Museum of Science and Industry
The Museum of Science and Industry at 75 years old is the Midwest's second most popular tourist attraction. Built with a love and reverence for science and technology, it places special emphasis on hands-on, Interactive exhibits and was created to "captivate, compel and provide real experiences to inspire the inventive genius in everyone."
Naper Settlement
Naper Settlement is a 19th century living history museum that serves Northeastern Illinois as a unique educational and cultural resource. The village tells the story of how life changed throughout the 19th century for the people of Northern Illinois in towns such as Naperville. During this era, Naper's Settlement was transformed from a pioneer outpost in 1831 to a bustling turn-of-the century community. Through its costumed interpreters and 30 Historic buildings located on the 13-acre grounds, history is brought to life with educational and hands-on activities.
Oriental Institute Museum
The Oriental Institute Museum is a world-renowned showcase for the history, art, and archaeology of the ancient Near East. The Museum is located on the campus of the University of Chicago.
Orpheum Children's Science Museum - Champaign, IL
The Orpheum Children's Science Museum is a children's science museum located in an old Orpheum Theater in Downtown Champaign. The Museum covers all of the entrance to the theater, and some adjoining space outside. There are plans to turn the stage and theater part into exhibits soon. The Orpheum has many exhibits, ranging from a simple machines castle to a musical instrument made of pvc tubing.
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum inspire people to learn and care for nature and the environment by delivering superior environmental and science education programs. By offering exhibitions and conducting public programs that foster green living through collections and research.
Pritzker Military Library
The Pritzker Military Library hosts an outstanding multimedia collection of American Military history, dedicated to documenting and promoting the concept of the citizen soldier as integral to American democracy. In addition to their extensive collections, Pritzker also features a Thursday evening lecture series on military issues.
Richard H. Driehaus Museum
The museum is housed in the three-story, 24,000-square-foot Samuel M. Nickerson Mansion in Chicago's River North. The 20-room museum features Louis Comfort Tiffany glass panels, statues, wall art, lamps and chandeliers from the personal collection of Richard Driehaus. Accumulated over the last three decades, the collection is one of the largest personal collections of Tiffany objects in the world.
SciTech Hands On Museum - Aurora, IL
Come to SciTech, where science is an adventure! Play with our engaging exhibits while you explore our spacious and colorful museum. At SciTech we give our visitors an opportunity to explore science in a comfortable, family-friendly environment. More than 200 hands-on exhibits and daily science shows will intrigue and excite you and your family.
Smart Museum of Art
The David and Alfred Smart Museum of Art houses a permanent collection of over 10,000 objects, spanning five millennium of both Western and Eastern civilizations. The scope of its permanent collections, combined with groundbreaking special exhibitions, this focus on research and teaching by University of Chicago scholars, and distinguished outreach and educational programs geared to both adults and school age children. This makes the Smart Museum one of the Midwest's most dynamic and innovative educational institutions in the visual arts.
Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows
Located at Navy Pier, the Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows is a permanent display of 150 stained glass windows housed in an 800 foot long series of galleries along the lower level terraces of Festival Hall. Open since February 2000, it is the first museum in the United States dedicated solely to stained glass windows.
It showcases both secular and religious windows and is divided by artistic theme into four categories: Victorian, Prairie, Modern and Contemporary. All of the windows were designed by prominent local, national and European studios and most were originally installed in Chicago area residential, commercial and religious buildings. The windows provide unique insight into Chicago's cultural, ethnic and artistic history.
Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies
Spertus invites people of all ages and backgrounds to explore the multifaceted Jewish experience. Through its innovative public programming, exhibitions, collections, research facilities and degree programs, Spertus inspires learning, serves diverse communities and fosters understanding for Jews and people of all faiths, locally, regionally and around the world.
Super Museum - Metropolis, IL
The mission of the Super Museum is to preserve and showcase an array of Superman collectables and information for the education and enjoyment of visitors and fans of the Man of Steel.
Swedish American Museum
The Swedish American Museum Association (SAMAC) is committed to being a unifying force in the promotion of Swedish-American heritage and ethnic pride. SAMAC's primary purpose is to develop and maintain a permanent museum center that houses, collects, preserves and interprets its Swedish American collection and culture via exhibits and programs.
The Cuneo Museum and Gardens
Located on 75 acres and dotted with formal gardens and statuary, it was the perfect setting for the wedding scenes in My Best Friend's Wedding. The gazebo where the best friends were caught kissing was built specifically for the film, but Cuneo's owners liked it so much they decided to keep it permanently on the grounds.
The Museum of Broadcast Communications
The mission of the Museum of Broadcast Communications (MBC) is to collect, preserve, and present historic and contemporary radio and television content as well as educate, inform, and entertain the public through its archives, public programs, screenings, exhibits, publications and online access to its resources.
The National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame
The National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame (NIASHF) enjoyed a new beginning in 1998 with the help of Phoenix Suns Chairman/CEO Jerry Colangelo. A 1994 Inductee and Chicago Heights native, Colangelo was asked by Randazzo to serve as Chairman of an ambitious new Hall of Fame building project in the heart of Chicago's Little Italy. Colangelo accepted, and has succeeded in bringing together civic-minded men and women from across the country in support of the project. In 2000 the new facility was dedicated as "The Jerry Colangelo Center," a tribute to his efforts and leadership.
The Newberry Library
Home to a world-class collection of books, manuscripts, and maps, spanning centuries and ranging from illuminated medieval texts to manuscripts of distinguished authors.
The Polish Museum of America
Thornton Historical Society Museum & Quarry Tours
Thornton Quarry is one of the largest aggregate quarries in the world, located just south of Chicago. Work at the quarry began in 1924 by Colonel Hodgkins, and since 1938 has been operated by the Material Service Corporation. The quarry is 1.5 miles (2.5 km) long, 0.5 miles (1 km) wide, and 400 feet (125 m) deep. Gallagher Asphalt Corporation has been operating on the grounds of the quarry since 1928. A dry-land dike carries Inter-State 80/Inter-State 294/Tri-State Tollway over the quarry.