Too often, we think we have to go downtown Chicago to visit an excellent museum, but this is absolutely not the case. Conveniently located near downtown Elmhurst, is the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art. What is Lapidary Art you ask? Lapidary is the art of cutting and polishing stone.
I love this museum because it is so convenient to get to. You don’t have to pay an arm-and-a-leg for parking, you don’t need to hassle with train times, and there are now excessive walks required to get you there. The museum is a fun place for the entire family to visit (it’s also a great place to take a date).
The Lizzadro Museum has one of the world’s finest collections of lapidary works dating back over 700 years! These ancient works were handcrafted to perfection; you will be amazed at the skill that must have been required to produce such ornate, detailed works of art. Works include everything from stone vases to antique hand-carved snuff cases, to mosaic murals designed entirely of cut stone.
If you think the museum doesn’t sound exciting enough for children, you couldn’t be more wrong… In addition to the fine works of art, you can view many rare and precious stones and minerals. There is an entire area in the lower-level of the museum that is dedicated to educating visitors about minerals. This area includes some hand-on exhibits that younger children will certainly enjoy. I recently visited the museum and saw numerous children in awe of the beautiful stone pieces and rare, precious stones.
Admission to the museum is very reasonable. Here are the current admission fees:
| Adults: | $4.00 |
| Seniors (60+): | $3.00 |
| Students & Teens: | $2.00 |
| Children 7–12: | $1.00 |
| Children under 7: | Free |
The Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art in located at 220 Cottage Hill Avenue (right in Wilder Park) near downtown Elmhurst. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, and closed Mondays. For more information, please visit the wealth of information available on the Lizzadro Museum website.