Visitor Information

Visits to the RCC must be prearranged. Please call to schedule a visit. 

The Research & Collections Center houses collections that include artifacts, fossils, biological specimens, works of art, records, and databases. The rocks, minerals, and fossil plants and animals, and their contemporary counterparts, permanently record the evolution of Illinois climates, landscapes, plants, and animals. Finely-crafted tools, ornaments, and works of art illustrate the rich cultural history from the cultures of the prehistoric American Indians who thrived in this region for over 10,000 years, to the early French explorers of the seventeenth century, to the settlers of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, to the culturally diverse societies of today.

The collections and educational resources in the RCC provide the basis for learning experiences that surpass those available in the traditional classroom and other formal settings. They permit first-hand observation of the tangible evidence for natural and cultural change and diversity. They are studied by students and scholars from a wide variety of disciplines.