On Sunday, 4:30 pm, we have a great program from author and marathoner ED BATES, as he discusses the amazing 48 years of the Elgin Valley Fox Trot! Free admission. Ed will have copies of his epic book, Running 10: The History of the Valley Fox Trot, available for purchase/signing.
Thanks to all who attended our Senior Free Friday Field Trip today -- and Teryl Teeter, who took these pics for us! Special guest Liz Marston, Director of Elgin History Museum, and EPM Director Sharry Blazier talked about the similarities and differences in what these two great local museums do.
Three great programs coming up in April, and as always (excepting this coming Easter Sunday), we're open all Saturdays and Sundays. 12-4. We hope to see you soon at Elgin Public Museum!
Linda will read Green is My Favorite Color on Saturday, April 18th, at 12:30 pm. Copies will be available for purchase and signing. Standard museum admission applies ($3 adults, $2 kids 3-12 and seniors 60+, and FREE for under 3, museum members, and Elgin Twp Senior Access Passes).
FIVE slots left for Saturday, March 28th! ... But you can also reserve now for April 25, May 30, June 27, July 25, Aug 29, Sept 26, Oct 31. Contact blazier_s@cityofelgin.org for more info and to make a credit card payment for a reservation. Ages 5+, $5 each. MUSEUM MEMBERS ONE FREE SESSION PER YEAR!
Join us as author Ed Bates speaks and holds a book-signing for his colorful and comprehensive new history of the Valley Fox Trot race!
FREE ADMISSION, donations welcome.
Thanks to the Walton Island Jammers for blowing the skylights out of the joint this morning!
We feared the rain might keep folks from coming this morning, but it was a nice turnout for our Seniors Friday Free Field Trip, The Murderer's Birds! Thanks so much to all who came!
Stuck in the winter doldrums? Come to EPM! Open Saturday and Sunday 12-4, adults just $3, kids and seniors $2, under 3 free. Our freshened-up Discovery Room has lots for kids to do and play with! Make Valentines, Black History Month Coloring Sheets, tornado bottles, microscopes!
As of Sunday, February 1st, we are open to the public for our regular Saturday-Sunday hours of 12-4. Come see all the new stuff!
In the midst of all our new exhibit madness, we are still doing programs! Yesterday we welcomed the PEO organization, and today we had a blast with kids from Algonquin Lakes Elementary! Meanwhile today, Jerry the Electrician fixed the broken light in the beaver den and installed a new outlet.
From all of us at EPM, from the living to the long extinct, HAPPY HOLIDAYS! -- Sharry, Abby, Mike, Steph, Adam, Judy, Amy B, Karin, Amy S, Gail, Linda, Lynda, Niki, Deb, and Sarah. 🎄❄️⛄️
Reasons to visit Elgin Public Museum this weekend -- open 12-4!
Cool last-minute Holiday gifts, like a beautiful downtown Elgin photo by Bruce Shipyor ... Ed Bates' colorful and comprehensive history of the Elgin Valley Fox Trot.
Stumped on what to get those unusual folks on your holiday shopping list? The museum gift shop has some unusual gifts! Heather Dorsch art, rock and mineral jewelry, fossils, Ed Bates' great new book about the history of the Fox Trot.
Open Saturday/Sunday 12-4.
A big heartfelt Snoopy Dance Thank You to those who donated to Elgin Public Museum for Giving Tuesday! We so appreciate your generosity!
It's Giving Tuesday, this Tuesday. As a 501(c)3 non-profit we appreciates all the help we can get, both in monetary and in-kind donations.
Please consider Elgin Public Museum and its educational mission for your holiday season giving!
The museum will be CLOSED today, Sat. 29 November.
***WEATHER ALERT*** We may or may not be open the weekend of 29/30 November. 👇👇👇
Our third of 3 November Seniors programs was another big hit! Topic this week, Owls. We discussed the adaptations that make owls one of nature's most fearsome hunters, dissected pellets, and even explored a Whoooooodunnit murder case in which an owl may have been the real killer!
Thanks to Board Member Lynda Hayes for capturing these images of a really wonderful and informative program from Gerald Savage at Saturday's Indigenous Peoples Observation!
Teachers, this program complements curriculum needs for Native-American, exploration & trade, and biodiversity topics. Community groups, it's fun and informative! Get in touch with us at blazier_s@cityofelgin.org to book a program!
Our Indigenous Tech/The Encounter combo program adapts well to all age groups! Yesterday, Abby leads it for O'Neal Elementary; today, Sharry leads it for a Seniors Friday Field Trip!
Fun at this morning's Friday Field Trip for Seniors! Indigenous Tech showed the ingenious ways Indigenous Peoples developed technology from nature around them. The Encounter showed how their lifeways abruptly changed with the coming of Europeans. Thanks to all who attended!
Happy Birthday to US! 105 years ago today, the museum officially opened its doors, after sitting vacant for 13 years after construction. We aren't open today, but we are open Saturday/Sunday 12-4, and this SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15th will be FREE admission.
Great time today as we presented our first "Seniors Friday Free Field Trip" -- The Lord Legacy. Great crowd, many of whom had lots to add to the show, too! Along with the story of George and Mary Lord's many contributions to Elgin, including Lords Park, the zoo, and museum itself.
A very fun session of Meet the Bison (and Elk!) yesterday, for the last time in 2025. Spike was looking especially dapper, and all enjoyed a special post-Halloween snack of smashed pumpkins. We resume Meet the Bison in February.
And if you bring one in with you and show it to us on a Saturday or Sunday through November 2nd, we'll give you free one-time admission to the museum!
Elgin Rocks have very kindly supplied us with some groovy painted Dia de los Muertos rocks! We'll be occasionally planting them OUTSIDE the museum through the coming week. They're yours to keep or re-hide if you find one -- but please take only one, so others can have a chance at them.
The museum is open to the public Saturday and Sunday, 12-4; or, to schedule a purchase/pickup on a weekday, email blazier_s@cityofelgin.org, or call the museum at (847) 741-6655.