Field Museums and More, Check Out These top 12 Museums of Chicago

Chicago's Field Museum is one of the world's great museums of science, environment, and culture, a focus of public learning and scholarly research. Field Museum Chicago is regarded as one of the most important institutions of national significance apart. Field Museum offers a plethora of mesmerizing artifacts ranging from ancient civilizations to the recent scientific discoveries.

Field Museum Chicago hosts more than 4.6 billion years of natural history ranging from primordial artifacts to the historical items of ancient Egyptian and the Qing Dynasty, the final imperial dynasty of China. Field Museum Chicago holds the status of a premier natural history museum in Chicago. Its educational and scientific programs and extensive artifacts collection attract millions of visitors from all walks of life, throughout the year.

The Field Museum of Natural History, also known as The Field Museum, is a natural history museum in Chicago. Explore and enthrall yourself with the earliest fossils on Earth, and the past and present civilizations of the world. Discover the largest dinosaur to ever walk on Earth, or meet up close with the insects’ world, or re-live a moment in history as you explore the mystiques of the ancient civilizations of the world.

The Field Museum Chicago originated after the artifacts were displayed during the 1893’s fair of World Columbian Exposition. Before it was named the Field Museum in 1905, Field Museum Chicago came into existence by the name of Columbian Museum of Chicago, in honor of its first benefactor and a departmental store magnate – Marshall Field. Field Museum Chicago later moved on to its present lakefront Museum area in 1921 providing one of the finest collections of natural, historical and biological items numbering to over 24 million objects. These artifacts provide the basis for scientific-research programs and educational initiatives. The Field Museum Chicago’s library offers books and journals which supports the research works and assists academic field expeditions. The Field Museum has maintained its reputation through continuous growth. The Field Museum is an unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages.

The Museum of Science and Industry was originally built as the Palace of Fine Arts for the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893 by Charles B. Atwood of D.H. Burnham and Company. The Museum of Science and Industry Chicago is located in Jackson Park, Illinois. Museum of Science and Industry Chicago is situated in the former Palace of Fine Arts Campus. Museum of Science and Industry Chicago was supported by Commercial Club, Chicago and inaugurated in 1993 after the Century of Progress Exposition.

Museum of Science and Industry Chicago was built and designed to exhibit during the 1893 Columbian Exposition to showcase its rich cultural heritage of art and architectural marvels. Museum of Science and Industry Chicago was the opportune moment to host visitors from around the world and to firmly establish a reputation as a cultural and commercial hub. The city’s architectural design takes its cue from the Roman and Greece traditions to give historical credibility in the minds of the outsiders.

Among the most popular exhibits at Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago is the real life-like replica of a coal mine, a German U-505 submarine, a 3500 square foot railroad model, the Apollo 8 module and the first diesel-powered steel passenger train. It is one of the largest museums in the West, with over 37,000 square meters with an exhibition area of 5 hectares. It is massive enough to satisfy curious and imaginative minds. It is a vibrant museum with dynamic displays and interactive exhibits attracting the best crowd. Museum of Science and Industry Chicago is also easily accessible via Metro or City Bus Terminal.

U-505 German Submarine - It houses the U-505 German submarines that terrorized the world during the great wars. It was captured and being held as a national memorial to the American soldiers and the fallen comrades.

The Chick Hatchery – This exhibition is about achievements in the field of genetics as baby chicks get evolved into real chicks as it emerges from their shells into the new world.

The Coal Mine – It is one of the most favorite exhibits for students’ field trip as it takes you below the surface and gets you hands-on-experience as a coal-miner.

Brick by Brick – The Lego bricks are being used to recreate world-famous structures such as the Golden Gate Bridge and the International Space Station.

Farm Tech – It exhibits the farming culture of America as students and visitors learn how food items are being produced to reach one’s dining plate finally.

The Chicago History Museum is located in Lincoln Park and was founded in 1856. Chicago History Museum is home to millions of documents, photographs, costume collection, and artifacts from the recent past. The interactive exhibits along with the galleries, offer visitors to discover the city’s well-known history. It grew up as a 19th-century trading post to a flourishing town which hosted the World’s Columbian Exposition.

Chicago History Museum offers exhibitions and public programs that highlight the city’s glorious past by engaging both the present and the futuristic vision. The exhibitions include Vivian Maier’s Chicago which explores the city of Chicago through a collection of photographs of urban American life of the 1960s and 1970s. Lincoln’s Undying Words exhibits a powerful story underlining five key speeches of Abraham Lincoln when American society was undergoing a structural change. In the Secret lives of Objects, some artifacts tell tales of its mysterious past, finally getting its deserving limelight at the museum.

Although the Chicago History Museum was incorporated in 1857, the building along with its original collection was burned down in the Great Chicago fire in 1871. It was in 1920 that the Chicago Historical Society purchased thousands of artifacts and paintings along with historical artifacts along with Abraham Lincoln’s bed and George Washington’s compass.

