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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.
Take a Video Tour of the Research & Collections Center
Many of the Illinois State Museum's 13.2 million objects are housed at the Research and Collections Center in Springfield, Illinois. The collections include objects related to geology, anthropology, zoology, botany, fine art and history. Click on the video above to view a tour of this facility. Video published on July 21, 2016.
ISM-Research & Collections Ctr
1011 East Ash Street
Springfield, IL 62703
(217) 785-0037
Hours: By Appointment Only
Mon-Fri: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Closed: All State Holidays.
Parking
There is a large parking lot on site, parking is free.
Admission: FREE
Open to public only during programs or by appointment.