Bess Bower Dunn Museum, Libertyville

As stewards and storytellers of the past, Bess Bower Dunn Museum aims to connect the world through history. Named after Bess Bower Dunn, the first official Lake County historian, the museum houses nearly 20,000 artifacts including prehistoric fossils and tools each telling their own story. The museum also engages the community through fields trips and education programs in order to inspire visitors to make a positive impact in their communities.

• Size: five walk-through exhibits filled with a variety of artifacts and information about the surrounding area
• Eye Catcher: the museum's full-scale replica of a wigwam, where guests learn about the history of Native Americans
• Permanent Exhibits: Prehistoric Lake County, The First People, An American Frontier, and the Woodland Theater where visitors learn about the importance of nature conservation under a canopy of leaves
• Visiting Exhibit: Illinois Proud, celebrating Illinois bicentennial with displays showcasing the work of local historical societies
• Don't Miss: the life-sized Dryptosaurus, 20-foot bipedal dinosaur replica, that greets visitors as they enter the museum