NEWS

“Building with Brick – The Art of Lego” exhibit at the Jacksonville Area Museum is seeking submissions of area Lego artists. The exhibit will run from December 4, 2024 – February 28, 2025. This third-annual exhibit features original and Lego kit creations from all ages and skill levels. Prizes based on public voting will be… Read more: Lego Exhibit Seeking Submissions

​A new exhibit featuring the history of the Jacksonville Developmental Center will officially open to the public on Saturday, April 6 at the Jacksonville Area Museum in downtown Jacksonville.  ​The state-operated Jacksonville Developmental Center opened as the Illinois State Hospital and Asylum for the Insane in 1851 and for more than a century was one… Read more: Illinois State Hospital Exhibit Opens April 6, 2024

The Museum will be closed temporarily from March 3 – March 16, 2024 for maintenance.The museum will reoepen on March 17, 2024. We apologize for any inconvenience, and plan to see you soon at the museum!

The talents of area LEGO enthusiasts will once again be on display when the “Building with Brick – The Art of LEGO” exhibit opens Saturday, December 2 at the Jacksonville Area Museum. The exhibit will run through the end of February, 2024. The exhibit includes a three-foot replica of the ill-fated Titanic, the amazing Concord… Read more: Building with Brick – The Art of LEGO” returns to Jacksonville Area Museum

Got your tickets?!!? Time is running out! The Jacksonville Area Museum’s “Night at the Museum: Living Wax Legends,” featuring special first-person portrayals of historic local residents and a sneak preview of the museum’s exciting new phase of development, will return for a final time on Wednesday, November 15. The first “Night at the Museum,” offered… Read more: LAST CALL! LIVING WAX LEGENDS

Calling All Lego Artists! It’s back, and better than ever! The Jacksonville Area Museum is seeking to show off YOUR Lego abilities! Both young and old can submit their original creation or Lego kit to the upcoming annual exhibition ‘Building with Brick – The Art of Lego.’ Due to last year’s popularity, the exhibit will… Read more: The Art of LEGO – Looking for Submissions!

The Jacksonville Area Museum will come to life with special first-person portrayals of historic local residents during “Night at the Museum: Living Wax Legends” to be presented on successive Wednesdays, November 8 and 15. The November 8 presentation will be for museum members only, with the November 15 presentation intended for the general public. “Night… Read more: “Night at the Museum: Living Wax Legends” November 8 and 15

A temporary exhibit highlighting the 150-year history of the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, including their beginnings in Jacksonville, opens on Saturday, April 1 at the Jacksonville Area Museum in downtown Jacksonville. The exhibit may be seen through July 31, 2023. “Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois: Celebrating 150 years for the Life of the World” consists… Read more: Dominican Sisters exhibit opens April 1

NOTE: THIS EVENT IS POSTPONED DUE TO BAD WEATHER. PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR RESCHEDULED DATE IN THE FUTURE Several key items on the old Jacksonville Developmental Center grounds will be retrieved and taken to the Jacksonville Area Museum on Friday, March 24 starting at noon. The items include the time capsule buried during 1997 on… Read more: Time Capsule Moving to Museum

We’re exhausted! The museum has been open to the public for over a year, AND has been trying to get all the behind-the-scenes processes in working-order as well. So, we’re going to take a tiny break. The Jacksonville Area Museum will be closed the week of January 1 – 8, 2023 for maintenance. Then, we’ll… Read more: Museum Closing for Maintenance – Jan 1-8, 2023

‘Building with Brick, The Art of Lego’ displays the talents of area Lego artists for a limited time at the Jacksonville Area Museum.  All entries will be on display from Wednesday, December 7, 2022 through Saturday, February 4, 2023, with the public voting on their favorites in the three categories until February 1. The winning… Read more: Building with Brick, The Art of Lego

The Jacksonville Area Museum has issued a call for entries in its first annual “Building with Brick – The Art of Lego” exhibit and contest, and Lego enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels are encouraged to register their creations to be exhibited December 7, 2022 through February 4, 2023. The museum is seeking Lego… Read more: Museum Looking for Lego Artists! 

The Jacksonville Area Museum will host two events related to its J. Capps & Sons exhibit, including a hands-on ornament making activity with a sewing theme, on Wednesday, November 16. “J. Capps & Sons Indian Trade Blankets, Buffalo Bill Cody and Really Nice Threads” will be presented in the Jacksonville Area Museum’s west gallery at… Read more: Two Capps-Related Events on Nov 16

The Jacksonville Area Museum will celebrate its one-year anniversary with a special open house during the museum’s regular hours of operation on Sunday, September 25 from 1 to 4 p.m. The open house will feature photographs of the old Post Office building before it was transformed into a museum, a brief program at 2 p.m.,… Read more: Museum to Celebrate One-Year Anniversary September 25

“Nice Threads,” a new major exhibit featuring the history of the Capps Clothing Company, will officially open to the public on Saturday, July 16 at the Jacksonville Area Museum in downtown Jacksonville. A special preview for museum members only will be offered on Wednesday evening, July 13. “Nice Threads” traces the history of the company… Read more: “Nice Threads” Capps Clothing Co. exhibit opens July 16

The Jacksonville Area Museum is proud to announce its new history podcast! Spring is a time for new things, and our podcast is the newest way to share the wonderful audio stories of the Jacksonville area. You can listen to the story directly from the person who lived it, or has direct knowledge of the… Read more: Announcing the Jacksonville History Podcast

Sarah Angleton, the author of several books of historical fiction, including one featuring a founder of the former MacMurray College, will appear at the Jacksonville Area Museum on Saturday, April 30 at 10 a.m. for a presentation and book signing. The event is free and open to the public, and no advance reservations are required.… Read more: Sarah Angleton presentation and book signing this Saturday

The Jacksonville Female Academy is said to be the first women’s school for secondary education in Illinois. Anne Rutledge, the purported love interest of Abraham Lincoln, was making plans to attend the Jacksonville Female Academy when she died in 1835. If Rutledge had not succumbed to typhoid fever, she most likely would have attended classes… Read more: The Jacksonville Female Academy