Prairie State Wire

The Illinois State Museum has received two prestigious awards from the Illinois Association of Museums for its exhibition focusing on Generation X. The exhibition, titled "Growing Up X," was honored with an Award of Superior Achievement and the Innovation Award.

The exhibition delved into the toys, technology, and cultural elements familiar to those born between 1965 and 1980. It marked a pioneering effort as the first museum exhibition in the United States to concentrate on Generation X. In presenting the Award of Superior Achievement, the committee commended the museum for offering "a new look at a generation not normally seen in history exhibits" and noted that it "successfully connected individual visitors with their place in this cultural and historical context of the United States while also deploying technology and hands-on elements in new and fun ways."

The Innovation Award recognized an interactive rec room component within the exhibit, which allowed visitors to engage with a recreated 1986 rec room. This space featured vintage video game equipment, stereo systems, games, magazines, and period-specific furniture. The awards committee appreciated that "the open format of the space gave guests the agency and opportunity to experience the space on their own terms."

Jenn Edginton, interim director of the Illinois State Museum, expressed her excitement about receiving these honors: "Our curator of history and those who helped make the exhibit so special with crowd-sourced GenX stories created something truly unique and innovative," she said. "We're excited that IAM honored our exhibit with these two awards."

Though "Growing Up X" concluded its Springfield showing in October 2023, it remains available for viewing at the Illinois State Museum's Lockport Gallery until June 15, 2024.

Established in 1877, the Illinois State Museum is committed to inspiring exploration of Illinois' past and present to enrich everyday life while promoting stewardship of cultural and natural resources. With headquarters in Springfield and additional facilities in Lewistown and Lockport, it holds accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums and membership in the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience.