Illinois River Waterfowl Decoy Collection

Lakeview Museum's Illinois River Wildfowl Decoy Gallery features permanent exhibits of decoys by Illinois' most famous carvers - Charles Perdew, Robert Elliston, G. Bert Graves, Charles Walker and Charles Schoenheider, Sr. In addition, a small changing exhibit area features decoys from the museum's permanent collection and those generously lent from private collections. In total, the museum's decoy collection contains representations of more than seventy-five carvers and manufacturers living and operating within the Mississippi Flyway during the late 19th and early to mid 20th centuries.

Do you have information to share about a decoy carver from Illinois? If so, we would love to hear from you. We are compiling information about Illinois River carvers from friends and family members for a future online database. Interested parties may contact Laura Gharst, Collections Manager and Folk Art Assistant, at 309-686-7000 ext. 133 or laura.gharst@lakeview-museum.org for more information.