It is amazing to think that almost 22,000 to 12,500 years ago, Chicago was covered with nearly 3,000 feet of ice. Discover the fascinating ways in which the Illinoian and Wisconsinan glacial advancements buried northeastern Illinois in ice and created the topography of the state, such as major lakes, rivers, and valleys. Illinois also is the home of Jane, the most complete skeleton of an adolescent T.rex in existence. You can meet Jane at the Burpee Museum in Rockford.
The Prairie State was once blanketed with colorful wildflowers and tall grasses, covering two-thirds of Illinois and leaving behind some of the most fertile soil in the world. Although much of the land is now covered with agricultural fields, Illinois offers a diverse landscape. Learn about the history of the prairie and the many flora and fauna that can be found today.
French explorers first came into contact with Native Americans in the 1600’s, yet archaeological findings indicate that tribes such as the Illinois (or Illiniwek) inhabited North America over 10,000 to 12,000 years ago. Relive the fascinating journey of Native Americans through northern Illinois, and discover what excavations of their villages may tell us about their history and culture, both in recent centuries and prehistoric eras.