Elgin Public Museum
@elginpublicmuseum.bsky.social
Our mission is to enhance knowledge of the natural sciences & anthropology through the use of exhibits and interactive experiences.
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. 🎄❄️⛄️
December 25, 2025 at 4:29 AM
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.
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.
December 19, 2025 at 2:15 AM
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.
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.
Open Saturday/Sunday 12-4.
December 7, 2025 at 4:35 AM
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.
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!
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December 3, 2025 at 6:27 PM
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!
Please consider Elgin Public Museum and its educational mission for your holiday season giving!
December 1, 2025 at 4:54 AM
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!
Please consider Elgin Public Museum and its educational mission for your holiday season giving!
The museum will be CLOSED today, Sat. 29 November.
November 29, 2025 at 4:40 PM
The museum will be CLOSED today, Sat. 29 November.
***WEATHER ALERT*** We may or may not be open the weekend of 29/30 November. 👇👇👇
November 29, 2025 at 5:41 AM
***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!
November 23, 2025 at 5:17 PM
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!
November 20, 2025 at 2:03 AM
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!
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!
November 18, 2025 at 4:47 AM
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!
November 17, 2025 at 1:23 AM
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.
November 13, 2025 at 2:48 PM
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.
November 11, 2025 at 4:47 AM
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.
November 2, 2025 at 10:32 PM
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.
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.
October 28, 2025 at 2:00 PM
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.
It's here and it's fantastic! Ed Bates' epic history of the Elgin Valley Fox Trot is hot off the presses! Featuring 215 pages detailing the 48-year history, including dozens of photos and annual results, of Elgin's iconic 10-mile/5k race, Running 10 is the perfect holiday gift!
October 25, 2025 at 2:13 AM
It's here and it's fantastic! Ed Bates' epic history of the Elgin Valley Fox Trot is hot off the presses! Featuring 215 pages detailing the 48-year history, including dozens of photos and annual results, of Elgin's iconic 10-mile/5k race, Running 10 is the perfect holiday gift!
Please join us; the museum will be free admission on Saturday, November 15th.
October 18, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Please join us; the museum will be free admission on Saturday, November 15th.
Hmmmm, what's arriving at Elgin Public Museum today? It's 8 more new exhibit cases, bringing our grand total to 17, thanks to a wonderful grant from the Seigle Foundation!
October 8, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Hmmmm, what's arriving at Elgin Public Museum today? It's 8 more new exhibit cases, bringing our grand total to 17, thanks to a wonderful grant from the Seigle Foundation!
Are you a senior? Would you be interested in this program
October 6, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Are you a senior? Would you be interested in this program
What a morning here at EPM, as we look toward a week with numerous deliveries of new exhibit cases! The BIG ONES came just a bit ago, and after some heart-stopping moments of getting them into the building safely, they are now resting comfortably in the back hall!
October 1, 2025 at 1:47 PM
What a morning here at EPM, as we look toward a week with numerous deliveries of new exhibit cases! The BIG ONES came just a bit ago, and after some heart-stopping moments of getting them into the building safely, they are now resting comfortably in the back hall!
Today we thank 43rd District Representative Anna Moeller for her sponsorship of Elgin Public Museum's 90s Gala, and for being a steadfast supporter of, and voice for, arts and culture in Illinois.
September 29, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Today we thank 43rd District Representative Anna Moeller for her sponsorship of Elgin Public Museum's 90s Gala, and for being a steadfast supporter of, and voice for, arts and culture in Illinois.
Thank you to 90s Gala sponsors Prairie Street Studios! We are hoping that 2026 will bring some collaborations with these wonderfully imaginative artisans! Thank you, Hans and Beth, for your support of EPM.
September 29, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Thank you to 90s Gala sponsors Prairie Street Studios! We are hoping that 2026 will bring some collaborations with these wonderfully imaginative artisans! Thank you, Hans and Beth, for your support of EPM.
A big thank you to 90s gala sponsor Carroll Ann Bailey, who as usual brightened an event even more by handing out her personally homemade flower creations. Find out where Carroll's gonna be and then be there, too -- you may very well be "arted upon!" Thank you, Carroll!
September 28, 2025 at 3:56 PM
A big thank you to 90s gala sponsor Carroll Ann Bailey, who as usual brightened an event even more by handing out her personally homemade flower creations. Find out where Carroll's gonna be and then be there, too -- you may very well be "arted upon!" Thank you, Carroll!
Thank you to Sam and Dianha Ortega-Ehreth for their sponsorship of EPM's recent 90s gala. Although they weren't able to make it to the event, we greatly appreciate their continuing support!
September 27, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Thank you to Sam and Dianha Ortega-Ehreth for their sponsorship of EPM's recent 90s gala. Although they weren't able to make it to the event, we greatly appreciate their continuing support!