IDEA #1 — MUSEUMS May 25, 2009
Posted by Ms. Klemundt in Uncategorized.trackback
I bet you thought I was going to start with “Reading”! The Chicago area has some terrific and interesting museums and you should visit at least one this summer. I’ve listed a few below, but there are many, many more to discover. Use these tourism websites to find them:
- Chicago (http://www.explorechicago.org)
- Illinois (http://www.enjoyillinois.com)
I know that going to museums can be expensive; check the museum’s website to see if they offer reduced admission for students (hang onto your Res ID) or free days. Some of the museums don’t charge admission and some others have very reasonable fees. Another way to save money is to take public transportation (avoid parking costs); check these websites to plot your route:
- CTA (http://www.transitchicago.com)
- Pace Bus (http://www.pacebus.com)
- Metra (http://www.metrarail.com)
So here are 10 suggestions to get you started:
- Art Institute of Chicago (http://www.artic.edu/aic/). The brand-new Modern Wing just opened, but there are, literally, thousands of reasons to visit this Chicago treasure. Thanks to Target, admission is free on Thursdays from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
- The Field Museum (http://www.fieldmuseum.org) The newest exhibit is “Real Pirates.” You might also want to check out “Evolving Planet” and “Sacred Waters : India’s Great Kumbha Mela Pilgrimage.” Or just go visit Sue!
- Shedd Aquarium (http://www.sheddaquarium.org) The newly-renovated Oceanarium opened May 23, but there are lots of other things to see and marvel at as well. If you haven’t been in awhile, it’s a pretty amazing experience.
- Museum of Science & Industry (http://www.msichicago.org) You might meet Ms. Bernardin at “Harry Potter : The Exhibition,” which just opened in April. Or check out “SmartHome : Green + Wired” or “Mysteries of the Great Lakes” at the OmniMax Theater.
- Chicago History Museum (http://www.chicagohistory.org) Fashionistas can go to see “Chic Chicago : Couture Treasures from the Chicago History Museum.” There are also exhibits on Abraham Lincoln and Bertha Honore Palmer. If you’re taking the History of Chicago course next year, this museum should definitely be on your To-Do list this summer.
- Oriental Institute (http://oi.uchicago.edu) The OI has just completed a massive renovation so visit their Egyptian, Mesopotamian, and Persian galleries (among others). Their current Special Exhibit is “The Life of Meresamun : A Temple Singer in Ancient Egypt.” The museum is located on the campus of the University of Chicago in Hyde Park.
- DuSable Museum of African American History (http://www.dusablemuseum.org) This museum is located on the south side in Washington Park. If you go, you’ll also get to see one of the major sites planned for development for the 2016 Olympics. A couple of the current exhibits are: “Tracing the Civil Rights Movement, 1848 to 1968″ and “Red, White, Blue & Black : A History of Blacks in the Armed Services.”
- National Museum of Mexican Art (http://www.nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org) Admission is free to this museum located on the south side in the Pilsen neighborhood. Go check out “Miradas : Mexican Art from the Bank of America Collection” which examines art from the past 80 years. The museum also sponsors a performing arts festival so check out their website for performance dates, times, and ticket prices.
- Mitchell Museum of the American Indian (http://www.mitchellmuseum.org). This little-known museum is located in Evanston. They currently have exhibits on cradleboards and pipes. This is a nice place to go if you want to learn something new but don’t want a big, hairy tourist museum experience. Plus, there are a million great places to eat in Evanston!
- Chicago Cultural Center (http://www.chicagoculturalcenter.org) This multi-use space offers art exhibits, concerts, dance performances, and lectures, among other things. And the building itself has architectural importance. Most events are free.
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