The Changes Institute studies the clues of change in the natural environment in Illinois.

Reading the Record

There are several characteristics of change that we keep in mind.

Some changes are local and some are global.
Some changes have a major impact on the environment and some have a minor impact.
The plants and animals in Illinois have changed through time.
Some changes happen quickly and some happen slowly.
Human actions have changed Illinois.

Look at each characteristic of change with an example. Then look for these kinds of changes throughout the exhibit as you follow the natural history of Illinois from its beginning to the twenty-first century.