Tips And Tricks For A Better Visit
- While The Field Museum has two dining options, to save some money you can bring your own lunch The Field Museum has an eating area on the ground floor .
- If you plan on seeing a 3D movie, its a good idea to head to the theater 30 minutes before your selected time. As with most attractions, morning is the best time to visit if you want to avoid the crowds, especially on the weekends.
- The Ancient Egypt exhibit is a good first place to stop, as the tomb becomes harder to explore with a bigger crowd.
- Plan to spend at least 4-5 hours at the museum if you want to make the most of your visit .
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 weren’t 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 isn’t offered . It would have saved my family $24- not a small sum.
Planning to visit a few Chicago attractions? We recommend CityPASS.
Halls Of Gems And Jades
Looking for something shiny? From rough stone to dazzling jewelry, the Grainger Hall of Gems displays modern and antique gold objects and rare jewels from around the world, including a 3,400-year-old Egyptian necklace and an extremely rare tanzanite stone. Described as “the fairest of stones,” Jade represents power and prosperity, and for more than 8,000 years, has held a special place in Chinese culture. More than 450 jade objects guide visitors through the history of China, from the use of jade in neolithic burial rituals to jade work in the 20th century.
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The Maori Meeting House
Traveling the Pacific exhibitionOne of only three such structures located outside of New Zealand, this ornately decorated meeting house was originally built in Tokomaru Bay in 1881. No two of the hundreds of faces carved on the walls of the building are identical — each is said to symbolize a specific ancestor of the Maori people. The Maori Meeting House isnt just a beautiful piece of art, its an important part of a vibrant community, says Golembiewski. The Field Museum hosts cultural events here with the Maori community, and its powerful to see them gathered here, celebrating their heritage. When you visit, note the face at the apex of the roof — thats Ruatepupuke, who according to Maori legend, introduced woodcarving to the world.
Whether You Came To See Dinosaurs Bugs Or Mummies You Will Leave The Field Museum More Educated And Enlightened About Every Aspect Of Earths Creatures And Cultures Come And See The Future Of History For Yourself
THE MUST-SEE LIST
These attractions should not be missed on your visit to the Field Museum:
- Sue the Dinosaur
Hey kidssearch the museum during your visit to see if you can discover
TIP: DOs & DONTs about admission and parking before you head out:
- DO your homework when it comes to admission. The Field Museum offers Discount Days on selected Mondays and Tuesdays throughout most of the year.
- DONT visit when the Chicago Bears are playing at Soldier Field theres no museum parking available and overall it will be a very crowded day
- DO consider using the new East Entrance parking lot. Its ideal for Stroller and Handicap accessibility. There arent many spots, so arrive early if you want one.
- DONT forget to check the hours of your parking garage. Some close as early as 5pm.
- DO the math when it comes to public transportation. It costs $3.50 per adult for a round trip bus ticket or $13 to park all day on the Museum Campus.
- DO try to grab lunch before 11:30am or after 1pm to cut down on crowding.
The Field Museum
1400 S. Lake Shore DriveChicago, IL 60605-2496
Phone: 922-9410
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Best Time To Visit The Field Museum
It is best to visit Field Museum in Chicago is as soon as they open at 9 am.
When you start early, you avoid the crowd and catch the museum staff conducting free guided tours when they are most energetic.
Since the Ancient Egypt exhibit gets the maximum crowd, it is better to explore it as soon as you enter the Museum.
If you are not a local, try avoiding the free days as the Museum is exceptionally crowded.
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.
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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 that’s closest to Lake Michigan and farthest from Lake Shore Drive.
Visiting The Field Museum
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 won’t 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.
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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.
Griffin Halls Of Evolving Planet
Uncover the creatures of history in the Griffin Halls of Evolving Planet exhibit. From single-celled organisms to our distant human family, this exhibit provides a glance into life billions of years ago. You can check out the Tully Monster, which was found here in Illinois and is the official state fossil. The Griffin Halls of Evolving Planet exhibit is also home to SUE, a 40-foot-long and 90-percent-complete Tyrannosaurus rex.
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Hunt For Hidden Details
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.
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.
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Griffin Halls Of Evolving Planets
In Griffin Halls, you get to know about each organismthat has ever walked on Earth.
See a variety of fossils, animated videos, etc., to learn about evolution from scratch.
Experience the educational journey from asingle-celled organism to humans.
In this section, you will see the fossil skeleton ofTyrannosaurus rex called Sue, Megatherium, a giant ground sloth, the TullyMonster, and Lucy, a 3.2-million-year-old hominid.
How Long Does Field Museum Take
If you are visiting with kids, you will need at least 4 to 5 hours to explore the Chicago Field Museum to your satisfaction.
If you are in a hurry, you can stick to the highlights and be done with your tour in 90 minutes.
Tip: If you plan to extend your stay at the Museum, visiting the restaurant in between helps recharge your energies.
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Make The Most Of A Trip To The Field Museum With Kids: Chicago Family Travel
Im grateful to the Field Museum for providing one free entry for myself. Id love for more families to visit the Chicago Field Museum with kids, so I distilled the most important tips to make this enormous museum more manageable. As always, all opinions are entirely my own.
When I was a kid, I visited the Chicago Field Museum a handful of times, since wed often stay with my relatives who lived nearby. I will never forget the visit when I met Suethe most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton ever discovered. I watched in awe through windows as experts in the museum painstakingly uncovered the fossils, removing centuries of sediment so the world could see this remarkable dinosaur. My own children had a chance to meet Sue for themselves when we recently visited the Chicago Field Museum.
Just as I remembered, Chicagos natural history museum is enormousI could spend all day in there and still only scratch the surface. Of course when you visit the Field Museum with kids, you dont have the option of all that time: I wouldnt want to endanger the fossils and other precious specimens with my kids volcano-like meltdowns.
Im pretty sure youll run into the same problem when planning Chicago family travel: Theres just so much to see, so how do you make the most of your trip to the Field Museum?
This post answers exactly that. Below, Ill answer what to see, how to prioritize your time, where to take breaks and much more when you visit the Field Museum with kids.
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!
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What To See At The Field Museum
The Field Museum is massive.
Its exhibition space occupies over 480,000 square feeton the Ground, Main and Upper levels.
This Natural History Museum has 30 Million specimens.
However, less than 1% of the exhibits are on display,and the rest are in storage.
Even then, for a first-time visitor exploring theMuseum can be overwhelming.
Here is our list of the must-see at the Field Museumof Natural History.
Field Museum Free Days
The Field Museum announces free days in advance, during which all Illinois residents can walk into the Museum for free.
As an Illinois resident, you can benefit from these free days throughout the year.
Just show your Illinois residency proof like drivers license, State ID, or Chicago CityKey.
This free entry includes access to all general admission exhibitions, such as Evolving Planet, The Ancient Americas, and Inside Ancient Egypt.
To access other ticketed exhibits, you can buy discounted passes that are available at the venue .
There are many ways to get a discount at the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago.
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Places To Stay Near The Field Museum
Stay nearby at these hotels near the Field Museum of Natural History:
Hyatt Regency Chicago With two towers and over 2,000 guest rooms, Hyatt Regency Chicago is the largest hotel in Chicago, and they know it: their second-floor bar is named BIG.
Palmer House Hilton The Palmer House Hilton began as a love story and is now one of Chicagos most luxurious hotels and one of the grandest places to stay in the country. Its a great location, in the Loop and within walking distance to Grant Park.
Hilton Chicago Lighten up your stay with an abundance of natural light and stunning views of Grant Park, Lake Michigan, and the urban landscape of downtown Chicago.
Blackstone Autograph Collection Built in 1920, this historic Chicago hotel is on the National Register of Historic Places. Feel free to bring Fido when you stay here the Blackstone is a pet friendly hotel and allows two dogs per room up to 75 pounds each.
St. Jane Hotel Chicago Located in the historic Carbide and Carbon Building, the St. Jane Hotel is a luxurious hotel near Grant Park that focuses on providing an exemplary experience.
How To Reach Field Museum
The Field Museum is in the middle of Chicagos Museum Campus, at 1400 South Lake Shore Drive.
The Museum Campus houses the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and Adler Planetarium, three of Chicagos most popular attractions.
Chicago Transit Authority has convenient public transport options, which we think is the best way to reach the Field Museum.
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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.
