Cryptozoology is the study and search for these rumored, unproven animals and figures, such as Bigfoot or the Loch Ness monster.

"There are several legends of wild things lurking in the dark woods of the Shawnee Forest and remote regions of Illinois, such as Bigfoot, the freaky Farmer City Monster, a creepy thing called cohomo (Cole Hollow Monster), the Big Muddy Monster, and the Enfield horror," said T. Lance, the museum's curator of exhibits. "There is also the man-eating Piasa bird, terrifying thunderbirds over Illinois, creatures of the watery deep, kangaroos on the loose, and albino squirrels of Olney."

Submissions need not be focused on Illinois cryptids, they said.