Lakeview Museum

StfRon and I have been to several exhibits at Lakeview Museum in Peoria during the past couple years.
One of the most fun was Sherlock Holmes & the Clocktower Mystery because it was interactive.
More recently we saw the Ansel Adams display, and also the trompe l oeil paintings.
We'll be out on the lawn of Lakeview September 14 for the free American English (Beatles tribute) concert, sponsored by Ameren.
And don't forget the planetarium. I remember this from grade school field trips.
I also love to take a walk through the gift store because they have some interesting merchandise. Plus, right inside the door of the museum are used books and magazines for sale. You can find a nice bargain here.
Hopefully the new downtown museum will have even more exciting things to entice the public to visit, but in the meantime, Lakeview provides something different to do on a rainy or quiet day.

Wheels o' Time Museum

If you're looking for a quirky place to spend an hour or so, and learn a lot about Peoria history while you're at it, look no further than the Wheels o' Time Museum, off Route 40 north of Peoria. This place is packed with historical items from Peoria's past. I've not seen a more comprehensive collection of Peoria artifacts and history in one place.
The museum is owned by 55 collectors, and many have donated interesting cars, clocks, toys, tools and more which pack these buildings. There are even great displays you can drop coins in to see them come to life. The museum is a bargain at $5 for adults, $2.50 for kids, but you can find a coupon at their web site, http://www.wheelsotime.org.