The mission of the Joliet Area Historical Museum is to promote awareness, understanding and preservation of the Joliet area’s diverse history through an active, community based collections acquisition program, engaging exhibits, and innovative educational programming.

Travel to the crossroads of Route 66 and Lincoln Highway for your visit to the Joliet Area Historical Museum and Route 66 Experience.

   

Win this 2008 Shelby GT 500 Mustang, on display through
October 4 at the Joliet Area Historical Museum.

Learn more.
   

Step Back in Time.

Your visit to the Joliet Area Historical Museum is a journey through time. Here you will experience how people lived, worked, traveled and built the foundation for today’s thriving community.

Walk through a life-size replica depicting the building of the historic Illinois Michigan Canal.

Stroll down a turn-of-the-century street past store fronts showcasing fashions of yesteryear.

Browse through a hardware store.

Take a virtual ride on a replica trolley.

Along the way, meet life-size models, interact with touch-screen visuals, view award-winning audio-visuals and learn how the past shaped the world you now enjoy.

The past comes alive as you travel through distinct zones depicting the stages of this area’s growth. They include:

  • Emblematic Sculpture
  • River City
  • I&M Canal
  • City of Stone and Steel
  • Metropolitan City
  • World War II
  • All American City
  • War Heroes Gallery

During your visit, stop in our Route 66 Welcome Center, dive into our Resource and Discovery Room packed with activities for chilren, and browse the Museum Gift Shop for gifts from Joliet’s past.

 

Explore Something New Every Visit.

Every time you visit, you will see something new or something old in a new way. The Museum houses special exhibits that let our visitors venture through America without wandering far from home. In our Special Exhibits Gallery, where the exhibits change every few months, enjoy unique traveling exhibits of photographs, art, and artifacts from some of the nation’s premier museums and private collections.

 

Get in on the Fun.

The Museum offers a unique variety of Special Programming for all ages. Every month the Museum offers interesting and imaginative programs for children, adults and the entire family. Don’t miss these exciting hands-on opportunities. Check out our Programming Calendar of Events.