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The most wonderful time of the year!

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ONE DAY ONLY! DEC 2nd!

$25 OFF ALL MEMBERSHIPS!

Additional info

February 13th, 2024

INFO HERE
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Where kids learn to play.
And play to learn.

Explore

CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF ILLINOIS Play. Learn. Repeat.

A nationally-recognized interactive museum for children ages two to ten packed with hands-on experiences throughout our two-story, 27,000 square foot facility.

In total, our museum boasts over sixty exhibits and activities that simulate real-world scenarios, connecting children with familiar experiences and contexts designed to highlight and encourage healthy habits and critical thinking.

Who We Are

55 S Country Club Rd  |  Decatur, IL 62521  |  217-423-5437

55 S Country Club Rd
Decatur, IL 62521
217-423-5437

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HOURS OF OPERATION

Tuesday – Saturday

10:00am – 5:00pm

Sunday:
Noon – 5:00pm

Please note we are closed on major holidays.
Days of operation do occasionally shift.
For the latest: Facebook.com/cmofil

HOURS OF OPERATION

Tuesday – Saturday

10:00am – 5:00pm

Sunday:
Noon – 5:00pm

Please note we are closed on major holidays.
Days of operation do occasionally shift.
For the latest: Facebook.com/cmofil

ADMISSION:

 FREE FOR MEMBERS on GENERAL ADMISSION DAYS   |   Children under the age of 2: FREE
Adults and Children 2 and up: $12.00   |   65 and older: $6.00
Families with Military ID can show their card at check in for 50% discount
EBT/LINK CARD: $3.00

CASA Families: Contact CASA for details on how to receive free admission, thanks to Town and Country Bank.

Guests under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Adults who wish to visit without a child will need to present ID upon entering.
ID will be kept at front desk and visiting adult must wear a Visitor Sticker for the duration of their visit.
ID will be returned at end of visit. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding.

GET YOUR TICKETS HERE!

Please note we are closed on major holidays. CMofIL reserves the right to alter hours of operation at any time. For the latest: Facebook.com/cmofil

ADMISSION:

 FREE FOR MEMBERS on GENERAL ADMISSION DAYS


Children under the age of 2: FREE


Adults and Children 2 and up: $12.00

65 and older: $6.00

Families with Military ID can show their card at check in for 50% discount

EBT/LINK CARD: $3.00

CASA Families: Contact CASA for details on how to receive free admission, thanks to Town and Country Bank.

Guests under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Adults who wish to visit without a child will need to present ID upon entering.
ID will be kept at front desk and visiting adult must wear a Visitor Sticker for the duration of their visit.
ID will be returned at end of visit. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding.

GET YOUR TICKETS HERE!

Please note we are closed on major holidays. CMofIL reserves the right to alter hours of operation at any time. For the latest: Facebook.com/cmofil

Want to book a Field Trip or private group visit?
Get more Field Trip info on our Field Trip Page

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Nov 28 – CLOSED

 

Nov 24-25 – CLOSED

 

Dec 26-29 – 10am-5pm

 

Dec 31 – 10am-2pm

 

Jan 1 – CLOSED

Nov 28
CLOSED

 

Nov 24-25
CLOSED

 

Dec 26-29
10am – 5pm

 

Dec 31
10am – 2pm

 

Jan 1
CLOSED

OUR BIGGEST PARTY OF THE YEAR!

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DECEMBER 31   10am – 2pm

DETAILS/TICKETS HERE
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Enjoy our environment with visual, audible, and physical interactions tweaked or removed so your family can comfortably explore our space!

1st Tuesday of every month, 10:00 – Noon

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our next round of trivia and games with a holiday twist!

Tuesday, December 3rd
6:00 – 7:30pm

DEETS & TICKETS
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Your direct line of communication
to the North Pole!

LEARN MORE
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Gift a yearlong membership at your Children’s Museum to a Central Illinois Family

Museum membership is a luxury not everyone in our community can afford. Your $150 donation provides one family with free admission to the Museum for a full year.
Click below or call us at the museum: 217-423-5437

GIFT A MEMBERSHIP
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Get Info HERE

Our Latest Posts

Click an image to read the corresponding text!

A  Note from Abby Koester, President & CEO

Children’s Museum of Illinois entered 2020 with excitement as we began celebrating our 30th year. That excitement came to a halt when the Museum closed on March 15th due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our doors have remained closed for over 240 days. 

While we have continued to do what we can under the circumstances to bring funds in, largely through online events such as our successful Zoom with Santa in December, the fact is almost all income has been lost due to our closure. Current projections indicate we will lose up to 80% of our normal operating revenue, if not more. As we follow state and local guidelines, we simply do not know when it will safe to open our doors again.

CMofIL was built by the community and for the community. It is not our museum, it is YOUR museum. The doors will open as soon as we are able to do so responsibly, but the museum needs your help with basic organizational expenses. Costs such as electricity, insurance, maintenance, and other necessities add up to a little over $20,000 per month. I am asking for your help to cover these basic costs while we are unable to operate as normal. 

Please consider a gift of $50 or more. If you are not able to give, the simplest and easiest way to support CMofIL is to advocate and share why you love the museum. Talk to your friends and colleagues and share the museum’s story.

Donate HERE

If you are unable to give, please know that we understand. No one has been unaffected by this pandemic.

I thank you for your past support, which has strengthened our mission to enhance the community through the informal education of the arts and sciences. And from all of us here at your Children’s Museum, we hope that you and your families are well and stay safe!

A  Note from Abby Koester, President & CEO

Children’s Museum of Illinois entered 2020 with excitement as we began celebrating our 30th year. That excitement came to a halt when the Museum closed on March 15th due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our doors have remained closed for over 240 days. 

