Did you know Elgin once set the national price for butter through the Elgin Board of Trade? Or that Gail Borden Public Library is named for the inventor of condensed milk? At the Dairies to Prairies Display at the Main Library, presented in partnership with the Elgin History Museum, visitors can discover how dairies shaped Elgin’s past and how those same lands are now part of ongoing efforts to restore native prairies to the region. 

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Project 2-3-1 is an exhibit based on the local documentary that tells the history of African Americans in Elgin, from slaves who arrived by boxcars during the Civil War to present-day African American residents and their accomplishments. This exhibit features captivating stories, photos and videos that highlight the powerful impact of African Americans in Elgin. Created by Grindstone Productions, The Elgin History Museum and local historian Ernie Broadnax.

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Celebrate America's 250th birthday with the 250 Years of Elgin exhibit. This engaging exhibit highlights the pivotal moments that shaped Elgin into the culturally vibrant city it is today. It also showcases the 250th anniversary events happening across the community. Presented by the Elgin Area Chamber's Enhancing Elgin committee, City of Elgin, the Elgin History Museum and the Elgin Public Museum.

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Dinosaur Explorer journeys through the wildest, wackiest, and most wonderous dinosaurs and examines human physiology through the lens of these magnificent creatures. Although they lived millions of years before us, dinosaurs adapted to not only survive, but to thrive on planet earth. Whether it be feeding or family dynamics, intelligence or interpersonal relationships, Dinosaur Explorer asks: where do we see similarities in our world today? Join us as we explore, compare, and create a whole-new understanding of the most fascinating living organisms in known history.

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Discover (again) some of the costume magic seen on screen by some of cinema’s greatest stars, including Elizabeth Taylor, Ginger Rogers, Doris Day, Bette Davis, Julie Andrews and many more. Explore more than 30 outfits from timeless cinema, including ones worn in All About Eve, Cleopatra, Miss Congeniality and even The Flintstones, along with those created by top costume designers including Adrian, Edith Head, Helen Rose and Nolan Miller.

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Step into the dazzling world of Barbie’s Superstar Era—a time of indulgence and glamour that redefined Barbie’s iconic image. This exhibit features hundreds of iconic Barbie dolls from 1979 to the mid-1980s, as well as playsets that capture the societal shifts, fashion trends, and cultural movements of the time, along with a selection of more modern pieces from the 2000s.

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This A-Z series celebrates contemporary and historical Black creatives through a classic childhood medium – LEGO® Bricks.

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In partnership with the Mexican Cultural Center of DuPage, the Library hosted 33 large, artisan Olmec heads that represent individual artists’ sense of Mexican cultural history as well their home cities.

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This library has been serving this community for 150 years! We will feature fascinating stories and interactive activities about how the Library changed to meet the needs of the community. This exhibit will also highlight the role that the library has played in children’s reading and will include “Storyland: A Trip Through Childhood Favorites™“ from the Minnesota Children’s Museum.

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