Information
Landmark: Joliet Area Historical MuseumCity: Joliet
Country: USA Illinois
Continent: North America
Joliet Area Historical Museum, Joliet, USA Illinois, North America
Overview
In the heart of downtown Joliet, Illinois, the Joliet Area Historical Museum stands as a lively hub for preserving and sharing the city’s rich past and the stories of its neighboring communities, from old steel mill photos to vintage streetcar signs.Step inside the museum and you’ll find a doorway into the region’s industrial, social, and cultural past, brought to life through hands‑on exhibits and lively educational programs.You can find us at 204 N-look for the red door just past the corner.Ottawa Street, Joliet, IL 60432 - Phone: (815) 723-5201 - The museum sits right in the heart of Joliet’s historic downtown, a short walk from the riverfront, with easy access by car or bus and on-site parking ready when you arrive.We’re open Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Expect the doors to be locked on major holidays-Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day, plus New Year’s Eve and Day.Adults pay $10, seniors 60 and up $9, and full-time students with a valid ID $7.Youth ages 4–12 get in for $5, while little ones under 3 stroll in free.Museum members never pay, and groups of 15 or more can snag a special rate if they book ahead.The museum offers an ever-changing mix of permanent and temporary displays that bring Joliet’s history and culture to life, from the Illinois & Michigan Canal to the city’s industrial boom-step inside the canal exhibit and you’ll see maps worn soft at the edges, telling the story of how this waterway powered transportation and trade.It traces Joliet’s rise into a bustling industrial hub, powered by steel mills clanging, factories churning, and railroads threading through the city.Apollo 11 and Dr.John C., standing side by side, like the hiss of static from a radio just before liftoff.Houbolt: This exhibit honors Joliet native Dr.Houbolt, the engineer who championed the Lunar Orbit Rendezvous method-a crucial idea that put Apollo astronauts on the moon.Route 66 Welcome Center: Here, you’ll step into the story of the legendary highway that winds through Joliet, with nods to its music, diners, and neon-lit nights.You’ll find artifacts, photographs, and bits of memorabilia here, from faded ticket stubs to props tied to the legendary 1980 film *The Blues Brothers*.The displays spotlight Gerlach-Barklow and P. F. Volland, two historic calendar and greeting card makers from Joliet, with colorful prints and delicate lettering that reveal their artistry and importance to the community.The Martin & Emma Planinsek Grocery & Meat Market Museum recreates a 1920s–1930s store, shelves lined with tins and sacks, offering a glimpse into local trade and daily life in early 20th-century Joliet.The museum regularly brings in temporary exhibits, from local history and cultural heritage to vivid art and neighborhood tales-one month you might see a 1920s streetcar sign, the next a mural painted by local kids.Beyond its main building, the Joliet Area Historical Museum runs several historic sites, including the Old Joliet Prison-a well-known local landmark where Thursday-to-Sunday tours from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. reveal its storied past and the cold, echoing halls of its architecture.The Joliet Railroad Museum sits just down the road and welcomes visitors Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with model trains clattering over tracks, historic artifacts, and exhibits that bring the city’s rail history to life.Planinsek Grocery & Meat Market Museum is open Friday to Sunday, noon to four, and brings to life the feel of an old neighborhood store with shelves lined in glass jars and tin cans.The Gemini Giant Visitor’s Center in Wilmington, IL-an eye-catching Route 66 landmark with its towering green astronaut-welcomes visitors Thursday through Monday, from noon to 6 p.m. The museum offers special programs ranging from hands-on workshops to lively community gatherings, all crafted to spark curiosity and connect with visitors of every age.They range from school field trips and lively lectures to heritage festivals and family days filled with local stories and traditions.Old National Bank sponsors several free-admission days at the museum each year, from Martin Luther King Jr.Day to the Friday after Thanksgiving’s Light Up the Holidays, with stops in between for Star Wars Family Day and Mother’s Day; every event welcomes visitors of all abilities, with ramps wide enough for strollers and wheelchairs.You can park in the lot on the corner of Webster and Ottawa Streets, right beside the old brick café.With a little heads-up, we can set up group tours or educational visits-just let us know in time to dust off the welcome sign.The Joliet Area Historical Museum brings Joliet’s past to life, preserving the stories, photographs, and heritage of the city and its neighboring communities.You’ll find lively exhibits, hands-on learning experiences, and pathways to explore centuries-old landmarks, all of which make it an essential cultural touchstone for the region.From exploring the hum of local workshops to reliving Route 66’s neon-lit charm or tracing the stories of space missions past, visitors will discover a rich mix of experiences here.
