Museums Of Chicago

Chicago is brimming with cultural gems, and the museums of Chicago are no exception. There is a wealth of information and beauty waiting to be found, from the Chicago History Museum to the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. Chicago has been bringing together people of several different cultures right from its inception and the museums in Chicago highlight its rich culture in many different ways.

Chicago museums would be enjoyable to history buffs, people who love nature, people who love learning about a new culture, and even children – there’s truly something for everyone in the Windy City. Chicago Children’s Museum, for instance, is highly interactive, and children would absolutely love it.

Here are just a handful of the great museums that Chicago has to offer.

9 Best Museums In Chicago

Chicago History Museum

Chicago History Museum is the museum of the Chicago Historical Society and is located in Lincoln Park. This is an iconic museum that displays the rich history and culture of Chicago and gives travelers deep insight into Chicago’s past. The Chicago History Museum, founded in 1856, is the city’s oldest cultural institution. The museum has nearly 22 million items and papers relating to the history of Chicago and the surrounding region.

It has several exhibitions that explore different things that Chicago is famous for, right from the Chicago hot dog to the history of Abraham Lincoln. The Chicago History Gallery, which covers the past of the city from its early Native American residents to the current day, is a part of the museum that should not be missed. The Lincoln Gallery, which offers a range of exhibits on Abraham Lincoln’s life and legacy, is another must-see. They also have an exhibit on the Great Chicago Fire, explaining the extreme amounts of damage that it did.

Art Institute Of Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago, founded in 1879, is one of the oldest and most prominent art museums in the United States. The Art Institute museum is located in the center of downtown Chicago and houses an outstanding collection of art from all over the world, including works by artists such as Monet, Van Gogh, and Picasso. It has over 300,000 works of art in the museum’s permanent collection.

The Thorne Minature Rooms house a collection of miniature reproductions of European and American homes from the Middle Ages to the 1930s is one of the Art Institute’s highlight displays and should not be missed. Another must-see is the Impressionist Gallery, which has a superb collection of Impressionist paintings by Monet, Degas, and Renoir.

National Museum Of Mexican Art

The National Museum of Mexican Art, located in Chicago’s Pilsen area, is the biggest museum dedicated to Mexican Art in the United States. It is committed to highlighting Mexico’s rich cultural legacy as well as the Mexican-American experience.

The National Museum Of Mexican Art’s permanent collection includes approximately 7,000 pieces of art such as paintings, sculptures, and textiles. You must also attend the museum’s annual Day of the Dead event, which includes traditional altars, music, and dance performances.

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, located in the gardens of Chicago’s Lincoln Park area, is a must-visit for nature lovers. The museum, first opened in 1871, houses a range of natural history displays, including a butterfly sanctuary, a beekeeping exhibit, and a reproduction of a Chicago grassland.

The Wild Chicago Gallery, which offers interactive displays on the city’s natural history and the creatures that call it home, as well as the Nature Lab, which features hands-on displays on botany and geology, are both exhibits that you must visit on this museum campus. There are also exhibits that explore Chicago’s rivers and prairies, and even the Ice Age mammals’ biology.

Museum Of Contemporary Art

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), located in the center of downtown Chicago, is a haven for art fans. The museum was founded in 1967 and houses a broad collection of modern art, including paintings, sculptures, and installations. It has regular touring exhibitions that honor the work of celebrating artists like Virgil Abloh and Takashi Murakami.

The Chicago Gallery, which includes works by Chicago-area artists, is one of the MCA’s highlight shows. You must also see and admire the MCA Collection, which features a wide range of modern classics by artists such as Warhol, Koons, and Haring. The Museum Of Contemporary Art also regularly displays the work of several budding artists from Chicago, and internationally as well.

Illinois Holocaust Museum

Located in Skokie, Illinois, the Illinois Holocaust Museum is a moving tribute to the victims of the Holocaust. Founded in 2009, the museum is dedicated to preserving the memory of the six million Jews and millions of others who were killed by the Nazi regime during World War II.

One of the standout exhibits at the museum is the Permanent Exhibition, which tells the story of the Holocaust through a variety of mediums, including photographs, documents, and personal artifacts. The Survivors’ Testimony Theater features video interviews with survivors of the Holocaust and is one of the most emotionally moving parts of the museum.

Chicago Cultural Center

The Chicago Cultural Center is located in the heart of downtown Chicago and is a must-visit for culture lovers. Founded in 1897, the cultural center is home to a variety of exhibits and events, including concerts, film screenings, and art exhibits.

One of the standout exhibits at the cultural center is the Tiffany Dome, a stunning stained glass dome that was installed in the building in 1897. Another must-see is the Chicago Rooms, a series of galleries that showcase the city’s art, architecture, and history.

Chicago Children’s Museum

Located on the lakefront of Lake Michigan, the Chicago Children’s Museum is a fun and educational destination for families. Founded in 1982, the museum is home to a variety of interactive exhibits and activities that are designed to engage and inspire children of all ages.

One of the standout exhibits at the museum is the WaterWise exhibit, which teaches kids about the importance of water conservation. The Skyscraper exhibit, which lets kids explore the inner workings of a skyscraper through hands-on activities, is another exhibit that any child would absolutely love.

Chicago Field Museum Of Natural History

This museum campus offers insight into various scientific and natural history-related processes. It displays fossils, and elements of culture from all around the world, and even highlights why the conservation of the environment should be our top priority. It runs several educational and scientific programs. It has over 20 permanent collection exhibitions covering 480,000 square feet. You can admire huge dinosaurs and their skeletons, Egyptian tombs, or even unwind in a unique Chinese rock garden.

The Field Museum also has a library of over 275,000 books, journals, and photo archives related to evolutionary biology, geology, and several other subjects. The staff of the Field Museum maintains over 24 million specimens as part of the scientific research that the museum conducts.

FAQ

How many museums are there in Chicago?

The Chicago metropolitan area is home to 150 museums.

What is the largest museum in Chicago?

The Art Institute Of Chicago is the largest museum in Chicago.

What is the most visited museum in Chicago?

The Art Institute Of Chicago is the most visited museum in Chicago.

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