Burpee Museum of Natural History, Rockford

About Burpee Museum of Natural History

Burpee Museum of Natural History in Rockford invites visitors to explore natural history through exhibits and hands-on experiences. The museum features multiple exhibits including Jane: Diary of a Dinosaur, Pleistocene: Ice Age in Illinois, Coal Forest from the Carboniferous Era, The Earth Below Your Feet, Sprouts Learning Lab, and Homer's Odyssey. Visitors can observe Scientists at Work through a viewing lab window. Animal Encounters offer 45-minute behind-the-scenes experiences where guests meet reptiles and other creatures while learning how they live and contribute to understanding the natural world. Homeschool Science Days transform the museum into a learning environment where families explore together, examine fossils and specimens, and participate in experiments. The museum hosts school fieldtrips with curriculum-aligned activities and offers classes and clubs throughout the year. The four-floor facility provides wheelchair accessibility, elevator access, and free wheelchair rental for visitors with mobility needs.