Illinois State Military Museum

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Illinois State Military Museum The mission of the Illinois State Military Museum is to preserve and exhibit the military heritage of the Illinois National Guard.
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The new office is moving along nicely! Thankfully the museum has been able to remain open throughout.
10/15/2026

The new office is moving along nicely! Thankfully the museum has been able to remain open throughout.

We are so appreciative of the Lewistown Historical Society and John Werland for donating an original muster roll for Com...
10/13/2026

We are so appreciative of the Lewistown Historical Society and John Werland for donating an original muster roll for Company K, 4th Regiment Illinois Volunteers. The 4th Regiment served in the Mexican American War and have the honor of capturing Santa Anna’s prosthetic leg. Both of which are on exhibit through December.

155 years ago the Illinois State Militia responded to the devastating Chicago fire of 1871.Head Quarters Mil. Div. of th...
10/08/2026

155 years ago the Illinois State Militia responded to the devastating Chicago fire of 1871.

Head Quarters Mil. Div. of the Missouri,
Chicago, III., October 24, 1871.
General Orders, No. 5.
The First Regiment Chicago Volunteers, raised with the approbation of the Mayor, and in pursuance of orders dated October 11, 1871, from these Headquarters, is here by honorably mustered out of service and discharged. This regiment was constituted as follows : Colonel Frank T. Sherman, First Chicago Volunteers, commanding.
Major C. H. Dyer, Adjutant. Major Charles T. Scammon, Aide-de-Camp.
Lieut. -Colonel H. Osterman, First Regiment National Guards, Illinois State Militia.Major G. A. Bender, First Regiment National Guards, Illinois State Militia. Captain Fischer's Company (A), First Regiment National Guards, Ills. State Militia.Captain Pasch's Company (D), First Regiment National Guards, Illinois State Militia.Captain Cronas' Company (G), First Regiment National Guards, Illinois State Militia.
Captain Paul's Company (H), First Regiment National Guards, Illinois State Militia. Captain Kelter's Company (I), First Regiment National Guards, Illinois State Militia. Captain Rogers' Company (B), First Chicago Volunteers, Lieut. Adams commanding.
Captain Merrill's Company (C), First Chicago Volunteers.
Captain Baker's Company (K), First Chicago Volunteers, recruited by Capt. Whittlesey.
Captain Colson's Company, University Cadets.
Captain Croley's Company, Montgomery Light Guards.
Captain McCarthey's Company, Mulligan Zouaves.
Captain Ryan's Company, Sheridan Guards.
Captain Suiter's Company, Chicago Cadets.
Captain Williams' Company, Hannibal Zouaves.
The Norwegian Battalion of National Guards, Major Alstrup commanding, Ole Bendixen, adjutant.
Captain Paulsen's Company, (A.)
Captain Eck's Company, (B.)
Captain Johnson's Company, (C.)
Captain Bentzen's Company, (D.)
The troops were suddenly called from civil pursuits to aid Lieutenant-General Sheri- dan in preserving peace and good order, and in protecting the property in the unburned portion of the city —a duty intrusted to him during the emergency resulting from the late fire. They came forward promptly and cheerfully, at a time rendered critical by the unparalleled disaster which visited the city on the 8th and 9th instants, a calamity producing general distrust and distress, leaving a large part of the city in smouldering ruins, a large part in darkness by the destruction of the gas works, and the whole of it without water, and this with a fire department crippled and exhausted by the struggle it had gone through.
They have performed the arduous and delicate duties falling to them under these circumstances with marked industry, fidelity and intelligence. The Lieutenant-General thanks officers and men of the command, for the services rendered, and commends them to the kind consideration of their fellow citizens; and he makes special acknowledgment of the valuable aid received from their commander, General Frank T. Sher- man—distinguished upon the battle fields of the late war—as well as from his official staff, Major C. H. Dyer, Adjutant, and Major Charles T. Scammon, Aid-de-Camp.
By command of Lieutenant-General Sheridan.
JAMES B. FRY,
Asst Adj't Gen.

