{"id":10360,"date":"2023-01-01T12:00:15","date_gmt":"2023-01-01T18:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/driftlessareamag.com\/unicdn\/?p=10360"},"modified":"2024-05-03T13:42:04","modified_gmt":"2024-05-03T18:42:04","slug":"what-does-a-dinosaur-named-jane-a-childrens-discovery-museum-a-turn-of-the-century-village-and-museum-center-and-a-rara-example-of-victorian-exotic-architecture-have-in-common","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/driftlessareamag.com\/unicdn\/2023\/01\/01\/what-does-a-dinosaur-named-jane-a-childrens-discovery-museum-a-turn-of-the-century-village-and-museum-center-and-a-rara-example-of-victorian-exotic-architecture-have-in-common\/","title":{"rendered":"Rockford, Of Course!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What Does a Dinosaur Named Jane, a Children’s Discovery Museum, a Turn-of-the-Century Village and Museum Center, and a Rara Example of Victorian “Exotic” Architecture Have in Common?<\/span><\/p>\n

Rockford, of course. <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Our fine list of museums and Rockford attractions will capture the attention of any explorer and adventure seeker.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Our Riverfront Museum Campus features three museums in one convenient location — featuring Rockford’s newest – and oldest – dinosaur (named Jane) at Burpee Museum of Natural History<\/a> to the more than 250 hands-on children’s exhibits at the Discovery Center Museum<\/a>, to the “most significant collection of Chicago art, inside or outside the city,” at the Rockford Art Museum<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Renowned Paleontology expert Robert Bakker once said, “Pound for pound, Burpee is the best natural history museum in the country.” That same sentiment could be said for the quality of all our museums in the Rockford Region.<\/span><\/p>\n

Rockford was established in 1834. Originally named Midway because it was halfway between Chicago and Galena, it eventually became known as Rockford because of the Rock River’s rocky ford bubbling near the original settlement. Several museums celebrate the region’s historical roots, in particular Midway Village Museum<\/a> where you can see exhibits featuring our ubiquitous Sock Monkey and the Rockford Peaches.<\/span>

Veterans Memorial Hall<\/a>, dedicated in 1903 by President Theodore Roosevelt, is a memorial to those who served and are still serving in our nation’s armed forces. Three floors of exhibits feature local veterans of all U.S. conflicts with donated artifacts.<\/span>

Other great history-rich sites include Macktown Living History Education Center<\/a>, Ethnic Heritage Museum<\/a> and Tinker Swiss Cottage<\/a>. All three give a glimpse into a time gone by in the Rockford Region.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Burpee Museum of Natural History<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/strong>Come explore Burpee Museum and its award-winning exhibits such as Jane: Diary of a Dinosaur, and explore the history of the young T. rex skeleton found by Burpee Museum researchers in the badlands of Montana, called one of the ten most important dinosaur discoveries in the past 100 years. Burpee Museum also features Homer, a sub-adult or “teen-age” Triceratops! Homer was found in the Montana Badlands by Burpee volunteers, just like Jane. Visitors can view his skull and see Burpee staff members working on his bones in the lab.<\/span><\/span><\/strong>

In addition to Jane and Homer, families can also experience four floors of engaging exhibits. Windows to Wilderness focuses on the nature of the Rock River Valley, and Burpee’s Green Roof is the first rooftop garden in Rockford. Other exhibits include a Woolly Mammoth skeletal cast, Pennsylvanian coal forest with simulated thunderstorms, Native American exhibit with full-sized dwellings, Geoscience, and a viewing lab where visitors can watch Burpee Museum staff work on specimens from the museum\u2019s collections and recent dinosaur discoveries.<\/span>

Don’t miss Burpee Museum’s annual PaleoFest in March.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Discovery Center Museum<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"Experience a world of hands-on investigation and fun-filled exploration at this children’s museum with more than 250 hands-on art and science exhibits, planetarium, TV studio, special events, traveling exhibits and entertaining classes for children and families. Tot Spot for toddlers. Plus Discovery Center boasts the nation’s first community-built outdoor science park featuring 8,000 square feet of wooden fun including a two-story maze, water play area, dinosaur fossil dig pit and a Secret Garden.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Awards and recognitions:<\/span><\/p>\n