Front view of the Dunn Museum
Dunn Museum

WHERE IS THIS?
1899 West Winchester Rd
Libertyville IL 60048
Call Us:
847-968-3400
Hours & Admission

Arrive Curious. Leave Inspired.

We are stewards. Storytellers. Educators. Explorers. We are dedicated to sharing the entwined stories of people, events and nature through exhibitions, education and community engagement. At the Dunn Museum, our passion is to explore history as a vibrant force that connects us all through time. Our vision is to encourage and inspire others to make a positive influence in their communities and our world.

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Dunn Museum Exhibits

Browse our featured and permanent museum exhibitions and see what Dunn Museum has to offer.

On Exhibit
August 31–January 20, 2025

On Exhibit

Prehistoric Lake County
Permanent Exhibition

Prehistoric Lake County

The First People
Permanent Exhibition

The First People

An American Frontier
Permanent Exhibition

An American Frontier

Innovations & Preservation
Permanent Exhibition

Innovations & Preservation

View All Exhibitions

Education and Outreach

Adult & Senior Programs

A variety of history and environmental based programs are available to adult groups and taught by our Environmental Education staff and Dunn Museum Education staff.

View All Programs

Virtual Field Trips

Educators are working on curriculum support for teachers. These resources help teachers with their classroom’s e-learning, supporting topics they had chosen as their field trips. History and nature virtual field trips are available.

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Summer Adventures

Our Summer Adventures are designed for summer fun and learning. Adventures are led by our professional educators. Our trained staff is experienced in supervision, safety and more.

Learn About Summer Adventures

Upcoming Events

There's always something to do in Lake County. Whether it be fun, relaxing, or educational, we have something for everyone.

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Meet Bess Bower Dunn

The Dunn Museum is named for Bess Bower Dunn (1877-1959). Bess was a woman of firsts. She was one of the first women in motion pictures. She was the first Assistant Probate Clerk for Lake County, the first official Lake County Historian, and one of Lake County's earliest genealogists

Bess deserves much credit for her work preserving the early history of Lake County, Illinois. She promoted the county's history through lectures and the efforts of the Lake County Historical Society (LCHS). She was a founding member of the LCHS where she personally collected some of the items in the LCHS collection - which are now in the care and ownership of the Dunn Museum.

Meet Bess
Bess Bower Dunn Waukegan 1896 2

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Research and Collections

The Dunn Museum's collections, which comprise nearly 20,000 artifacts and 1,000 linear feet of archival materials, are securely housed in a modern environmentally controlled care and storage facility.

Irreplaceable collections held in public trust are protected with precise temperature and humidity control, as well as security and fire suppression capabilities, preserving Lake County's cultural heritage for future generations to discover and enjoy.

More About Research Collections Donation
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Mission

The Bess Bower Dunn Museum of Lake County collects, preserves, and interprets the material culture of Lake County, Illinois, and provides captivating educational experiences and inspiring exhibitions for the benefit of every Lake County resident.

Volunteer Opportunities

The Dunn Museum docent program provides volunteers an in-depth knowledge of the county's history. Volunteers receive the training and share that knowledge with visitors. Visitor Services volunteers greet guests while working at the Museum's reception desk. Learn more »

Contact

Bess Bower Dunn Museum of Lake County
1899 West Winchester Road | Libertyville, IL 60048
847-968-3400

Dunn@LCFPD.org

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Support The Dunn Museum

Support the Dunn Museum through the Preservation Foundation of the Lake County Forest Preserves.

Support the Museum