Best Museums in Chicago

Get ready to take in some culture! Any trip to Chicago should include a stop at one or more of these world-class museums. Be sure to wear comfy shoes and give yourself plenty of time to explore these giant museums.

The Art Institute of Chicago

111 S Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60603
(312) 443-3600
www.artic.edu/aic

Museum Hours
Monday–Wednesday, 10:30–5:00
Thursday, 10:30–8:00 (Free Admission 5:00–8:00)
Friday, 10:30–8:00
Saturday–Sunday, 10:30–5:00

Admission
Adults: $18

Children, Students, and Seniors (65 and up): $12
Children under 14: Free
Members: Free

The Art Institute has it all. For everyone... young, old, new to art and all it's glory, to the collector and aficionado. From Hockney to Manet, the world-renowned Art Institute of Chicago houses both a museum and school. The museum contains more than 300000 works of art, housing a permanent collection of rare, and for the most part, unknown artists.

Even for those who don't know a lot about art, this is a great place to learn, even though it's a little time consuming to absorb it all, each gallery has a blurb or two about what you're looking it, and though you may not retain the information a week from now, it makes for an interesting and enriching experience.

This is one museum you should not miss when traveling to Chicago.

Field Museum

1400 S Lake Shore Dr
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 922-9410
www.fieldmuseum.org

Hours
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Last admission at 4 p.m.
Open every day except Christmas.

The Field Museum is wonderful for young children, large groups, couples on dates, or an adult who has an afternoon to kill. The Field has everything from native costumes to prehistoric animals to extinct animals (taxidermy) to Egyptian mummies to geology. When you walk in, you are greeted by the huge Dinosaur in the main floor. And boy, there is more, lots more, animal habitats, weapons, jewelery and more. You are guaranteed a very good afternoon here, just take your time and make sure you hit all the corners of this place.

You will find a lot of hidden treasures along the way.

Museum of Science and Industry

57th Street & Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 684-1414
www.msichicago.org

Museum Hours
Monday - Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday: 11:00 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Open every day except Christmas Day

This hands on museum is absolutely excellent. Ensure you have an entire day to explore the huge campus. They have everything. A few mentions amongst many exhibits are dissected human bodies, a thirteen-foot heart, a scale model of Chicago, a synthetic tornado, an Egyptian exhibit, agricultural areas, a chick hatchery and a full size Boeing 727!

The restaurant serves a large variety of items as well. This museum is not located on the museum campus but a few miles south of the campus.

Whenever you have visitors in town and can't think of something to do, bring them here. They will not be disappointed.

Chicago History Museum

1601 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 642-4600
www.chicagohistory.org

Hours:
Mon-Wed, Fri-Sat 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Thu 9:30 am - 8 pm
Sun 12 pm - 5 pm

In a city with world-class museums, this one ranks high.

If you need to get a feel of how an old train car looked and felt, go here! If you want to hear about the riots of 1968 during the democratic national convention, go here! If you want to learn about anything Chicago, take a visit to the Chicago History Museum (formerly known as the Chicago Historical Society).

The Chicago History Museum stands at the crossroads of America's past and its future. If you live in Chicago or visit here and are curious about the city's past, present, and future, the Museum should be your first stop.

The Chicago History Museum makes me beam with pride to be a Chicagoan.

John G Shedd Aquarium

1200 S Lake Shore Dr
Chicago, IL 60605
www.sheddaquarium.org

A world-class aquarium, the Shedd connections with 32600 animals, from whales to snails, from the world's fresh and salt waters.

There's definitely a lot to take in, whether you're just looking at the animals, reading up, or asking about them. There are some great stories about some of those that are survivors or just permanent residents there.

Highlights include the Caribbean Reef tank & huge shark tank which curves in such a way that if you stand right up to it, it feels almost as if you are in the tank yourself.

Very nice and engaging all round!