Top Museums in Chicago Continue to Improve
New Exhibits at Museum of Science & Industry, Shedd & The Field
Oct 16, 2009
The Windy City is well-known for its world-class museums—and they just got better! It may be hard economic times, but families visiting Chicago will notice exciting, multi-million dollar exhibit openings at many of the city’s major museums. Here’s what’s new.
Chicago Museum of Science & Industry
It’s tough to ignore the giant, pulsating heart suspended from the ceiling of the museum’s second floor. Kids and adults are drawn to the new, million-dollar organ, gazing at its interior workings, including valves opening and closing and electrical charges. That’s only part of its high-tech wizardry; when visitors step closer, the beating of the 13-foot-tall heart matches their own pulse.
It’s just one of the interactive displays at the recently-opened You! The Experience permanent exhibit. The dramatic and unprecedented, 15,000-square-foot exhibit was four years in the making, and showcases a variety of cutting-edge, provocative displays.
Among the more than 50 interactive stations, is the Human Patient Simulator; it’s the first museum in the world to have one. The computer-controlled, full-sized mannequin is used to train medical students. Museum visitors can help assist in a highly-realistic operating room as the mannequin simulates a heart attack, asthma attack, shock, or other conditions. (It bleeds, cries, faints!)
Other exhibits include Face Your Future, where visitors watch their face change as they age 20 to 50 years and Vein Viewer, where visitors see their blood pulsing through their veins with an infrared camera.
Shedd Aquarium
The popular Oceanarium has re-opened with spruced up environments, a new kid’s play area, and a new show. In the new Polar Play Zone, kids can dress in a penguin suit, board a submarine, and touch sea stars in the touch pools. The new Fantasea show features jumping dolphins, dancing belugas, and waddling penguins, along with special lights, backdrops, music, and costumes.
The Field Museum
The popular Grainger Hall of Gems re-opens this month after an extensive renovation. The Hall, one of the favorite exhibits at the museum, has been redesigned to include new presentations with state-of-the-art fiber optic lighting. Visitors can see dazzling displays of 600 gemstones and rare gems, and 150 pieces of jewelry.
Chicago Institute of Art
The soaring, glass, 264,000-square-foot, Renzo-Piano designed Modern Wing addition is the largest expansion in the museum’s history. The entirely new building is devoted to 20th and 21st century art and design. Also included in the new space is an interior garden, a terrace sculpture garden, café, pedestrian bridge to Millennium Park, and a fine dining restaurant. Even kids enjoy the stunning new space, as well as special kid’s events and programming.
Adler Planetarium
The events and shows at the Adler are always a hit with families. Next spring, it gets even better. The Adler's former Milky Way Galaxy gallery will be the new home of a two-story rocket and space station, where families can soar into space to help discover a new planet. The $35 million, 8,000-square foot addition is scheduled to open March 2010.
The Windy City continues to expand and improve its major attractions. Families who haven't been to Chicago for a while, will notice a slew of new and improved openings at Chicago's award-winning museums.
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