Museum of the Grand Prairie

The Museum of the Grand Prairie is closed in January and February. It will reopen on March 1, 2024.

The Museum of the Grand Prairie was founded in 1968 as a facility of Champaign County Forest Preserve District. The founding collection, that of William Redhed, was comprised of objects from a pre-industrial age. For over 40 years the museum was called the Early American Museum, as Redhed preferred that name.

Thousands of artifacts representing our diverse history and population have been added since that time. Thus, In 2011, we changed our name to reflect our county’s cultural and natural history. The term Grand Prairie, a 19th century designation for the vast untamed American Midwest, recalls our cultural and natural heritage.

Current Exhibits

Take a walk through Central Illinois history at the Museum of the Grand Prairie. You can get to know Champaign County as Abraham Lincoln knew it. We’re always FREE to the general public!

Exhibits

Visit with a Group

Group visits are welcome! Special program requests and groups with 12 or more patrons are required to arrange visits with staff prior to arrival. Requests for all programs, group visits, and tours must be made at least two weeks in advance. Contact us at (217) 586-2612 or email us for more information on programs and availability.

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