Located south of downtown Chicago in the Museum Campus complex of Chicago Park – neighbouring the John G. Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium – a trip to the Field Museum is a perfect family day out, with a range of compelling, exciting exhibits on natural history.
On display here, you’ll find the most complete skeleton of a tyrannosaurus rex ever to have been discovered. Known affectionately as Sue, the fossil towers above you at four metres high and almost 13 metres long, and dates back over 65 million years. The museum’s biggest draw, you’ll find Sue standing tall in the Evolving Planet exhibit along with a vast array of dinosaur skeletons and interactive displays, teaching you all about the evolution of life itself over billions of years on planet Earth.
Many visitors come simply to marvel at Sue, but there is much more on offer to make a visit last at least half a day. Explore exhibitions on ancient civilizations, including the Americas and Egypt where you’ll find 23 human mummies on show alongside tombs and shrines.
Across three different exhibits you’ll be able to travel the world and discover preserved animals from the corners of the globe in the Nature Walk and the Mammals of Asia and Mammals of Africa spaces.
As well as dinosaurs and mummies, lions and elephants, you’ll be able to feast your eyes on some very rare diamonds and gems dating back thousands of years at the Grainger Hall of Gems. Explore the laboratories inside the building, from the McDonald’s Fossil Prep Lab (where you can see scientists working with fossils) or the DNA Discovery Centre (to see the process of extracting DNA). Elsewhere, embark upon the Underground Adventure to find out about life for bugs underground.
Alongside the main attractions, there are regular travelling exhibitions and special events at the museum, so it’s best to plan ahead by looking online at what’s on. Open all year except Christmas Day, and with discounts for children and senior citizens, it makes for a great day out for young and old alike.
