Burpee Museum of Natural History

Burpee Museum of Natural History is a gem in the Rockford community. We are celebrating 75 years of providing Northern Illinois a window to our wonderful world both past and present. Burpee is home to over 100,000 artifacts and specimens. Burpee is internationally recognized for our paleontology collections, including “Jane,” the world’s best preserved and most complete juvenile T. rex and Homer, our own “Teenage” Triceratops.

Our mission is to inspire all people to engage in a lifetime of discovery and learning about the natural world.

We accomplish this through educational programs, outreach, permanent and traveling exhibits, and paleontology expeditions, serving over 90,000 people annually.

Education

• Homeschool Enrichment Classes - Curriculum is designed around multiple STEM themes that change each year and semester.
• In person and virtual field trip options - aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards and the Social Studies C3 Framework, as well as extension activity aligning to the CCSS Reading for Information Standards.
• Virtual and in person BSA scout classes. Merit Badges: Bird Study, Insect Studies, Reptile & Amphibians, Indian Lore, Archaeology and Mining in Society.
• Natural History Lecture Series,
• Art of the Earth Art Classes
• Community Outreach - Education staff take exhibits and virtual tours to Schools, Libraries, Nursing Homes, Day Care Centers, etc.

Events:

• Feb: Til Death Do Us Part
• March: Paleofest
• APRIL: Eggstravaganza
• May: Pride Night at the Museum
• Sept: Monarch Fest
• Oct: Fossil Day
• October: Haunted Burpee (evening) / Scary Science Treats (Daytime)
• October: Barnes Haunted Mansion Tours
• November: American Heritage Celebration
• December: Holocene Holiday (Ice Age) - December 30th

Research & Collections: Burpee Museum boasts an amazing collection of artifacts, biological, and geological specimens...only about 10% of which are on display!