Isaac Straw, Co. C, 32d Illinois Volunteer Infantry, blew this bugle on the charge at Hatchie Bridge, Mississippi, Octo...
10/05/2026

Isaac Straw, Co. C, 32d Illinois Volunteer Infantry, blew this bugle on the charge at Hatchie Bridge, Mississippi, October 5, 1862 and sent the Confederates again in retreat after their losses in Corinth.

We’ve recently changed up our Korean War exhibit and expanded it. It’s been 75 years since Illinois sent its first 2 uni...
10/01/2026

We’ve recently changed up our Korean War exhibit and expanded it.

It’s been 75 years since Illinois sent its first 2 units.

09/29/2026

Private James Lake, Private William Lyerly, and Private Herman Seibel of 130th Infantry Regiment, 33rd Infantry Division along with five others from different division assisted in cleaning out enemy dugouts and capturing 242 prisoners near Bellicourt, France on September 29, 1918 to each receive a Distinguished Service Cross.

I spy I new captured item on display from the Civil War!
09/24/2026

I spy I new captured item on display from the Civil War!

On September 21, 1918, the family and friends of Lee W. Reuter, of the 132nd Infantry, 33rd Division celebrated a flag r...
09/21/2026

On September 21, 1918, the family and friends of Lee W. Reuter, of the 132nd Infantry, 33rd Division celebrated a flag raising on Flournay Street in Chicago. The man in overalls holding the flag is George Colby, wounded veteran from the 33rd Division as well. This could have been their way of supporting and raising funds for the war effort.

This Officer's version of the Grimsley Dragoon/Mounted Rifleman's Saddle belonged to MG John A. Logan. According to the...
09/17/2026

This Officer's version of the Grimsley Dragoon/Mounted Rifleman's Saddle belonged to MG John A. Logan. According to the pamphlet "The Back-Bone of Illinois in the Front and Rear from 1861 to 1865", this saddle was highly prized by General Logan and from the Battle of Belmont until the end of the war, the saddle and General Logan did not part company.

Illinois Naval Militia What began as a movement in Boston spread to Illinois. In 1892, several Illinois veterans...
09/15/2026

Illinois Naval Militia
What began as a movement in Boston spread to Illinois. In 1892, several Illinois veterans of the U. S. Navy realized the need for a reserve force of trained seamen to augment the Navy in the event of a national crisis. In the Mexican War and the Civil War the President had established quotas of state troops. These men realized there would be no trained men to answer such a call when it came. Through their efforts the State Legislature approved an act on 21 June 1893: “Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, . . . There shall be allowed in addition to the companies of the [Illinois National Guard] . . . not more than eight divisions or companies of naval militia, four of which shall constitute a battalion, to be known as the first and second battalions of the Naval Militia of Illinois.” (38th Gen Ass.)

In January 1894, the Naval Militia of Illinois received the “brick battleship” in Chicago, built as part of the 1893 World’s Fair as its first armory. It was next housed in an armory on Michigan Avenue. The Navy also turned over some small boats and equipment for training the new Naval Militia. By September, Illinois Navy consisted of 451 officers and men. The 1st Battalion was mustered into state service on 22 September with six companies based in Chicago and the 2nd Battalion was mustered on 30 September with four companies based in Moline, Rock Island, Quincy and Alton.

The Naval Militia was almost immediately called out during the railroad strikes of 1894 to protect water intake cribs on Lake Michigan, waterworks plants in Chicago and bridges over the Chicago River.

The first vessel was the USS Michigan which was the Navy's first iron-hulled warship that served in the Civil War and transferred to the Illinois Naval Militia. She transferred to the Pennsylvania Naval Militia around 1902 and renamed USS Wolverine in 1905.

Address

1301 N MacArthur Boulevard
Springfield, IL
62702

Opening Hours

Tuesday 1pm - 4:30pm
Wednesday 1pm - 4:30pm
Thursday 1pm - 4:30pm
Friday 1pm - 4:30pm
Saturday 9am - 12pm
1pm - 4:30pm

Telephone

+12177613910

Website

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