Thursday, March 28, 2024

Latest Posts

Chicago Field Museum Egyptian Exhibit

Whats At The Field Museum

The Field Museum – Chicago – Mummies Exhibit

The Field Museum is home to approximately 40 million artifacts, and even though only a tiny number of those objects are on public display at one time, theres always a wide range of remarkable exhibits to explore here. Popular permanent exhibits include the Grainger Science Hub, the Cyrus Tang Hall of China, the Grainger Hall of Gems, and Inside Ancient Egypt. The Field Museum is also regularly home to a variety of special exhibits and spectacular 3D movies.

The Field Museum is world-famous for its Hall of Dinosaurs. There visitors can learn all about the history of dinosaurs while examining the Field Museums two most stunning dinosaur fossils: Sue, the most complete T.rex specimen ever found and Máximo the Titanosaur, a 122-foot-long and 28-foot-tall dinosaur skeleton that now serves as the centerpiece of the Field Museums main floor hall.

While food and drink are not permitted throughout the majority of the Field Museum, there are multiple dining options available onsite. The Explorer Cafe is a casual, family-friendly option that serves a variety of snacks and lunches. The Field Bistro is a slightly more upscale spot. It specializes in locally sourced meals, and sells everything from salads to soups to burgers, as well as beer and wine. On weekends when the weather permits, The Field Green Bar and Grill is open on the northeast terrace of the Field Museum. If the weather is nice, its a lovely place to enjoy a drink or appetizer.

The Best Exhibits To See At The Field Museum Right Now

Travel the world and explore the latest scientific discoveries right here in Chicago at the Field Museum. From permanent exhibits to temporary installations, this interactive museum always has something new in store for curious visitors. Keep reading below to get a snapshot of the best exhibits currently going on at the Field Museum.

Cyrus Tang Hall Of China

A pair of stone lions welcome you to the collection, which narrates the story of China.

Learn about the political history of China and watch a shadow puppet performance of the epic journey to the west.

Do not miss out on the animated map of dynastic Chinas shifting borders, the Qingming scroll, and the cargo recovered from a Chinese ship that sank in the Java Sea during the 12th or 13th century.

Don’t Miss: Hours For Titanic Museum Pigeon Forge

Enjoy The Field Museum With Kids

Im no psychicpretty sure the experts at the science museum havent proved the existence of reading minds or seeing the futurebut Id bet youre jazzed about going to the Field Museum in Chicago with kids.

Whats more, youre ready to make the most of your trip to the Field Museum, now that you know how to prioritize the exhibits, where to get food, how to keep kids engaged and even how to save money on tickets.

Do you have any suggestions on how to go to the Field Museum with kids? Or tips youve picked up visiting other natural history museums? Please share them in the comments below!

PS If you love dinosaurs as much as we do , youll want to read my posts on the Los Angeles Natural History Museum and the Burke Museum of Natural History in Seattle.

Tags:

You May Like: San Francisco Museum Of Modern Art Parking

Hunt For Hidden Details

Chicago

I marvel at the creativity that went into crafting the natural history scenes within the Field Museumand Im sure those artisans had a sense of humor, too. Dont believe me? Then pay close attention to each exhibityoure sure to spot some Easter eggs, or well hidden bonuses that will make you smile.

My older daughter noticed a salamander-type creature hiding in the forest within the Evolving Planet exhibit. From that point on, she was a detective, hunting for hidden details. The mission made her pay closer attention to the displays and get the whole family excited whenever she found a hidden detail.

Read Also: Oklahoma City Contemporary Art Museum

A First Look At The New Mummies At The Field Museum

There are many things the new Mummies exhibition at the Field Museum provides in addition to an opportunity to stroll among the ancient, unburied dead.

It lets you peer inside the cloth wraps, and even inside the bodies inside the wraps, thanks to the CT scan technology at the core of an exhibit that manages to feel both reverential and cutting-edge. This exploratory technique is so much more archaeology-friendly, so much less destructive, than the old method of simply unwrapping mummies.

To prove the point, the exhibition displays a mummified man from about 650 B.C., who was peeled open a century ago for science and theres no delicate way to put this whose head came off. Nearby is a tableau that could have spared that fellow the indignity, a mummy model poised on the edge of a GE-branded CT scanner, ancient Egypt meeting modern medicine, referral not required.

The show, opening Friday, is part of a long tradition of mummy love at the Field, which did blockbuster numbers with a King Tut show in 1977 and a Tutankhamun reprise in 2006.

Ask Amy: Boyfriends behavior means game over »

You can relate to it, just in a bodily way, said Janet Hong, the museums project manager for exhibitions. Its sort of a natural curiosity to want to know whats inside.

Also drawing people to mummies, Brown said, is just the quality of the workmanship. And it speaks to the value of someones life and also to the importance of honoring the dead.

Grainger Hall Of Gems

This hall has been a visitor favorite since it wasinaugurated.

The collection includes 600 gemstones and 150 piecesof antique and contemporary jewelry from all over the World.

From 3,400 years old Egyptian garnet necklace to modern-day designs, this exhibition is the gem of Field Museum, Chicago.

Do not miss out on Tiffany & Co.s stunning Sun God Opal, the Chinese jade ornament carved 600 years ago, and the 97.45-carat imperial topaz, the largest topaz on display.

Spread over various floors and halls, the Field Museum in Chicago can overwhelm most visitors.

A handy map helps get the maximum out of your visit.

Besides the exhibits, the map will also help you find visitor services such as restrooms, restaurants, souvenir stores, etc.

Also Check: Museum Of The Rockies Events

Why Is King Tut So Famous

Why is Tutankhamun so famous? The reason that Tutankhamun is so well known today is that his tomb, containing fabulous treasures, was found early this century by British archaeologists Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon. Davis had found a cup and other fragments bearing the name of Tutankhamen and his queen.

Virtually Unwrap A Mummy

Scientists Open Egyptian Mummy Coffin in Chicago

The interactive experience allow visitors to explore inside the wrappings of mummified human and animal remains. By featuring data garnered from CT scans via a touch screen interface, visitors can interact with selected mummies in a variety of ways: They can remove layers of ornament and wrapping, examine details of the mummification process, and section mummies to examine their skeletons and see internal elements, such as organ preservation.

Having been 3D CT scanned, the intricate details within the wrappings are revealed, and visitors to the exhibition are able to virtually unwrap the mummy and see the contents of the coffins using the interactive touch screens on the Inside Explorer table. Users can cut and see through layers of the CT images, manipulate the mummy to rotate it and zoom in and out for more detail.

Recommended Reading: Creation Museum Bullittsburg Church Road Petersburg Ky

Whats A Machine Thats Built To Survive Move And Discover

All living thingsincluding you!contain remarkable feats of engineering.

Investigate natures mechanical marvels in The Machine Inside: Biomechanics. Youll uncover surprising strengths and hidden talents: jaws that can crush over 8,000 pounds in one bite, ears that act as air conditioners, and a spring-like body that sprints at 80 miles per hour.

All ages can try out interactive experiences that show how mechanics like wings and fins, pumps and pipes, and claws and jaws work in nature.

The exhibition is presented in both English and Spanish. La exhibición está presentada en inglés y español.

Recommended Reading: Museum Of Modern Art Catalog

Arriving At The Museum

When you arrive at the Field, you can enter through our main South entrance on McFetridge Drive. The East entrance is also open and accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.

If youve already purchased a ticket, be prepared to show your printed ticket or your mobile device with the ticket.

When youre ready to leave, you can use the East, South, or North exit.

The accessible East entrance is on the side of the building thats closest to Lake Michigan and farthest from Lake Shore Drive.

Also Check: Deer Park Winery & Auto Museum

When Will Egyptian And Peruvian Mummies Return Home

An Egyptian coffin lid in the exhibition Mummies at the Field Museum

In March, the Field Museum opened a new exhibition titled Mummies, showcasing examples from its own collection of mummies from Egypt and Peru. It started its life in 2015 as a touring exhibition under the name Mummies: New Secrets from the Tombs, returning from its last stop at the American Museum of Natural History after three years on the road. The exhibition is arriving back home after traveling across the country, just in time for the Museums 125th anniversary, the exhibition press release proudly announces.

Were all probably pretty familiar with mummy displays. Consistently popular, and consistent moneymakers, they never go out of style at museums. What sets the Field Museum exhibition apart is the comparison of mummies from the two places where active mummification was practiced in the past. Since Egyptian mummies are much more familiar to the popular imagination, its good to see the Peruvian examples alongside them. The similarities and differences are well highlighted: We learn, for instance, that the practice of mummification in Peru is much older, going back roughly 7,000 years. And we see not just differences in place, but in time as well. The exhibition is very successful in showing changes in Egyptian practices of mummification over time, stretching some 3,000 years from the Predynastic Period to Egypts incorporation into the Roman Empire.

A 3D printed replica of a canopic jar

Visiting The Field Museum

Chicago scientists open Egyptian mummy coffin

We approached the Field Museum at the North Entrance, entering through the majestic column. Inside we quickly queued and were through in a matter of minutes. A coat and bag check is available near the museum store at the South Entrance. The museum is large and the small per item charge is well worth the cost.

The best plan of attack is to decide what you really want to see. In my family we each chose our number one must see everything else just happens as we come across it. It is probably best to realize that you wont be able to see everything the museum has to offer in one visit.

Doug chose Inside Ancient Egypt. Entering the pyramid on the main level, you make your way through its chambers down to ground level. Filled with mummies, sarcophagus, and treasures it is an intriguing introduction to Egypt.

I chose the Hall of Gems, a magnificent room filled with brilliant, priceless jewels. It was interesting to see how gems are created and how even the smallest variable will create something different. Of course the cut stones and dramatic jewelry were beyond belief.

Brenna and Caelan, quite unanimously, chose the Play Lab. The Play Lab is hands on science and pure fun.

We probably saw half of what the Field Museum had to offer in the 4 hours we were there. We explored a deserted island in the Pacific, saw the Lions of Tsavo, toured China and learned about our evolving planet.

Recommended Reading: Hotels Near City Museum St Louis

How To Get To The Field Museum

The museum is located at 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive at the Museum Campus.

We recommend using this Google map linkfor directions to the museum.

If youre taking public transportation, there are a few CTA stops within walking distance.

  • Bus #146 Inner Drive/Michigan Express/Museum Campus.
  • Bus #130 Museum Campus .
  • Exit at the Roosevelt Red Line Stop servicing Red, Orange and Green Line and offers connections to #146 bus, located at State Street and Roosevelt Road.

TIP: Keep in mind that hop-on-hop-off bus tours in Chicago have stops near the museum!

Tips For Buying Your Tickets At The Field Museum

We visited the Field Museum on a sunny Saturday at the end of spring break. The lines werent too long, we stood in queue for 10 minutes, at the most. When we approached the agent to pay we were presented two options: the All Access Pass and the Discovery Pass . The All Access Pass includes admission, all special exhibits and a 3D film. The Discovery Pass includes admission, one special exhibit or 3D movie. As those were the two options we were given we chose the Discovery Pass- which set us back $74 .

What I found out after the fact is that there is another, more affordable option: the Basic Admission, which allows you to explore the museum but includes no special exhibits or 3D movies. Had this been offered to us I would have chosen it . Be sure to ask for the basic admission if it isnt offered . It would have saved my family $24- not a small sum.

Planning to visit a few Chicago attractions? We recommend CityPASS.

Don’t Miss: Cleveland Museum Of Art Virtual Tour

About The Field Museum

The Field Museum first opened in 1894, displaying a collection of artifacts originally assembled for the 1983 Worlds Fair in Chicago. Today, the exhibits explore more than 4.6 billion years of natural history, from ancient Egypt to Qing Dynasty China to the prehistoric era and beyond. When you enter the museum, youll be greeted by one of its most famous residents Máximo the Titanosaur, the largest dinosaur to ever walk the earth. And dont miss SUE, the most complete T.rex ever discovered, in the second floor Evolving Planet gallery.

Explore Natural History At The Field Museum

The Chicago Field Museum: Featuring Ancient Egypt

The Field Museum is a revered Chicago institution and one of the worlds great museums of natural history. Their immersive exhibits explore everything from ancient cultures to the latest scientific discoveries, drawing from an astounding collection of more than 24 million objects. Explore an ancient Egyptian tomb, meet the planets largest creature, get eye-level with insects, discover ancient civilizations, and more.

Here are just a few things to know before you visit the Field Museum.

Read Also: Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum

Excellent Ancient Egyptian Exhibit

I thought it was a little steep at 18 dollars for the permanent exhibits. There is an additional cost if you want to see some of the new exhibits. Obviously there is the much promoted T-Rex which is pretty interesting, but I was particularly impressed with the exhibit on Ancient Egypt. I walked through Grant Park from the Loop to get there, but then found out on my most recent trip to Chicago that one of the el stops is really close to the museum. Main exhibits takes about 2 hours, but I would plan for more time if you are going to see some of the special exhibits as well.

5,9045,9098,819

Covers a lot on Chicago’s history and American history. Excellent story on Sue the T.Rex dinosaur and its display. Liked the inclusion of Egyptian Mummies too.

Here Are The Top Ten To See At The Field Museum

#1 Sue the T. RexThe largest, most complete, and best preserved Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil ever discovered is permanently on display for intrepid adventurers to see. Youll also want to view the other fossils in Dinosaur Hall. Grab a copy of Steve Fiffers book Tyrannosaurus Sue to get the inside scoop on the discovery of this monstrous fossil and the larger-than-life dinosaur hunters that define this field.

#2 Inside Ancient EgyptThe Field Museum has one of the largest collections of mummies in the United States. Visitors can explore a three-story mastaba, a type of Egyptian tomb. It features two full rooms from an authentic 5,000-year-old tomb of pharaohs son Unis-Ankh.

#3 Underground AdventureMuseum-goers magically shrink to 1/100th of a persons actual size to get a bugs eye view of critters on this planet. Explore giant worm tunnels and soil chambers in this interactive and educational exhibit.

#4 Grainger Hall of GemsRare jewels and precious gold objects from all parts of the globe are on display for visitors to inspect. You wont believe your eyes!

#5 Evolving PlanetThis awe-inspiring show takes visitors through 4 billion years of the Earths ever-evolving forms of life. From single organisms to overwhelming dinosaur finds, this hands-on exploration of living history will appeal to visitors of all ages.

#9 Genghis KhanLearn all about this legendary ruler and the astounding treasures he amassed in his conquest to rule the world in this special exhibit.

Read Also: Palm Springs Air Museum Tickets

Exhibits That Show And Tell Innovative Approach Chicago’s Field Museum Of Natural History Emphasizes Links Between The Objects On View

WALK into the Egyptian tomb exhibit, past 23 authentic mummies, beyond a stretch of the Nile, and there, displayed, is a dollar bill. A dollar bill? In an Egyptian exhibit?

Sure, says Michael Spock, pointing to the pyramid pictured on the back of the bill. “I have always looked at that and wondered what the heck it was doing there. While we are talking about pyramids, we might as well get that piece of the puzzle across.”

The picture, it turns out, is a Masonic symbol. But it is also a graphic illustration of the new direction at Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History. Instead of displaying and explaining objects, the museum is aiming to make links.

“The museum experience is really almost a dialogue between people and objects,” says Mr. Spock, vice president of public programs at the museum. “And what you try to do is make it possible for those objects to speak to people, to tell their story.”

And to get them excited.

“Inside Ancient Egypt” is the Field Museum’s first major exhibit to take this new approach. And the change is striking.

It is clear that the exhibit’s designers have made a special effort to avoid being stodgy. At the bottom of the shaft, a sign proclaims: “Tomb Robbers Got Here First.” Like the original site in Egypt, the chamber is almost empty except for a few items such as an empty sarcophagus . The mummy itself was valuable, because many precious jewels were placed in the wrappings.

But museumgoers seem uniformly enthusiastic.

Latest Posts

Popular Articles