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.
Zoom and move around the map to discover attractions around Illinois
Participating Attractions
- 40th Chicago International Children's Film Festival / Chicago, IL
- Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum / Springfield, IL
- American Writers Museum / Chicago, IL
- Anderson Japanese Gardens / Rockford, IL
- Annoyance Theatre / Chicago, IL
- Bix Beiderbecke Museum and Archives / Davenport, IA
- Bronzeville Children’s Museum / Chicago, IL
- Buffalo Grove Park District Community Arts Center / Buffalo Grove, IL
- Butterworth Center & Deere-Wiman House / Moline, IL
- Cache Bayou Outfitters / Ullin, IL
- Chicago Academy of Sciences / Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum / Chicago, IL
- Chicago Botanic Garden / Glencoe, IL
- Chicago Children's Museum / Chicago, IL
- Chicago History Museum / Chicago, IL
- Chicago Maritime Museum / Chicago, IL
- Chicago Red Stars / Bridgeview, IL
- Children's Discovery Museum / Normal, IL
- Civil War Museum / Kenosha, WI
- Community Players Theatre / Bloomington, IL
- David Davis Mansion State Historical Site
- Dillon Home Museum / Sterling, IL
- Dinosaur Discovery Museum / Kenosha, WI
- Discovery Center Museum / Rockford, IL
- DuPage Children's Museum / Naperville, IL
- DuPage Symphony Orchestra / Naperville, IL
- The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center / Chicago, IL
- Elgin Symphony Orchestra / Elgin, IL
- Ellwood House Museum / DeKalb, IL
- Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum / Oak Park, IL
- Exploration Station / Bourbonnais, IL
- Fossil Ridge Public Library / Braidwood, IL
- Fox River Grove Memorial Public Library / Fox River Grove, IL
- German American Heritage Center & Museum / Davenport, IA
- Governor John Wood Mansion from the Historical Society of Quincy & Adams County / Quincy, IL
- Haitian American Museum of Chicago / Chicago, IL
- The Hegeler Carus Mansion / LaSalle, IL
- Illinois Holocaust Museum / Skokie, IL
- The Insect Asylum / Chicago, IL
- Kankakee County Museum / Kankakee, IL
- Kenosha City Museum / Kenosha, WI
- Kidzeum of Health and Science / Springfield, IL
- Lincoln Heritage Museum / Lincoln, IL
- Lincoln Park Zoo / Chicago, IL
- Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art / Oak Brook, IL
- Love's Sweet Arrow / Tinley Park, IL
- Lyric Opera of Chicago / Chicago, IL
- Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art / Evanston, IL
- McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum / Chicago, IL
- Metropolis Performing Arts Centre / Arlington Heights, IL
- Museum of Broadcast Communications / Chicago, IL
- Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago / Chicago, IL
- Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College Chicago / Chicago, IL
- Museum of Science and Industry / Chicago, IL
- Museum of the Grand Prairie / Mahomet, IL
- National Museum of Mexican Art / Chicago, IL
- National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture / Chicago, IL
- Normal CornBelters / Normal, IL
- Normal Theater / Normal, IL
- North Suburban Library District
- Peoria Park District Owens Recreation Center Ice Arena / Peoria, IL
- Pritzker Military Museum & Library / Chicago, IL
- Raupp Museum / Buffalo Grove, IL
- Rockford Art Museum / Rockford, IL
- Soulside Healing Arts / Peoria, IL
- Springfield Art Association / Springfield, IL
- Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and Gardens / Rockford, IL
- Vermilion County Museum / Danville, IL
This list was last updated on November 6, 2023. The list of participating and attractions and their offers are subject to change, 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 Page.