There is a very weird museum in Alton, Illinois that is all about illusions, outdated medical practices, and torture devices. Strange wonders abound at this unique attraction that is unlike anyplace else in the state.
Whether you enjoy history or just like unusual things, you'll find something interesting and memorable here. Check it out:
Formerly known as the Historic Museum of Torture Devices, the Curiosity Museum in southern Illinois is an adults-only attraction that is not for the faint of heart. It is located in the Mineral Springs Building, which is rumored to be haunted.
This 1,500 square-foot museum features more than 80 exhibits of strange and odd wonders. Some attractions are interactive, such as the Wheel of Death, which will reveal your ultimate fate.
Most of the items featured in this weird museum are handmade, extremely rare, or incredibly old. Discover a Chinese death cage as well as a great deal of Medieval torture devices.
Nazi sub-machine guns, a vampire killing kit, and a padlock-picking challenge add to the fun you'll find at this unique place. Guests will also get to see bizarre artwork, the remnants of quack medicine, and crazy illusions.
Tours of this museum are self-guided, and most people spend about an hour roaming the exhibits and learning about some of the unusual things humans did in the past. If you like weird stuff, this place is for you.
The Curiosity Museum is open Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 4 p.m. The price is $6 per person, and the museum only accepts cash.
When you think of Georgia O'Keeffe, you probably think of the New Mexico landscapes she painted. Maybe you associate her with Wisconsin where she was born, West Texas where she taught, or New York where she shot to fame and cemented her legacy as one of the greatest artists of the nineteenth century. O'Keeffe has left her mark on the many places around the U.S. that have informed her style, but the time she spent in Illinois was fundamental in setting her up for a career in the arts. This summer the Art Institute of Chicago is hosting an exhibition called "Georgia O'Keeffe: My New Yorks" that showcases a number of her paintings from when she was living in New York. I was pleasantly surprised to see O'Keeffe's connection to Chicago on display, even if not in the title of the exhibit.
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The exhibition has been up since June and can be seen through September.
But this painting, "The Shelton with Sunspots, N.Y." has a captivating quality that translates even through photographs. O'Keeffe lived in this hotel from 1925 to 1936, and the way she captures the boldness of the building surrounded by hazy city skies feels similar to what it looks like walking out of the Art Institute in the Loop.
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Notably, before she embarked on the New York chapter of her career, O'Keeffe had attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
While she was only enrolled for a year, the time she spend as a student here solidified her commitment to being an artist. After spending some time away to recover from an illness, she came back to work as a commercial illustrator in the city for a while. O'Keeffe had a longstanding relationship with the museum after her first retrospective was displayed here in 1943.
A video was playing in the center of the exhibition hall featuring some curators and art historians talking about O'Keeffe's time in New York.
While these scenes are specific to New York, it's hard not to be reminded that the first skyscraper was built in Chicago. There are so many differences between NYC and Chicago, but there is something universal about the way O'Keeffe captures what it is like to gaze up at a skyscraper.
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More New York-specific works like this one of the Brooklyn Bridge shine a light on how in-tune O'Keeffe was to the physicality and textures of the industrial landscapes around her.
Near the end of her time in New York, O'Keeffe began visiting the Southwest where she would bring back flowers, bones and other objects that let her explore abstraction more than ever before.
The exhibition is all about O'Keeffe, but not all of the art is hers.
These palladium prints feature O'Keeffe as the subject. She was photographed by her husband Alfred Stieglitz. Stieglitz is often credited with helping to get O'Keeffe's artwork seen by all the right people, but the two served as artistic muses for each other during their time in New York.
At the end of the exhibit, there are some tables with publications featuring interviews with O'Keeffe and more images of her work.
This photograph of O'Keeffe standing in her garage with "Sky above Clouds IV", which is displayed in the Art Institute, offers a glimpse into her artistic process. The 24-foot-long painting is prominently featured on the museum's maps and brochures. There's no doubt, O'Keeffe is one of the superstars of the institute even when this exhibition isn't up.
Ultimately, "My New Yorks" is focused on New York, but seeing it situated in the Art Institute of Chicago underscores the role that Illinois played in supporting this artist, regardless of the places she was painting.
I cannot recommend enough stopping by the Art Institute of Chicago to explore O'Keeffe's connection to New York as well as Chicago.
This exhibit will be on display for a couple more months, but it seems like O'Keeffe's works in the museum's permanent collection will be on display for a long time to come. If heading to downtown Chicago isn't on your schedule for the near future, there are plenty of art galleries all across the state that are worth exploring. If you would rather bring art into your home than see it hanging in a gallery, check out these Georgia O'Keeffe-inspired artworks that could brighten up your living space. Have you seen O'Keeffe's artwork in the Art Institute of Chicago?
There Is A Tiny 1800s Village Hiding In The Middle Of The Countryside In Southern Illinois
Jefferson County Historical Village in Mt. Vernon offers an immersive experience into 1800s Illinois life with historical buildings, trails, and community events.
As we're sure you know, reading a history book and watching a documentary are great ways to understand the past. However, it can't quite do justice to what life was like back in the day. And let's be real, there is a lot of interesting history in Illinois to get caught up on. That's why we love looking at local historical societies to explore and learn. So, if you're in Mt. Vernon, we recommend heading to the Jefferson County Historical Village for an immersive experience that'll help you understand what life was like in Illinois years ago.
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The Jefferson County Historical Village is located on the northwestern edge of the charming Southern Illinois town of Mt. Vernon. Envisioned in 1990, the village has grown into an educational and entertaining outdoor museum that showcases what life was like for area residents in the 1800s.
The village is open on weekends between May and October and admission is free, though donations help maintain the museum.
Entering the historical village is like stepping back into the early pioneer days — a more simple and rugged time when reliance on technology was essentially nonexistent. The area consists of 19 buildings, as well as several trails, a nearby cemetery, and an indoor museum.
While some of the buildings in this Mt Vernon historical village have been recreated, some have been rebuilt using donated historic materials, while others have been relocated entirely. The medical building here is made from two area families' cabins and its contents were donated by local dentists and doctors.
The Jefferson County Historical Village also displays the Calaboose log cabin jail, a print shop, a school, several residential cabins, a grist mill, and a blacksmith shop.
The Mt. Olive Church, built in 1873, was moved from Bluford, Illinois to the historical village in 1992 — and still performs weddings to this day!
Though the general store itself is a replica, it is home to several real artifacts that would have been found in the original. Therefore, you'll get a good sense of Illinois history when you check it out.
There are also two convenient trails filled with informative signage that help you explore the grounds. The Time Line Trail has 24 signs that tell of important local historical events, and the Kitty Irvin Trail contains a small gravesite.
Each trail in this historical village takes you through forested land, filled with lush trees and wild fruit.
Volunteers are usually on hand to show off the Mt Vernon Historical Village and the actual lifestyle that early settlers abided by. As part of your immersive Illinois history experience, you may see (or get to try!) weaving, blacksmithing, wood carving, basket making, and more.
Throughout the year, Jefferson County Historical Village hosts several community events, such as the Heritage Festival, which includes tours of the village, antiques, local vendors, old-fashioned foods, crafts, historical demonstrations, kids' activities, and more.
So, would you check out this hidden historical village in Mt. Vernon, Illinois? What's your favorite historical destination in Illinois? Are there any other unique museums you would recommend? Feel free to share your thoughts in the following comments section.
