Today, I am vacationing in Chicago for a few days. My mom goes to seminary near here, so we are often in the city during breaks. Today was the only day that my mother and I could go be tourists; the both of us have homework to do. We wanted to see something that we hadn't seen before, and the Museum of Science and Industry was on that list! I want to walk you through some of the things we saw at this amazing museum! We only had a few hours, so we had to prioritize. If you go, set aside an entire day to visit the museum; it is worth the time.
We just bought membership passes to the museum today. If you are interested in buying a pass click here. We got the household package which is $155. It is definitely worth the extra cost. I am not going to go into detail here on all the benefits of membership (it is in the link), but I would like to point out that having a membership gives you free or discounted entry into any ASTC centers and museums. There are so many discounts that you get with membership, so if you are planning on returning to the museum, you might as well become a member and reap the benefits!
On to the fun stuff! I am going to order my journey by what is included in general admission, what you need to get tickets for, and consumer goods. Some tickets are free, but you need to get them in order to go into certain exhibits (they are timed-entry tickets). Within the two groups, I will split further into floors. Here is a link to the museum's map, if you want to use it as a reference or to plan, feel free!
Remember, these are only the exhibits that I got to see! There are many more in the museum!
General Admission
1. Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle (Floor 1)
This is absolutely amazing and is one of my favorite exhibits! It is a huge doll house filled with priceless art. I am including a picture gallery of the Fairy Castle, but you should definitely go see it in person! The intricacy of the work is amazing and cannot be fully appreciated unless seen in person. Colleen Moore began building the doll house in 1928 with the help of many talented professionals. The entire castle is worth $500,000.
We just bought membership passes to the museum today. If you are interested in buying a pass click here. We got the household package which is $155. It is definitely worth the extra cost. I am not going to go into detail here on all the benefits of membership (it is in the link), but I would like to point out that having a membership gives you free or discounted entry into any ASTC centers and museums. There are so many discounts that you get with membership, so if you are planning on returning to the museum, you might as well become a member and reap the benefits!
On to the fun stuff! I am going to order my journey by what is included in general admission, what you need to get tickets for, and consumer goods. Some tickets are free, but you need to get them in order to go into certain exhibits (they are timed-entry tickets). Within the two groups, I will split further into floors. Here is a link to the museum's map, if you want to use it as a reference or to plan, feel free!
Remember, these are only the exhibits that I got to see! There are many more in the museum!
General Admission
1. Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle (Floor 1)
This is absolutely amazing and is one of my favorite exhibits! It is a huge doll house filled with priceless art. I am including a picture gallery of the Fairy Castle, but you should definitely go see it in person! The intricacy of the work is amazing and cannot be fully appreciated unless seen in person. Colleen Moore began building the doll house in 1928 with the help of many talented professionals. The entire castle is worth $500,000.
There is an entire second level to this doll house that is not pictured here. I would strongly encourage you to visit the museum and see it in its entirety. Here are some pictures taken for CBS News that are of better quality and number than mine. Feel free to look through those pictures as well!
2. Circus and Eye Spy (Floor 1)
As I was walking to one of my ticket exhibits, I got the pleasure of looking at a few circus displays and "Eye Spy". I did not take any pictures, so the circus photos in this gallery are all from here and the "Eye Spy" photos are from here. These photos were taken by Thriftaholic and Amy, so do not site these pictures as mine. These exhibits were pretty short but quite cute!
As I was walking to one of my ticket exhibits, I got the pleasure of looking at a few circus displays and "Eye Spy". I did not take any pictures, so the circus photos in this gallery are all from here and the "Eye Spy" photos are from here. These photos were taken by Thriftaholic and Amy, so do not site these pictures as mine. These exhibits were pretty short but quite cute!
3. Fast Forward... Inventing the Future (Floor 2)
This exhibit was fascinating. It included new inventions that are currently in the making and ideas that could help save the planet. My favorite part of this exhibit was the vertical farm, which is a farm within a building. This concept is supposed to save water, resources, and space as an improvement on conventional farming. I can't wait to hear more on this! (This gallery only has the three pictures of the vertical farm. For more pictures of this exhibit go here.)
This exhibit was fascinating. It included new inventions that are currently in the making and ideas that could help save the planet. My favorite part of this exhibit was the vertical farm, which is a farm within a building. This concept is supposed to save water, resources, and space as an improvement on conventional farming. I can't wait to hear more on this! (This gallery only has the three pictures of the vertical farm. For more pictures of this exhibit go here.)
4. The Transportation Gallery (Floor 2)
I didn't look too hard into the transportation gallery, but I was able to step onto the "World's Fastest Locomotive". It is a 999 Steam Locomotive that broke the record at a speed of 112.5 mph. This gallery also had an assortment of planes and "The Spirit of America" which is a vehicle that once broke the world record for land speed. There is also a model of Chicago.
I didn't look too hard into the transportation gallery, but I was able to step onto the "World's Fastest Locomotive". It is a 999 Steam Locomotive that broke the record at a speed of 112.5 mph. This gallery also had an assortment of planes and "The Spirit of America" which is a vehicle that once broke the world record for land speed. There is also a model of Chicago.
5. Science Storms (Floor 2)
This is so cool! This exhibit explored different weather phenomenon in a large and visual way. Most of the things in this area were interactive. My favorite part of this exhibit was the recreation of a tornado which volunteers could step into (the wind speed was only 5 mph). This exhibit also explores lightning, avalanches, tsunamis, sunlight, and fire.
