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Best Museum in Chicago

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Museum of Contemporary Art
220 E Chicago Ave Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 397-4034
Take yourself “outside of the box” while perusing the exhibits at the Museum of Contemporary Art, dedicated to the creative works of living artists. The museum is home to the art families of surrealism, minimalism, conceptual art and photography dating back from 1945 to current day. Even a special collection of Chicago-based artists exists in the large assortment of artwork. Featuring a monthly exhibition series called “New Artists/New Work,” current up-and-coming artists get the chance to showcase their creative masterpieces, making the Museum of Contemporary Art one of the city’s most exciting art venues. Hours: Tues 10am-8pm; Wed-Sun 10am-5pm
The Art Institute of Chicago
111 S Michigan Ave Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 443-3600
Step foot in one of America’s premier fine art museums with a visit to the Art Institute of Chicago. Known for its extensive collection of Impressionist and American art, visitors can also find work from a variety of cultures and mediums. From Medieval and Renaissance exhibits to contemporary and modern, prints and drawings to textiles and photography, the Art Institute has collected the world-class pieces since 1879. Important works by Monet, Renoir and Seurat are few among many of the museum’s proud collection. Guarded by the famous bronze lion statues at its entrance, the Art Institute of Chicago holds the key to some of history’s greatest artwork. Hours: Mon-Wed 10:30am-5pm; Thurs-Fri 10:30am-9pm; Sat-Sun 10am-5pm
Field Museum of Natural History
1400 S Lake Shore Dr Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 922-9410
Explore the Field Museum, one of the country’s finest natural history museums. Founded in 1893, the Field Museum has been collecting artifacts for over 100 years, establishing 34 permanent exhibitions and 20 million biological and anthropological specimens. Travel the globe at exhibits from Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific and Ancient Egypt. See the world’s largest, most complete and best-preserved T. Tex ever discovered. The Evolving Planet exhibit takes you as far back as 4 billion years from single-cell organisms to humans today. The Field Museum, located in Chicago’s lakefront Museum Campus, provides an educational institution to the public and magnificently composed exhibits for visitors of all ages. Open Mon-Sun 9am-5pm
Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum
1300 S Lake Shore Dr Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 922-7827
Witness the Western Hemisphere’s first planetarium at the Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum. One of the three museums of Chicago’s lakefront Museum Campus, the Planetarium boasts a variety of hands-on exhibits that investigate the captivating mystery that is space. We recommend taking a trip through the Shoot for the Moon exhibit, highlighting the history of space exploration, where you can find the fully restored Gemini 12 spacecraft of America’s race to the Moon. This most recent addition to the Adler Planetarium chronicles the birth of modern astronomy and leaves you wondering what will be next. Hours: Mon-Fri 9:30am-4:30pm; Sat-Sun 9:30am-4:30pm
Museum of Science & Industry
5700 S Lake Shore Dr Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 684-9844
As the Western Hemisphere’s largest science museum, the Museum of Science and Industry houses nearly 14 acres of exhibits with topics ranging from genetics to fairy castles. Descend down a mineshaft to discover the world of a coal miner, explore the only remaining U-505 German submarine, complete with interactive replicas and re-enactments, or see how far your secrets can reach in the Whispering Gallery. Offering over 800 interactive exhibits, the Museum of Science and Industry far exceeds its mission to advance science and technology education. Hours: Mon-Sat 9:30am-5:30pm; Sun 11am-5:30pm
Shedd Aquarium
1200 S Lake Shore Dr Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 939-2426
Stunning exhibits and more than 29,500 aquatic animals make the John G. Shedd Aquarium the world’s largest indoor aquarium, offering you the chance to take a dive into the unique aquatic education found here. Explore around the globe with exhibits that recreate the Amazon, the Caribbean Reef and the Pacific Northwest. Watch one of many shows at the popular Oceanarium, featuring fascinating acts by whales and their belugas, dolphins, sea otters and penguins. Shedd Aquarium has been not only a Chicago icon but also a leader in the zoo and aquarium profession for over 75 years. Hours: Mon-Sun 9am-4:30pm; Summer Hours 9am-6pm
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