List of museums in Illinois

This list of museums in Illinois contains museums which are defined for this context as institutions (including nonprofit organizations, government entities, and private businesses) that collect and care for objects of cultural, artistic, scientific, or historical interest and make their collections or related exhibits available for public viewing. Also included are non-profit and university art galleries. Museums that exist only in cyberspace (i.e., virtual museums) are not included.

Defunct museums

 * ABA Museum of Law, Chicago, closed in 2011
 * African-American Heritage Museum and Black Veterans Archives, Aurora, former sculpture park dedicated to the leaders of Black American history, closed in 2000. Relocated to Hammonds, LA.
 * American Police Center & Museum, Chicago
 * Americana Hollywood Museum, Metropolis
 * ArtWorks Children's Museum, Ingleside
 * Barb City Motorcycle Museum, DeKalb, collection sold in 2013
 * Berwyn Route 66 Museum
 * Chester Gould-Dick Tracy Museum, Woodstock, closed in 2008, collection now online
 * Driehaus Gallery of Stained Glass, gallery of stained glass at Navy Pier closed in 2017
 * Gardner Museum of Architecture & Design, Quincy
 * Illinois Museum of Natural History, campus of Illinois State University, Old Main building, from 1857-1877
 * Korean War National Museum, Sangamon, closed in 2017, collections transferred to the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum
 * Lakeview Museum of Arts & Sciences, Peoria, closed in 2012, collections now at the Peoria Riverfront Museum
 * Max Nordeen's Wheels Museum, Woodhull
 * McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum, Chicago, closed in 2009
 * Motorola Museum of Electronics, Schaumburg
 * Museum of Funeral Customs, Springfield, closed in 2009
 * Museum of Holography, Chicago
 * National Museum of Surveying, Springfield, closed in 2013
 * Octave Chanute Aerospace Museum, Rantoul, closed in 2015
 * Old Barn Museum, Newark
 * Oliver Parks Telephone Museum, Springfield
 * Park Ridge Historical Society Museum, Park Ridge
 * The Peace Museum, Chicago
 * Raggedy Ann & Andy Museum, Arcola, Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy memorabilia, Johnny Gruelle exhibits closed in 2009
 * Shea's Gas Station Museum, Springfield, contents auctioned off in 2015
 * Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows, Chicago, closed in 2014
 * Stuka Military Museum, Oregon
 * Terra Museum, Chicago, closed on October 31, 2004
 * Under the Prairie Frontier Archaeological Museum, Athens, operated by the Sangamo Archaeological Center, closed August 1, 2008
 * U.S. Senator Paul Simon Museum, Troy, closed in 2012
 * Vinegar Hill Historic Lead Mine & Museum, Galena
 * Walter Payton Museum, Aurora, part of a restaurant complex that closed in 2010