LASR.net Homepage




Menu

Midwest Museum of Natural History


category : Museums
Midwest Museum of Natural History The MMNH Mission is to inspire an appreciation for the great diversity of the natural environment & human culture through education and recreation, and it's vision is to be a world class destination for guests and the ultimate environmental and cultural resource for educators and the community.

HISTORY OF THE MUSEUM - The renovated home of the Midwest Museum of Natural History has been known by long-time area residents as the Sycamore Community Center. This grand building has a much longer history, predating the days of the Community Center when the building was used for an entirely different purpose.

In 1875 the structure was built as the home of the Universalist Church in Sycamore. The appearance was quite different from what we know today, but the sharp pitch of the center roof and the castles crenellation where the steeple used to be are still recognizable.

By 1927, the church congregation had outgrown the space and built what is now the Federated Church building just down the street. The City of Sycamore purchased the old church and provided the first of several renovations to create the Sycamore Community Center. The $100,000 renovation, in addition to the new front, included a bowling alley and a swimming pool in the basement.

The next renovation took place in the early 1950s when the pool was filled in and a Memorial Room was created to meet the needs of many service organizations. This is the state most Sycamore residents recall when they think of the Community Center, which served many functions over the next 50 years.

At the turn of the new millennium, the Community Center found itself in dire need of a face lift with much of the building falling into disarray. Sycamore residents banded together to find a way to save the historic building, which led to the opportunity to create the Midwest Museum of Natural History.

In February 2004, this 128-year-old building was overhauled once again with a top to bottom 1.2 million dollar renovation. This included the creation of the main exhibit hall, a meeting/activity room, the Discovery Den, classrooms, offices, collection storage, and a new roof and climate controls, to help preserve the museum specimens.


Admission: Adults: $6 Children (2-12): $5 Seniors (62+): $5 Wednesdays: FREE
Hours: Tues - Sat: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Address: 425 W State Street Sycamore, IL 60178
Phone: 815-895-9777
Our Email: information@mmnh.org
Our Website:www.mmnh.org

Come visit us in Sycamore, Illinois

Attractions and Upcoming Events

Midwest Museum of Natural History

The MMNH Mission is to inspire an appreciation for the great diversity of the natural environment & human culture through education and recreation, and it's vision is to be a world class destination for guests and the ultimate environmental and cultural resource for educators and the community.

Sycamore, IL Museums

Sycamore Historical Society and Museum

The Sycamore Historical Society's archives consist of items and artifacts, many dating back to the mid and late 1800's. Established to preserve and promote a community'

Sycamore, IL Museums

Johnson's Farmstand and Corn Maze

Great family fun! Groups welcome. Come enjoy our 10

Sycamore, IL Mazes

Sycamore Family Sports Center

Enjoy family fun at the Sports Center with a golf driving range, an 18-hole mini golf course, six batting cages from little league to professional, Go-Karts, and soccer kicking cages coming in 2003. Lighted facility for evening use!

Sycamore, IL Fun Centers

Sycamore Winery

Welcome to the Sycamore Winery. We are committed to making the finest wine at reasonable prices. Many of our wines feature pictures of Sycamore sites from the past. We have more than 18

Sycamore, IL Wineries

Things to do Museums near Sycamore, IL

Garnhart's Oliver Museum

Explore the largest Oliver Hart-Parr collection in the midwest, including farm toys, advertising and collectibles dating back...

Aplington House - Polo Historical Society

Lincoln slept at the Aplington House two nights in 1856. Lincoln was a personal friend of Senator Aplington, the founder of P...

Streatorland Historical Museum

Displays include 19th century clothing, music room, local artifacts, and many photographs depicting Streatorland history....