Explore More Illinois is a free service provided by your library that provides instant online access to free and discounted tickets to museums, science centers, sporting events, zoos, park districts, theatres, and other fun and local cultural venues.
Use your Gail Borden library card to login and check the participating locations.
Participating Attractions
- 1843 Durant-Peterson House Museum / St. Charles
- Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum / Springfield
- American Writers Museum / Chicago
- *Art Institute of Chicago / Chicago
- Bix Beiderbecke Museum & Archives / Davenport, IA
- Bronzeville Children's Museum / Chicago
- *Brookfield Zoo / Brookfield
- Buffalo Grove Park District Community Arts Center / Buffalo Grove
- Butterworth Center & Deere-Wiman House / Moline
- Cantigny / Wheaton
- Chicago Academy of Sciences Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum / Chicago
- Chicago Botanic Garden / Glencoe
- Chicago Children's Museum / Chicago
- Chicago History Museum / Chicago
- Chicago Hounds Major League Rugby / Bridgeview
- Chicago Maritime Museum / Chicago
- Chicago Stars FC / Bridgeview
- Chicago Symphony Orchestra / Chicago
- Chicago Tempest Women's Pro Rugby / Evanston
- *Children's Discovery Museum / Normal
- Civil War Museum / Kenosha, WI
- David Davis Mansion Historical Site / Bloomington
- Des Plaines History Center / Des Plaines
- Dillon Home / Sterling
- Dinosaur Discovery Museum / Kenosha, WI
- Discovery Center Museum / Rockford
- Doudna Fine Arts Center / Charleston
- DuPage Children's Museum / Naperville
- DuPage Symphony Orchestra / Naperville
- Edwards Place / Springfield
- Exploration Station / Bourbonnais
- Evanston History Center / Evanston
- *Field Museum / Chicago
- Forest Park Nature Center / Peoria Heights
- The Forge: Lemont Quaries / Lemont
- Fox River Grove Memorial Public Library / Fox River Grove
- German American Heritage Center & Museum / Davenport, IA
- *Glencoe Beach / Glecoe
- Griffin Museum of Science and Industry / Chicago
- Haitian American Museum of Chicago / Chicago
- Harris Theater for Music and Dance / Chicago
- Illinois Holocaust Museum / Skokie
- Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra / Ottawa, IL
- Kenosha Public Museum / Kenosha, WI
- Kidzeum of Health and Science / Springfield
- Lincoln Park Zoo / Chicago
- Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art / Oak Brook
- Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art / Evanston
- McAninch Arts Center / Glen Ellyn
- Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago / Chicago
- National Museum of Mexican Art / Chicago
- Oakton College Performing Arts Center / Des Plaines
- Peoria Playhouse Children's Museum / Peoria
- *Peoria Riverfront Museum / Peoria
- Quad City Botanical Center / Rock Island
- Raupp Museum / Buffalo Grove
- Soulside Healing Arts / Peoria
- Springfield Art Association / Springfield
- *The Morton Arboretum / Lisle
- Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum & Gardens / Rockford
- Vermilion County Museum / Danville
- Volo Museum / Volo
- Western Illinois Museum / Macomb
- Wheels O Time / Dunlap
This list was last updated on March 25, 2025. The list of participating and attractions and their offers are subject to change,
*Not all attractions will be available to all libraries. Please log into Explore More Illinois to see the most current offerings.
Frequently Asked Questions About Explore More Illinois
How do I access Explore More Illinois?
You can click here to acess the Explore More Illinois login page. You can also go directly to https://exploremore.quipugroup.net and choose the Gail Borden Public Library District from the drop down menu. Enter your library card barcode and PIN.
How can I search for offers?
Once you are logged in, you will see offers for the upcoming three months. You can also search for offers by date, attraction name, or location. Information about each attraction and the offer is available before making the reservation.
How can I make a reservation?
Reservations must be made for a specific date. Using the calendar, you can choose what date you want to make the reservation for and then choose the Reserve option under the attraction. A confirmation box will appear, and a confirmation email will be sent to the patron. You have the option of printing out a pass at that time, or they can choose to print it out later.
Can I cancel a reservation?
You can cancel a reservation before you print or download a pass.
What do you need to bring to the attraction on the day of the reservation?
You will need to bring a photo ID and either a smartphone with the pass available on the phone or a printed copy of the pass. Some attractions require a printed copy, and that will be indicated when the you make the reservation.
For a complete list of Frequently Asked Questions, please visit the Explore More Illinois FAQ section.