This is so cool! This exhibit explored different weather phenomenon in a large and visual way. Most of the things in this area were interactive. My favorite part of this exhibit was the recreation of a tornado which volunteers could step into (the wind speed was only 5 mph). This exhibit also explores lightning, avalanches, tsunamis, sunlight, and fire.
6. Toymaker 300: An Adventure in Automation (Floor 2)
This exhibit shows how toys are made. It has 12 moving robots that you can give commands to and a full assembly line. Here you can also personalize a gravitron toy top with your name and watch as it goes through the assembly line. My favorite was the robot that drew pictures based on what features you chose.
This exhibit shows how toys are made. It has 12 moving robots that you can give commands to and a full assembly line. Here you can also personalize a gravitron toy top with your name and watch as it goes through the assembly line. My favorite was the robot that drew pictures based on what features you chose.
Exhibits that Need Tickets
If you need to buy tickets for an event, you can buy for just one event or save money buy buying two or more experiences. If you are only interested in one experience, it costs about $27 for an adult without a membership. If you want to buy tickets or see the price breakdown for age and experience, click here. I will indicate which of the next experiences cost money with a dollar sign. The rest only require a time-entry ticket to manage crowds.
1. U-505 Submarine Tour (Floor 1) - $
You can visit this exhibit without paying extra as long as you don't go on the tour. However, the tour is the best part! I am minoring in German, so this part of history fascinates me. The tour takes place inside a real U-boat that was taken captive near Africa. The tour shows different areas of the submarine and has sound effects so you can experience what it sounded like on the boat. It was definitely worth buying the ticket!
If you need to buy tickets for an event, you can buy for just one event or save money buy buying two or more experiences. If you are only interested in one experience, it costs about $27 for an adult without a membership. If you want to buy tickets or see the price breakdown for age and experience, click here. I will indicate which of the next experiences cost money with a dollar sign. The rest only require a time-entry ticket to manage crowds.
1. U-505 Submarine Tour (Floor 1) - $
You can visit this exhibit without paying extra as long as you don't go on the tour. However, the tour is the best part! I am minoring in German, so this part of history fascinates me. The tour takes place inside a real U-boat that was taken captive near Africa. The tour shows different areas of the submarine and has sound effects so you can experience what it sounded like on the boat. It was definitely worth buying the ticket!
2. Omnimax Theater (Floor 1) - $
This is basically an imax theater that is spherical. There are two documentaries that can be seen there at the moment: "D-Day: Normandy 1944" and "Flight of the Butterflies". My mother and I saw the D-Day documentary. It was very well done and I learned a lot about the battle at Normandy and how things were strategized. The Omnimax theater is a must-see at the Museum of Science and Industry. With my membership, I can see 10 of their shows free!
I don't have any pictures of this one because they are not allowed.
This is basically an imax theater that is spherical. There are two documentaries that can be seen there at the moment: "D-Day: Normandy 1944" and "Flight of the Butterflies". My mother and I saw the D-Day documentary. It was very well done and I learned a lot about the battle at Normandy and how things were strategized. The Omnimax theater is a must-see at the Museum of Science and Industry. With my membership, I can see 10 of their shows free!
I don't have any pictures of this one because they are not allowed.
3. Numbers in Nature: A Mirror Maze (Floor 2)- Free!
This exhibit has a big mirror maze in it for you to stumble around in! It was a lot of fun! It also different areas where you can discover the patterns in nature. A computer will even scan your body and tell you your height! You definitely should check this exhibit out, especially since it is free! All you need to do is get a time-entry ticket. The mirror pictures are mine and the others are the museums property. Click here to see the information on this exhibit and where these images come from.
This exhibit has a big mirror maze in it for you to stumble around in! It was a lot of fun! It also different areas where you can discover the patterns in nature. A computer will even scan your body and tell you your height! You definitely should check this exhibit out, especially since it is free! All you need to do is get a time-entry ticket. The mirror pictures are mine and the others are the museums property. Click here to see the information on this exhibit and where these images come from.
Consumer Goods
1. Brain Food Court (Floor 1)
This is the food court. It offers a variety of different foods of decent quality. They make pizzas, pastas, salads, burgers, etc. My mother and I both enjoyed our meals from there and it's convenient location is worth the price.
2. Shop Earth (Floor 1)
This is the gift shop for the space area of the museum. Here you can buy a wide variety of merchandise that is space themed! My mom and I bought matching t-shirts that say "When I was a kid, Pluto was a planet." You can see a picture of it below.
1. Brain Food Court (Floor 1)
This is the food court. It offers a variety of different foods of decent quality. They make pizzas, pastas, salads, burgers, etc. My mother and I both enjoyed our meals from there and it's convenient location is worth the price.
2. Shop Earth (Floor 1)
This is the gift shop for the space area of the museum. Here you can buy a wide variety of merchandise that is space themed! My mom and I bought matching t-shirts that say "When I was a kid, Pluto was a planet." You can see a picture of it below.
That was my trip! I had a lot of fun and I am sure that I missed some things in my account! There is so much more to see there and I can't wait to use my membership to see all the other exhibits!
Have you been to the Museum of Science and Industry? What was your favorite part? If not, what did you see in my pictures that you thought looked interesting?
Have you been to the Museum of Science and Industry? What was your favorite part? If not, what did you see in my pictures that you thought looked interesting?