The building went through renovations and improvements after 1920, and in 2006, the Chicago Historical Society announced the naming of their new name – the Chicago History Museum. The Museum continues to celebrate the undying attitude of the people of Chicago by sharing and publishing stories through exhibitions, photo galleries, and journals.

The Art Institute of Chicago was founded in 1879 and is located in Chicago's Grant Park. It is one of the largest and oldest art museums in the country hosting more than 1.5 million visitors annually. It includes 11 curatorial sections and includes the popular works like Pablo Picasso’s The Old Guitarist, Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks, Grant Wood’s American Gothic, etc. It has a permanent exhibition of artwork collection and another 30 special exhibits that showcase the state-of-the-art curatorial and scientific research programs. The research arm of the museum consists of five conservation laboratories along with one of the largest arts and architectural archives in the United States.

Most of the collection was added to the museum built for the occasion of the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893. The recent addition to the Museum is the Modern Wing designed by Renzo Piano which enhanced its visibility and thereby increasing the museum’s footprint. It is now the second-largest art museum in the United States with an enormous size of one million square feet area. It is also one of the few remaining art museums in the country. The museum houses sculpture gardens and an interior courtyard restaurant along with huge educational spaces providing facilities for expanding public knowledge on arts. It also features an outdoor terrace and a connecting lane to the Millennium Park.

The museum was inaugurated in 2009 and offers both undergraduate and graduate programs in arts. It includes two of the biggest libraries – the Ryerson Library that offers collection on art books and the Burnham Library that houses the architectural holdings, which were later merged in 1957. The museum features sculptures, paintings, drawings, photography and much more from Europe and the East.

The Richard H. Driehaus Museum is located at 40 East Erie Street near the Magnificent Mile in Chicago, Illinois. This museum is housed within the campus of the famous Chicago banker Samuel M. Nickerson and recreates the Gilded Age America and the Art Nouveau era during special events.

The interiors are well carved with marble, onyx, exotic woods, glazed tiles, and glasses. It is named after the Chicago businessman and philanthropist, Richard H. Driehaus and consists of his private collection of Fine and Decorative Arts. The Museum’s design is based on late 19^th century and early 20th-century art with a keen focus on the Gilded Age art.

The museum is well known for its exquisite building design, also known as Gilded Age Chicago’s “Marble Palace.” The museum houses decorative arts and is mainly famous for Tiffany glass. It was designed to appeal the diversified audiences from every culture and walk of life, besides portraying the urban lifestyle of Chicago. It is a perfect example of the palatial homes erected during the Gilded Age where the galleries are elegantly furnished with items from the famous designers – Louis Comfort Tiffany and Herter Brothers. The interiors are meticulously furnished to complement the art galleries being presented. Be a part of the educational programs, special exhibits, and other cultural events at this world-renowned art museum.

The Museum of Contemporary Art is located at 220 East Chicago Avenue in Streeterville neighborhood of Near North Side area of Downtown Chicago in Cook County, Illinois. It was established in 1967 as the world’s largest contemporary art museum featuring items from Post-World War II visual art collection. It is a run gallery-style exhibition showcasing individual curations throughout the year.

It was designed by Josef Paul Kleihues after a twelve-month search and reviewing hundreds of nominations.

Although it was designed as a bakery, the new building is famous for its staircase that’s leads you to the elevated ground floor. It has an atrium along with the full-glass walled corners on the eastern and western fringes, giving a magnificent view of the Lake Michigan and the city.

It has hosted many notable exhibitions, and the latest one to record the highest attendance is the Takashi Murakami in 2017. The museum collection consists of conceptual art, contemporary paintings, sculpture, photography, pop art, minimalism along with music and multidisciplinary arts.

The Oriental Institute Museum was established in 1919 as an interdisciplinary research wing for ancient civilizations throughout the Near East. It publicly exhibits some 400,000 ancient civilization artifacts from Mesopotamia, Sumer, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Nubia and much more. These extensive collections of ancient artifacts are found in the Oriental Institute building in Hyde Park, Chicago. It is a center of scientific research to understand the origins of human civilization by connecting the rise of ancient civilization in the Near East with European cultural development.

The upper floor offers a library, classrooms, and offices along with a souvenir shop selling textbooks on Near Eastern Studies. Some of the notable artifacts include the collection of the Megiddo Ivories; treasures from Persepolis; Luristan bronzes; a human-headed winged bull or Lamassu from Khorsabad and a monumental statue of King Tutankhamen from Egypt. The museum provides free exhibition although the visitors are encouraged for some donation.

The Chicago Children's Museum was founded in 1892 by the Junior League at Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois. It was earlier housed in two hallways of the Chicago Public Library when it started to offer shows and exhibits to captivate younger minds. This facility offers 57,000 square feet of exhibition area and another three floors hosting public programs and other special exhibits.

