Chicago Museum Guide

The city of Chicago has an amazing collection of museums. From fine arts to natural history, and the largest array of ethnic cultural museums in the country, there is truly something to satisfy every visitor's interests.

Spend a day exploring the waterfront Museum Campus. It houses the Shedd aquarium and oceanarium,the Alder Planetarium and Astronomy Museum and The Field Museum. This is all located on a 57 acre lakefront campus that is family friendly and accessible from downtown Chicago by trolley.

John G. Shedd Aquarium

Housing the largest indoor collection of aquatic mammals, fish, amphibians, and reptiles in the country, this aquarium also has a wild reef exhibit displaying the amazing ecosystem up close and educating visitors about its importance to ocean life world wide. View more than 30 sharks face to face (safely behind glass, of course) and watch them circle endlessly through the water.

The Oceanarium is home to beluga whales, penguins, dolphins, sea otters and whales. There are experts on hand to explain all the facts about your favorite creatures.

Alder Planetarium and Astronomy Museum

Explore the universe through planetarium shows, educational programs and seminars, computer based interactive exhibits and an observatory. Permanent exhibits include topics such as: the Milky Way, our Solar System, and 1,000 years of discovery in astronomy.

Visit Sue the Tyrannosaurus Rex, view mummies and precious gems and enjoy extensive exhibits in botany and zoology.

The Museum of Science and Industry

Take a hands on approach at this exciting museum that is fun for both adults and children.

Some highlights include:

• The Circus Exhibit with fun house mirrors and clowns
• Eye Spy Chambers
• Space Center
• Explore the only German submarine in the U.S.
• Omnimax Films
• The Transportation Zone, featuring an incredible collection of trains and a real Boeing 727
• Watch a chick hatch in the Chicken Hatchery
• Farming and Coal Mining Exhibits
• The Toymaker 3000: watch up close as robots design and assemble toys
• The Brain and Heart Exhibits: Walk through a 14 model heart

The Clark House Museum

Get a glimpse into what life was like in the early days of Chicago. The Clark House is the oldest house in the city.

The DuSable Museum of African American History

This museum is dedicated to the preservation and study of African American culture and art. The museum hosts educational seminars and performances.

The National Vietnam Veterans Museum

This new museum displays over 500 works of art by 95 artists from both America and abroad who served in the Vietnam War.

The Notebaert Nature Museum

A unique indoor / outdoor experience designed to help the urban dweller get in touch with nature.

The International Museum of Surgical Science

This collection displays the discoveries and mysteries that have influenced and inspired the science of surgical medicine.

The Art Institute of Chicago is both a school and museum and houses more than 300,000 works by world reknowned artists including Renoir, Monet, Degas, VanGogh, Seurat and Dali.

The Museum of Contemporary Photography focuses on the role photography has played in history, as well as presenting exhibits that embrace a wide range of contemporary technologies.

The Terra Museum of American Art features the works of Whistler, Cassatt, Chase, Hopper and Weyth.

The most complete and extensive holography museum in the country, Chicago's Museum Of Holography focuses on teaching and research as well as displaying laser created 3-D images.

Chicago is known as the melting pot of the mid-west and this is well illustrated by the ample number of ethnic museums. These museums represent the history of the various immigrant groups that have flocked to Chicago over the past 200 years.