Museum Lovers Guide to Chicago
Chicago’s Field Museum
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From Sue, the largest and most complete fossil of a T-Rex (pictured above), to the culture of Sweden, Chicago has a stop for every type of museum-goer. This guide highlights only a few, as Chicago is brimming with museums!
The Field Museum is home to not only Sue, but the renowned “Underground Adventure,” where visitors can explore a magnified subterranean world, “Inside Ancient Egypt,” and the new “Ancient Americas” exhibits. Through January 1, 2008, you can also explore the exhibit entitled “Darwin,” which delves into his theory that changed the world.
At the Art Institute of Chicago, visitors can come face to face with Grant Wood’s iconic painting “American Gothic” and Georges Seurat’s “Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.” This museum also houses one of the world’s most beloved collections of French Impressionism, as well as the 68 Thorne Miniature Rooms.
The Notebaert Nature Museum is perfect for outdoorsy types! If you love butterflies, be sure to check out the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven, which has over 75 species! You can also learn about ecosystems, marshes, riverworks, and take a wilderness walk, where you can experience a savannah, prairie, and a dune.
At the Swedish American Museum, learn about the plight of immigration with the permanent exhibit, Dream of America: Swedish Immigration to Chicago. There’s also interactive exhibits for children, where they can churn butter, milk a cow, gather eggs, and learn how to pack a steamer trunk to set off for the new world.
While in Chicago, be sure to also check out The Chicago Children’s Museum, The Museum of Contemporary Art, and The Museum of Science and Industry.
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