Museums & More

The Art Institute of Chicago: Whatever else you do in Chicago, don't miss the Art Institute. The beautiful Beaux Arts building dates from 1893, and is situated toward the north end of Grant Park. The world-class collection encompasses works from every culture and time period. Impressionist and post-impressionist paintings are especially notable, but enthusiasts of any style or period will find something to marvel over. The special exhibits also routinely draw great acclaim nationwide. (Admission $10, with discounts for seniors, students, and children. Free on Tuesdays -- usually quite busy on Tuesdays, also. Open weekends 10 to 5; Monday and Wednesday to Friday 10:30 to 4:40; Tuesdays 10:30 to 8:00 PM.)

 

The Museum of Contemporary Art: This fine collection of contemporary art includes significant works by Franz Kline, René Magritte, Andy Warhol and myriad other painters, sculptors, and experimental artists who worked from 1945 onward. (Admission $10, or $6 for seniors and students. Open 10 to 5 every day, 10 to 8 Tuesday.)

 

The Shedd Aquarium: Chicago is a city of superlatives, and its aquarium is no exception -- it contains the world's largest collection of aquatic creatures. The aquarium re-creates natural environments as diverse as a tropical reef, a Pacific Northwest inlet, the Amazon River, and a penguin pool. Beluga whales from the Hudson Bay swim in a four million gallon aquarium. The dolphin and whales ponds also have underwater viewing areas, where you can look up into the aquarium. Shedd also offers numerous educational opportunities, talks and special exhibits. (Admission to all exhibits cost $21, or $15 for children and seniors. Restricted admission costs $8, or $6 for children and seniors. Open 9 to 6 in summer, and on holidays and winter weekends; and 9 to 5 on weekdays and off-season.)

 

The Field Museum Of Natural History: This museum's 20 million artifacts will awaken your enthusiasm for anthropology, biology, geology and zoology. Children usually find the dinosaur exhibits especially fascinating, including the famous Sue, the most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever discovered. Other notable exhibits include ' Inside Ancient Egypt,' a three-story re-creation of an ancient Egyptian burial tomb, containing 23 actual mummies. The Native American natural history collection is also outstanding. (Admission $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and students, $5 for children. Free on certain Mondays and Tuesdays in winter; check www.fieldmuseum.org for specific information. Open 9 to 5 year-round.)

 

The Museum of Science and Industry: With over 800 exhibits, the Museum of Science and Industry has plenty to bewilder and amaze you. If your children have never seen a human brain in a jar before, this is their chance! Other (more) popular sights include the museum's working coal mine (which dates from 1933, when the museum opened), the Apollo 8 command module, and a German U-boat captured in 1944 off the coast of Africa. (Admission $9 for adults, $5 for children. Open 9 to 5:30 in summer and on weekends and school holidays; 9:30 to 4:00 on school days.)