9 of the Best Museums in Chicago and How To Visit

Chicago is known to most as the Windy City, but for others it’s “the city of architecture.” In addition to a Chicago River architecture tour, which is one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions, true design enthusiasts will want to prebook tickets to the Chicago Architecture Center to discover Chicago’s leading role in the evolution of city skylines and explore exhibits featuring its many diverse neighborhoods.

Don’t miss: The interactive, 3-dimensional model of the cityscape that is activated by special effects and reenacts key historical milestones, including the Great Chicago Fire.

Looking for art galleries in Chicago, but short on time? Explore thousands of works of art, all under one roof, at the Art Institute of Chicago. From renowned icons to lesser-known masterpieces from every corner of the globe, it’s impossible to see everything in one visit.

So, consider a guided tour that covers the major Chicago museum highlights, from Grant Wood’s American Gothic and Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks to the show-stopping example of pointillism with Georges Seurat’s Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.

Don’t miss: The expansive collection of Impressionist artwork, which is known to rival the Musee D’Orsay in Paris.

If digging into a city’s historical roots elicits an audible yawn, let the Chicago History Museum—the city’s version of a historical society—wake you right up. In addition to exhibits exploring prominent past figures including Abraham Lincoln, this museum also delivers the roots behind local delicacies (the Chicago-style hot dog and deep dish pizza, for starters) and allows you to climb aboard a vintage L train car. If you’re hungry for more, consider adding on the South Side’s DuSable Museum of African American History.

Don’t miss: Registering for access to this Chicago historical museum’s Research Library, which stores thousands of photographs, publications, and artifacts that document the city’s beginnings.

Before you even enter the city’s much-loved Shedd Aquarium, you’ve got quite a view to behold. Situated on the shore of Lake Michigan, this museum is the perfect stop on a hop-on hop-off city sightseeing tour, and prides itself on bringing guests face-to-face (or face-to-fin) with incredible aquatic animals from around the world—and right in their own backyard.

Visit sunny Philippines reefs, venture to the Amazon’s flooded forests, and stop by the vast Great Lakes to see what’s thriving below the surface.

Don’t miss: A sea otter encounter that takes you behind the scenes of their home in the aquarium.

You don’t have to be midway through medical school to appreciate the specialized—and downright strange—array of surgical artifacts at the under-the-radar International Museum of Surgical Science.

Squirm over a 3,000-year-old Peruvian skull drill and the Civil War–era amputation kit; at the very least, this visit will make you appreciate the medical advancements that have been made through the years. Consider ending the experience with a visit to Lincoln Park, located just steps away.

Don’t miss: The real working iron lung, a life-saving mechanical device that helped patients breathe by applying negative pressure to the body.

One of the largest science museums in the world, the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry comprises a 14-acre (6-hectare) complex with hands-on exhibits designed to spark your curiosity, no matter your age. From a simulated tornado to the only real German World War II submarine in the US to a not-so-ordinary mirror maze that boasts hidden mathematical patterns, the exhibits will leave you feeling energized. Consider topping off your visit with a Chicago bike tour or Segway tour, which stops at Museum Campus.

Don’t miss: The retro Mold-A-Rama machines that have pumped out hundreds of collectible plastic novelties for more than 60 years.

The first planetarium in the nation, Adler Planetarium offers top-rated Chicago museum attractions, including the Doane Observatory, which is home to the largest telescope available for public viewing in the city.

Search for a new planet, take a fast-paced tour of the solar system, or get to know the constellations above with hands-on exhibits and viewing stations. Visit with a Chicago CityPASS® or enjoy a panoramic view of the museum itself during a cruise on Lake Michigan.

Don’t miss: Weekly nighttime sky shows when the museum is open late, until 10pm.

When visiting museums in Chicago, most people only end up walking through sterile, temperature-controlled rooms. But at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, the natural world is the main attraction. Case in point: guided tours of the museum’s outdoor nature trails that highlight native Illinois habitats all year long and a birdwalk that offers tree-top views of local wildlife. Located amid the prairies and gardens of Lincoln Park, this serene spot is the perfect place to pop in on a beautiful day.

Don’t miss: Standing amid thousands of freely fluttering butterflies that reside inside the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven.

Known as one of the best museums in Chicago, the Field Museum of Natural History contains more than 26 million artifacts. The most popular among them? Sue, the world’s largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil ever discovered. Considering the museum’s popularity, score your admission ticket in advance, but consider upgrading to gain access to one of several special exhibitions.

Don’t miss: The stunning Grainger Hall of Gems, a visitor favorite that has grown to include more than 600 gemstones in various stages of transformation, from raw crystal, to cut and polished stone, to a mounted jewel.