Photo: Wikimedia Commons — see author and license on the file page.

Joliet Area Historical Museum, Illinois

Museum
In Joliet, Illinois
On Route 66

The Joliet Area Historical Museum in Joliet, IL, covers the history of the city and the surrounding Will County. It sits close to the Route 66 corridor in the middle of Joliet's cluster of historic buildings, which makes it a natural first stop for travelers who want background on the town before exploring its theater, old post office and East Side streets. The museum was established in 1977.

What is Joliet Area Historical Museum?

This is a local history museum with a clear focus: Joliet and Will County. That makes it the place to understand the town as a whole before looking at individual landmarks nearby. The museum dates to 1977 and is listed as wheelchair accessible.

Joliet is an early stop on Route 66 heading out of Chicago, so a visit here helps set the scene for the drive south.

Visiting Joliet Area Historical Museum: tips

Allow about an hour. The museum is on North Ottawa Street, close to the old road, so it fits easily into a walk around downtown. The old United States Post Office and the Rialto Square Theatre are each about 0.1 miles away, and the Joliet YMCA building is about 0.2 miles away. Seeing the museum first gives useful context for those buildings and for Joliet's East Side Historic District a little farther on.

Practical info

Address: 204 N Ottawa St, Joliet, IL 60432
Phone: +1 815-723-5201
Website: jolietmuseum.org
Hours: Daily 10–4
On site & nearby

Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix

Where to eat near Joliet Area Historical Museum

All diners →

Diner & restaurant
Rich & Creamy
Joliet, IL · 1.0 mi from Joliet Area Historical Museum
A Joliet ice cream stand on old Route 66 with the Blues Brothers dancing on its roof.