It is also the 4^th largest children’s museum in the United States serving more than 650,000 visitors annually. It provides free admission to children below 15 years of age on each Thursdays from 5:00 pm-8:00 pm and a full day on first Sunday of every month, while the rest of the days have an admission charge. This museum is adhered to help improve the cognitive skills of children by creating community space for them while learning and engaging in plays. Children from birth through the age-group often are the primary audience along with caretakers, educators to support their healthy growth and overall development.

The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is a natural museum based in Chicago, Illinois. It is under the Chicago Academy of Sciences and was opened to the general public in 1999. It is located at the intersection of Fullerton Parkway and Cannon Drive, Lincoln Park. It provides educational programs for children and exhibits the ecological history of the region along with a live butterfly house.

One of the most talked-about programs in this museum is the scientific research on the breeding of native butterfly species and its importance in the ecology. It offers children and adults on various educational themed programs on natural sciences. For over 160 years, this museum has been part of a long evolving journey trying to connect children to nature and science. It conducts immersive science exhibits, fun-filled family activities and other conservational events inspiring the young minds and the adults alike.

The SmOne of the most talked-about programs in this museum is the scientific research on the breeding of native butterfly species and its importance in the ecology. It offers children and adults on various educational themed programs on natural sciences. For over 160 years, this museum has been part of a long evolving journey trying to connect children to nature and science. It conducts immersive science exhibits, fun-filled family activities and other conservational events inspiring the young minds and the adults alike.

Smart Museum of Artart Museum of Art in the University of Chicago campus, Illinois has a permanent collection of over 15,000 items. It is displayed in four permanent exhibition galleries which include Modern art, Asian Art, European Art and Contemporary Art. These collections are also used for academic purposes and are taught at the University. The museum is open to the general public, and there is no admission fee charged even for special events. It is funded via university grants and individual or community-based contributions.

Some of the popular fun-filled efficient tours that will take you through the famous landmarks in Chicago are as follows -

1. Chicago’s on Fire Tour – This tour will take you through the 54 sites where the Great Fire of 1871 took place. Along the way, learn about fire-proofing buildings and about the few buildings and structures that survived.

2. The Loop ‘L’ Tour – Explore Chicago and the popular places in the vicinity with distinct cultures and history with the Loop ‘L’ Tour on the elevated train while you enjoy a fun ride and get a glimpse of the city’s perspectives.

3. Devil in the White City Tour – This 3-hour bus ride takes you through Prairie Avenue, the site of the Victorian-era tavern, including a walk through the Jackson Park and Wooded Island. This diverse bus tour takes you through the Chicago streets, home to famous business elites during the Chicago Fair.

4. Pilsen Murals Walking Tour – This tour was conceptualized by two eminent art educators combined with an effort of organizing art engagement practices and events. The tour reflects the connection with the natural history of the places and local art with the visitors.

5. Union Station Walking Tour – The Union Station is the main transportation hub and one of the last great railway terminals that have gone down in history. The tour will take you through the many moments in America’s history and its significance. It is a part of the Chicago History Museum Walking Tour.

6. Rosehill Cemetery Tour – Listen to the stories about the heroes and ordinary citizens along with persons instrumental in nominating Abraham Lincoln, while on this tour. The everlasting impression of the monuments reflects the valor and pride of fallen heroes who contributed to the Civil War and Chicago’s important role in shaping its outcome.

Some of the famous museums which have free admission in Chicago are listed below-

1. Smart Museum of Art – This art museum is located at the University of Chicago and is free for all visitors. It is opened all through the week but closed on Mondays and major holidays.

2. National Museum of Mexican Art – It houses a variety of Mexican artifacts and does not charge any admission fee. It is also closed on Mondays and other major holidays.

3. Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art – This museum offers a wide range of artifacts across many cultures and time. It is open to all visitors and closed on Mondays and major holidays.

4. Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago – Although this museum doesn’t charge admission fees, it is suggested to give donations depending upon age groups. It is open to all visitors and closed on Mondays and major holidays.

5. Museum of Science and Industry Chicago - It is open to all visitors and closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

6. Chicago Children’s Museum – This museum offers free admission for children under the age of 15, however on the first Sundays of every month.

7. Chicago History Museum – Youths of Illinois under 18 years of age and children under 12 Years from other states are given free entries all the time. However, Illinois residents can access the museum free of costs every Tuesday.

Get ready to explore art, history, culture, and the universe by getting lost in the exhibitions at Chicago's top museums. The diverse, high-quality permanent exhibitions of Field Museum and others attract many visitors annually.

Upcoming:

10 Iconic Chicago Skyline Buildings and How to Explore

30 Fun Things to Do in Chicago for New Year 2020

Things to Do in Hyde Park Neighborhood Chicago

Taste of Chicago: 10 Food Festivals and Tours in Chicago

Navy Pier: Chicago’s Most Fascinating Neighborhood

9 Must See Musicals by Broadway in Chicago

The Complete Guide to Chicago Botanic Garden

10 Fan Facts You May Not Know about The Bean Chicago

Top 8 Venues for Chicago Blues: Nightlife Chicago