; 217-333-3090

Museums and Observatories in Missouri

Kansas City Museum and Planetarium: 3218 Gladstone Boulevard, Kansas City, MO 64123; 816-483-7827 Planetarium seats 50
The Magic House - St. Louis Children's Museum: 516 South Kirkwood Road, Kirkwood, MO 63122; 314-822-8900
St. Louis Science Center and McDonnell Star Theater: 5100 Clayton Road, Forest Park, MO 63110; 314-289-4444 Planetarium seats 228
Laws Observatory: Dept. of Physics & Astronomy, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211; 314-882-3335
Powell Observatory: P.O. Box 400, Blue Springs, MO 64013

Zoos, Aquariums, and Botanical Gardens in Illinois

Brookfield Zoo: 3300 Golf Road, Brookfield, IL 60513; 708-485-0263
Chicago Botanic Garden: Lake Cook Road, P.O. Box 400, Glencoe, IL 60022; 708-835-5440
Glen Oak Zoo: 2218 N. Prospect, Peoria, IL 61603; 309-686-3365
Henson Robinson Zoo: 1100 E. Lake Drive, Springfield, IL 62707; 217-529-2097
Lincoln Park Zoological Gardens: 2200 N.Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614; 312-294-4660
Miller Park Zoo: P.O. Box 3157, 1020 S. Morris Ave., Bloomington, IL 61702; 309-823-4250
John G. Shedd Aquarium: 1200 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605; 312-939-2438

Zoos, Caves, and Caverns in Missouri

Dickerson Park Zoo: 3043 N.Fort, Springfield, MO 65803; 417-833-1570
Fantastic Caverns: Springfield, MO
Kansas City Zoological Gardens: 6700 Zoo Drive, Swope Park, Kansas City, MO 64132; 816-333-7406
Meramec Caverns: Stanton, MO
St. Louis Zoological Park: Forest Park, St. Louis, MO 63110; 314-781-0900

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*** Updated:2/17/00 mjs ***