The Illinois State Museum is a system of museums and galleries serving the people of Illinois, and operates within the agency of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The Museum fosters an appreciation of the living world, introduces the art of Illinois, opens windows to education, and protects irreplaceable state treasures. The ISM mission is fulfilled through collecting, research, exhibits, publications, and interpretive programs that enhance educational experiences, aesthetic values, and in general, the quality of life. The Museum is committed to becoming a more inclusive museum, sharing the stories of all Illinoisans and the world around us, with special attention to telling the stories of historically-excluded and under-represented people and communities.

Further, they are taking up the challenge and opportunity of decolonizing museum work and looking more closely at our history and processes, inviting Indigenous people into our future while naming and acknowledging the harms of the past and present. The Illinois State Museum is joining the museum field in its efforts to dismantle exclusion and racism and embrace the values of diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion.