There’s no better way to learn something new than visiting a local museum. Going to a museum is an experience that appeals to all ages, offering exciting sculptures and figurines to admire. Here’s a list of six museums you need to visit near Glenview, Illinois, covering subjects from history and science to sock monkeys.

Sock Monkey Museum

A sock monkey covering its eyes in front of other sock monkeys at a museum near Glenview, IL

Image by HomeMaker is licensed with Pixabay License

Venture out to the historic downtown of Long Grove, Illinois, to discover the charm of the Sock Monkey Museum. The museum’s walls are covered with vintage sock monkeys, pairing perfectly with the town’s historical buildings dating back to the 1800s. Marvel at the museum’s collection of over 2,000 sock monkeys and learn about what makes them special. There’s even a light-up Ferris wheel with sock monkeys that your kids can spin.

Take home a cute souvenir from the Sock Monkey Museum’s gift shop or reserve a spot at its sock monkey-making workshop. Admission is $6 for ages 12 and up, $4 for children, and little ones 4 and under are free. A portion of the entrance fee proceeds goes to the Chimp Sanctuary Northwest.

  • Location: 210 Robert Parker Coffin Road, Long Grove.
  • Hours: Noon to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Kohl Children’s Museum

The Kohl Children’s Museum is a wonderful place to let your child’s imagination flourish in more than 15 permanent exhibits. The museum’s pretend play exhibits include Hands-On House, Play Cafe, SpotHero Car Garage, and Whole Foods Market. Kids can splash and experiment at the Water Works exhibit or discover new sounds at the Ravinia Festival Music Makers exhibit.

Visit this Glenview gem’s special exhibits inspired by early childhood education experts. Here, your children can explore fun, hands-on activities catered to furthering their development. For a pleasant museum experience in the sun, bring your kids to Habitat Park, the museum’s two-acre outdoor exhibit. General admission for children and adults ages 1 to 64 is $19. Infants 12 months and under are free.

  • Location: 2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview.
  • Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Skokie Heritage Museum

If you like learning about local history, stop by the Skokie Heritage Museum to tour some historic buildings. The Fire Engine House is a restored building featuring a ladder truck, hose cart, and chemical tank from the 1800s. Next to the Fire Engine House, you’ll find what’s believed to be the first log cabin ever built in Skokie. The Pioneer Log Cabin is from 1847 and is now filled with 1800s furnishings to give visitors a glimpse at how the cabin’s residents lived.

Your historic adventure doesn’t have to stop at the Heritage Museum. The Skokie Parks District created an awesome Historic Skokie Walking Tour, complete with a map and fun facts for you and your family to enjoy. You can admire the architecture of grand historic buildings like Village Hall, Skokie Public Library, and The Theater. Complete your weekend day trip with a satisfying meal at a family-friendly restaurant in Glenview.

  • Location: 8031 Floral Ave., Skokie.
  • Hours: Noon to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

American Toby Jug Museum

Pop culture fans will get a kick out of the American Toby Jug Museum in Evanston, Illinois. A Toby jug is a ceramic pitcher modeled after famous characters, historical or fictional. The museum prides itself on having one of the world’s largest collections of Toby jugs, housing over 8,000 across 97 cabinets. Its collection also features rare character ceramics in salt and pepper shaker or teapot forms.

Bring your kids and turn your visit into a family scavenger hunt as you try to find your favorite characters. The museum has several Marvel superhero jugs and famous characters from the Harry Potter, Star Wars, Star Trek, and Lord of the Rings movie franchises. The American Toby Jug Museum is only open one day a week, but admission is free. Private tours are available by appointment.

  • Location: 910 Chicago Ave., Evanston.
  • Hours: Open only on Tuesdays from noon to 5 p.m.

The Exploritorium

Families with younger children love coming to play at The Exploritorium. This museum combines your child’s cognitive, physical, and emotional development areas with interactive exhibits and an indoor playground. Kids can experiment at the Engineering Megastation and giant Lite Brite wall or test their strength on the climbing wall. If your child has a bright imagination, they’ll adore the dress-up area and stage. 

Kids that are full of energy will have a blast in the tubes and tunnels playground. The special Toddler Zone is designated for small children in a safe space with slides, mirrors, and toys. Youngsters can also explore the toy train station and water play area to focus on building their fine motor skills. Admission is affordable, just $5 to $6 for residents or non-residents of all ages. Children ages 1 and under are free. The Exploritorium also partners with the Skokie Park District to provide community events , such as Kids Night Out.

  • Location: 4701 Oakton St., Skokie.
  • Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

Halim Time & Glass Museum

Come to the Halim Time & Glass Museum for an awe-inspiring museum experience you’ll want to share with friends and family. This five-story building displays a mixture of art and history with over 1,100 timepieces and 70 stained-glass pieces. The timepiece collection includes tower clocks, pocket watches, and tall case clocks. The art exhibit features stunning stained-glass windows, mosaics, and glass housewares.

It all started in the 2010s when the Halim family began to collect exquisite timepieces, and as their collection grew, they wanted a place to display it and share it with the public. Some of the Halim Time & Glass Museum pieces date back 300 years. This kid-friendly museum is currently closed for expansion, with its grand reopening set for May 10th.

Which of these six museums are you excited to visit next? There’s something for everyone to enjoy. Our team at Crème de la Crème of Glenview looks forward to hearing about your next museum-going adventure. Is there a location we missed? Let us know and we’ll check it out.