While we have continued to do what we can under the circumstances to bring funds in, largely through online events such as our successful Zoom with Santa in December, the fact is almost all income has been lost due to our closure. Current projections indicate we will lose up to 80% of our normal operating revenue, if not more. As we follow state and local guidelines, we simply do not know when it will safe to open our doors again.

CMofIL was built by the community and for the community. It is not our museum, it is YOUR museum. The doors will open as soon as we are able to do so responsibly, but the museum needs your help with basic organizational expenses. Costs such as electricity, insurance, maintenance, and other necessities add up to a little over $20,000 per month. I am asking for your help to cover these basic costs while we are unable to operate as normal. 

Please consider a gift of $50 or more. If you are not able to give, the simplest and easiest way to support CMofIL is to advocate and share why you love the museum. Talk to your friends and colleagues and share the museum’s story.

Donate HERE

If you are unable to give, please know that we understand. No one has been unaffected by this pandemic.

I thank you for your past support, which has strengthened our mission to enhance the community through the informal education of the arts and sciences. And from all of us here at your Children’s Museum, we hope that you and your families are well and stay safe!

Secure your permanent place in our Pavement of Memories!
Helicopter 01
Train - Model
Teeth 01
Crime Lab
Firetruck 02
Train Play 01
Firetruck - Play 01
Potato Heads 01
DNA Play 01
Smiles 02
Teeth 01
Crime Lab
Firetruck 02
Train Play 01
Firetruck - Play 01
Potato Heads 01
DNA Play 01
Smiles 02

EXHIBITS Some of the Fun you'll find!

A Peek Inside

A Peek Inside

Mamma Mia's

Mamma Mia's

Water Table

Water Table

Ready. Set. Build!

Ready. Set. Build!

Seed to Shelf

Seed to Shelf

Toddler Port

Toddler Port

Our Exhibits
Heroes Hall logo

Suit up and crack the case in our
law enforcement themed wing.

HEROES HALL Calling all Heroes!

This immersive wing of the museum was made possible through a generous donation from and active collaboration with the Howard G. Buffett Foundation.

Put on a uniform and crack actual cases while learning the ins and outs of what it takes to serve and protect a community. You can even jump into the cockpit of the Sheriff’s helicopter parked outside!

Enter Heroes Hall

Facility Your next gathering could be at the museum!

Looking for more than just a visit? We’ve got options.

FIELD TRIPS

Children’s Museum of Illinois is the perfect destination for your next school, church, parent, homeschool, or community group field trip. Children can explore the museum self-guided, or participate in educational workshops through our Learning Labs. We offer several educational experiences throughout the school year, as well as outreach programming through our Museum on Wheels program.

In total, the museum boasts over sixty hands-on exhibits and activities that simulate real-world scenarios, connecting children with familiar experiences and contexts designed to highlight and encourage healthy habits and critical thinking. With Science and Arts funding being cut, this is a great opportunity to cover these topics in an experiential environment.

Get more information or book your field trip HERE

Family & Friends

No matter who or what you might be celebrating, your next party could be right here at the museum!

info

Business

We do adulting, too. Hold your meeting in the heart of Heroes Hall with a fantastic view of Lake Decatur.

Info

After Hours

Larger groups can take advantage of the entire museum when the doors close to the public.

Info
Field Trip banner mobile

FIELD TRIPS

Children’s Museum of Illinois is the perfect destination for your next school, church, parent, homeschool, or community group field trip. Children can explore the museum self-guided, or participate in educational workshops through our Learning Labs. We offer several educational experiences throughout the school year, as well as outreach programming through our Museum on Wheels program.

In total, the museum boasts over sixty hands-on exhibits and activities that simulate real-world scenarios, connecting children with familiar experiences and contexts designed to highlight and encourage healthy habits and critical thinking. With Science and Arts funding being cut, this is a great opportunity to cover these topics in an experiential environment.

Get the scoop or get registered HERE

Members: FREE | Children under the age of 2: FREE | Adults and Children 2 and up: $9.00 | 65 and older: $4.50 For other discounts we ask that you call us at this time: 217-423-5437

HOURS OF OPERATION

May – August

Monday – Friday: 9:30am to 4:30pm
Saturday: 10:00am to 5:00pm
Sunday: 1:00pm to 5:00pm

September – April

Tuesday – Friday: 9:30am to 4:30pm
Saturday: 10:00am to 5:00pm
Sunday: 1:00pm to 5:00pm

Please note we are closed on major holidays.
Days of operation do occasionally shift.
For the latest: Facebook.com/cmofil

Families with a Military ID: $4.00 each | w/EBT/LINK card: $4.00 | 65 and older: $4.50
Members: FREE | Children under the age of 2: FREE | Adults and Children 2 and up: $8.00
Families with a Military ID: $4.00 each | w/EBT/LINK card: $4.00 | Senior Citizens 65 and older: $4.00

HOURS OF OPERATION

May – August

Monday – Friday: 9:30am to 4:30pm
Saturday: 10:00am to 5:00pm
Sunday: 1:00pm to 5:00pm

September – April

Tuesday – Friday: 9:30am to 4:30pm
Saturday: 10:00am to 5:00pm
Sunday: 1:00pm to 5:00pm

Please note we are closed on major holidays.
Days of operation do occasionally shift.
For the latest: Facebook.com/cmofil

Members: FREE
Children under the age of 2: FREE
Adults and Children 2 and up: $8.00

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55 S Country Club Rd   Decatur, IL 62521
217-423-5437

Copyright © Children’s Museum of Illinois 2024 All rights reserved.