Exploration Station…A Children’s Museum – Bourbonnias, Illinois
This chidren’s museum is a hands-on exploration and discovery museum for children and their families, teachers and other caregivers. At Exploration Station children can climb inside the tower of a medieval castle, drive a fire truck, fly an airplane, meet exotic animals and much more!
Children of all ages are welcome at the museum, however, the majority of the exhibits are designed for children between the ages of 3-10 years old.
Inside the multi-level castle, visitors can experience medieval life in a number of ways. They can dress up in royal garb in the dressing room, hide out in the dungeon, explore secret tunnels and keep an eye out for royal enemies by using real periscopes that view out over the Perry Farm Park.
U.S. Mail Exhibit
Come rain or shine, you can depend on the United States Postal Service for dependable mail delivery! At this exhibit, children will learn how a post office works. They can dress like a postal worker, address and process envelopes, package express mail items, and deliver mail. The mini-post office also includes a realistic worktable, postage scales and post office boxes.
Take a trip to this dental office which will bring nothing but smiles. A real dentist chair, tooth puzzles, molar sitting stools and story books are just a few features of this exhibit.
At Caitlin’s Country Market, your child will learn what it is like to shop for dinner. Children may learn to identify various fruits and vegetables, from bananas to carrots. Learn how to weigh and purchase produce, much like they would at an actual grocery store.
Space Center Exhibit
This is one of the more popular exhibits within Exploration Station®…a children’s museum. Come and see this cool glow in the dark exhibit and learn about planets, satellites and other spacey things while you lay comfortably on your own head rest. Planets come alive right at your child’s eye level. Other Space Center highlights include huge Space Shuttle murals, modal space vehicles and an exploration of space illustrated timeline.
Fire Fighters Exhibit
Children can come to the rescue at the Firefighter’s exhibit. Here they’ll find a realistic, child-sized fire engine equipped with movable levers, steering wheel, and authentic fire hose.
Our young heroes can put on real child-sized firefighters’ gear and act out their own fire rescue.
Tractor Exhibit
Children have the chance to learn about farm life with the large-scale tractor exhibit placed in the entry of the Exploration Station®.
This exhibit is just the right size for children to climb in and see the world through a farmer’s eyes. Visitors will love to crank the gearshift, turn the steering wheel, and look into the engine to see how it works.
Water Room
Get ready for a ‘wet and wild’ good time! At this exhibit, children will learn how water flows through pipes. The table now features colorful and interactive toys to encourage children to discover water flow and movements. Water sometimes splashes so water vests and aprons are provided.
Jet Plane Exhibit
The Jet Plane exhibit feartures a jet cockpit that children can climb into and let their imaginations soar.
The Jet Plane seats up to two children at a time, has a cock pit with launch buttons, and a joy stick.
Pirate Ship
The Pirate Ship exhibit has been a kid favorite for many years. The ship features two decks complete with captains wheel, sail and pirate colors.
Below decks is cargo holds for treasure, parrot puppet, knot displays and pirate hats for dress-up.
Toddler Tumble Town & Gravity Wall
Hey Toddlers! The Exploration Station® has an exhibit just for you! The Toddler Tumble Town is full of soft, safe, crawl-on shapes, colorful blocks, and tunnel tubes that you can explore. Toddler Tumble Town also has balence blocks, wall mirrors and soft steps specialy designed for you. Don’t forget to remove your shoes before exploring the Toddler Tumble Town.
A popular exhibit with toddlers, the gravity wall that allows children to create patterns and pathways for balls to decend as they are pulled down by gravity.
LIVE ANIMAL ROOM-(Additional fee)
The Live Animal Room is home to turtles, guinea pigs, lizards, chinchillas, and more. This exhibit is designed to allow children and adults to see and touch live exotic creatures, in a safe controlled setting. The Live Animal Room always has an Adventure Guide on hand to take out animals for up-close encounters.
The Live Animal Room has daily presentations at 10:30 am, 12:00 pm, 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm. In addition to the weekday presentation times offered, other presentations may be scheduled and done upon request.
Animal Room Admission Fee: $1.00 per person. Children 12 months and younger are admitted free.
Animal Room Admission Wristbands are available for purchase at the Exploration Station Front Desk.
Location: 459 Kennedy Drive, Bourbonnais, IL
Phone: 815-933-9905
Admission
$5.00- Adults (ages 18-54 yrs)
$4.00- children (ages 12 months -17yrs)
Children under 12 months are free
$4.00-Seniors (ages 55 and better)
Bourbonnais Township residents recieve a 50% off admission discount.
All adults entering the museum must show a photo ID
Children must be accomanied by an adult
Registration at the front desk is required for all museum visitors.
Terrific Tuesdays
Tuesdays are Donation Days at Exploration Station. Admission is a suggested $1.00 per person donation, however, that donation is not required.
Donation Day does not apply to groups of 10 or more.
Animal Room admission is not included during donation days.
Mondays – Saturdays
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sundays
1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Holiday hours may vary. Please contact the Exploration Station to verify holiday hours. Hours and admissions rates are subject to change. Please contact the Exploration Station at (815) 933-9905 for more information on hours and admission rates.