Discovery Museum

Discover the fun, well-rounded experience you expect from a big-city museum without the commute, at the award-winning Lake County Discovery Museum in Wauconda. This nationally accredited museum, set in the beautiful Lakewood Forest Preserve, features a variety of hands-on, interactive exhibits for the whole family.

At the Lake County Discovery Museum visitors are whooshed into the past in the Vortex Roller Coaster Theater where they take a whirlwind ride through 10,000 years of Lake County history in just 10 minutes. In the interactive Mall of History visitors can journey on a lotus boat, walk on a piece of the old plank road and meet a 10-foot tall mastodon, all while learning about local history.

Travel around the world through picture postcards in Bringing the World Home which showcases images from the Museum's

Curt Teich postcard collection. The images on display represent just a fraction of the over 3 million images in the Lake County Discovery Museum's Curt Teich Postcard Archives, the world's largest public collection of picture postcards. The Museum also features special exhibitions and art exhibits throughout the year. For more information on upcoming exhibits in the local artist gallery or special exhibition gallery, visit the Museum website at www.lakecountydiscoverymuseum.org.

Throughout the year the Museum and Lakewood Forest Preserve host a variety of special events and educational programs. Every July, history comes to life during Civil War Days, the largest Civil War re-enactment in Illinois. In fall, the preserve hosts the annual Farm Heritage Festival, which celebrates Lake County's rich agricultural history.

The Lake County Discovery Museum is located on Route 176 just west of Fairfield Road in Wauconda. Gallery hours are Monday-Saturday from 11 am - 4:30 pm and Sunday from 1-4:30 pm. The museum is wheelchair accessible and parking is free. Admission fees apply, call for current pricing. On Tuesdays adults are always half price and all youth 17 and under are free. For additional information about the Lake County Discovery Museum please call 847-968-3400 or visit www.lakecountydiscoverymuseum.org. To subscribe to Horizons, the Lake County Forest Preserves' quarterly newsletter, call 847-367-6640.