Museum of the Grand Prairie

06/22/2026

The signing of the Declaration of Independence 250 years ago gave birth to a nation illuminated very differently than it is today. The 18th century lighting devices in the museum’s Redhed collection bear witness to the differences.

Shown here is a Phoebe lamp with its characteristic stacked pans. The circular bowl of the upper pan held liquid or semi-liquid fuel, like used cooking oil or grease. A twisted wick protruded from the narrow trough and extended into the fuel. The lower pan caught fuel dripping from the wick to help minimize mess and reuse the fuel. When lit, the Phoebe lamp was often smelly, smoky, and messy. Its light was hard to direct, and very poor by today’s standards.

To learn more about Phoebe lamps and many other 18th century lighting devices, stay tuned for “Lighting A New Nation,” an online exhibit going live on July 1, 2026, to help commemorate the 250th birthday of the United States.

06/22/2026

Illumination with whale oil grew in 18th century America and blossomed in the early 19th century. As whale oil became a more readily available fuel source, so too did the lighting devices designed to burn it.



Decorative glass lamps were fashionable. This example has the iconic whale oil burner with twin wick tubes. Bejamin Franklin is often credited with discovering two wicks produced the most light per amount of fuel burned. Many whale oil lamps were rather small and usually left the flames exposed.



To learn more about whale oil lamps and their burners, look for “Lighting A New Nation,” an online exhibit going live on July 1, 2026, commemorating the 250th birthday of the United States.

06/22/2026

Celebrate Pollinator Week at the Museum of the Grand Prairie, Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve, with two events highlighting the important role pollinators play in our world.

Pollinator Pockets
Saturday, June 23 | 4 - 5:30 PM
Learn how to create pollinator-friendly landscapes that support ecosystem health, no matter the size of your outdoor space. Then, take a guided walk through the Mabery Gelvin Botanical Garden to observe plant-pollinator interactions in action. Attend in person or virtually. Registration is required only for the virtual option by June 22.

Mead at the Museum
Saturday, June 27 | 5 - 8 PM
Celebrate Pollinator Week through honey, mead, history, and nature. See honeybees at work in an enclosed hive, sample local honey, purchase mead from TreeHive Meadery, enjoy storytelling rooted in local history, check out Mabery Gelvin Botanical Garden, and more.

From learning about how to create pollinator habitat to enjoying the products pollinators make possible, these events offer fun and engaging ways to learn about and celebrate pollinators.
Looking for more Pollinator Week activities? Explore events hosted by Illinois Extension and partners: https://publish.illinois.edu/pollinatorweek/

06/18/2026

In observance of Juneteenth, the Museum of the Grand Prairie and the Interpretive Center at Middle Fork River Forest Preserve will be closed, Friday, June 19. We look forward to welcoming visitors back during our regular hours this weekend.

Although the Museum and Interpretive Center will be closed, the forest preserves will remain open. We invite you to get outside, explore the trails, and enjoy the preserves.

06/17/2026

Out of concern for public safety, all Champaign County Forest Preserves and facilities including the Museum of the Grand Prairie, and Lake of the Woods Golf Course will be closing at 12 PM (noon) today due to forecasted severe storms in the area.

We strongly encourage all visitors to plan accordingly, exit preserves before the closure time, and seek safe shelter. Please stay weather-aware throughout the day.

Your safety is our top priority. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

06/09/2026

BIGFOOT. UFOs. GHOSTS.

The evidence is waiting.

Historical MythBusters Camp teaches teens ages 13-15 about local myths, then challenges them to investigate, analyze clues, and decide what's fact, fiction, or still unexplained.

Choose one date/location:
June 23 @ Lake of the Woods Forest Preserve
June 24 @ Homer Lake Forest Preserve
June 25 @ Middle Fork River Forest Preserve
Time: 10 AM - 11:30 AM
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CmhUgQP6s/

Register: https://bit.ly/History_Camps

06/03/2026

Hydration recently got an upgrade at Museum of the Grand Prairie!

Thanks to support from the Forest Preserve Friends Foundation, visitors can now enjoy updated drinking fountains and a water bottle refill station in the Education Hallway. The ELKAY filtration and water dispensing system has already helped save 140 disposable plastic bottles, making it easier to stay refreshed while reducing waste.

Whether you're exploring exhibits, attending a program, or stopping by for a visit, be sure to take advantage of this convenient addition during your next trip to the museum.

06/02/2026

05/29/2026

Thank you to everyone who signed up and attended our recent Photography Workshop! The weather was nice and sunny, a perfect day for photos.

The session was instructed by Fred Delcomyn, Professor emeritus and Director emeritus of the School of Integrative Biology at the University of Illinois.