Author: Kelly Holcomb

Museum of Science and Industry

The Museum of Science and Industry has welcomed over 175 million guests in its 75 years in existence; visitors and locals alike head to this Chicago museum for innovative and groundbreaking exhibits.  

About the Museum of Science and Industry

In 1926, founder Julius Rosenwald pledged $3 million for the construction of the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Inspired in 1911 on a visit to the Deutsches Museum in Munich with his son, the Sears Roebuck & Company Chairman left Germanydetermined to create a similarly interactive experience in a Chicago museum. By 1933, the museum was opened to the public, and it seems the 1911 trip to Germany proved profitable.

Museum Mission

The continuing mission of the Museum of Science and Industry is to inspire the "inventive genius" in all of its visitors. The hands-on learning experiences encourage creativity and understanding of the science-world. Its vision is to "inspire and motivate our children to achieve their full potential in the fields of science, technology, engineering and medicine." 

Community Partnerships

The Center for the Advancement of Science Education at the Museum of Science and Industry strives to encourage the science education for children throughout Chicago. Museum initiatives include student learning labs, after-school clubs, teen volunteer programs, teacher development classes and community outreach. 

Museum of Science and Industry: Exhibits

You'll be simply astounded by the imaginations of engineers at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Exhibits at MSI have a unique power to stretch every visitor’s learning capacity in a new way through hands-on experiences. 

Whether you're visiting or a long-time resident of Chicago, exhibits at the the always exceptional Museum of Science and Industry will not leave you disappointed. Each exhibit at this Chicago museum is a tangible adventure that feeds your curiosity and is waiting to be explored.

Who knew science could be so fun?

Permanent exhibits include: U-505 Submarine, the Coal Mine, Baby Chick Hatchery, The Great Train Story, ToyMaker 3000, Earth Revealed, Genetics, Colleen Moore’s Fairy Castle, the Pioneer Zephyr, Farm Tech and Take Flight. 

NEW! - You! The Experience

This highly anticipated exhibit lets you learn more about a fascinating subject: yourself! Explore the complex blend of choices, personality traits, and environmental factors that all contribute to the way you live and enjoy life. 

You! is one of the first and largest exhibitions to look at connections between the mind, body, and spirit, and lets users experience it for themselves. Learn about human life from the beginning, your appetite and what makes you move. Don't miss iStan, the Human Patient Simulator.  

Also check out Mind Ball, a one-on-one experience that you can only win by calming your brain waves. Learn more at the You! The Experience website. 

Smart Home: Green + Wired

This eco-friendly exhibit is redesigned for 2009. The renovation includes a vibrant color scheme, new furniture, the addition of a “green” baby nursery, a space-efficient hallway office, new innovative technologies, wind power, both earth-friendly and city-friendly landscaping ideas- and more.

Discover all the ways you and your family can "go green" in this eco-friendly three story modular home. The brain child of Michelle Kaufmann Designs and All American Homes shows people how they can still live with modern technology while exploring new ways to save the environment by conserving resources and energy. Learn more at the Smart Home website.

Fast Forward: Inventing the Future

How do the choices we make today alter the future? Fast Forward is a hands-on multimedia voyage that highlights today’s visionaries “working toward a limitless, sustainable future.”

What if online communication became tangible? You will meet some inventors working on the idea of making instant-messaged hugs that you can feel! Also, explore ideas like cuisine made by ink-jet printers and urban high-rise farming. Why not test-drive some of these innovative ideas yourself, and add a few ideas of your own.

This exhibit is no limit to your imagination and encourages the two words, “what if.”

The White House: A Look Inside 

Through February 15, 2010, take a look inside the White House and learn more about some of its famed inhabitants and extensive history. The exhibit begins with a variety of vignettes and mini-exhibits about White House life, invitations from the First Ladies and a spotlight on the four presidents who have lived in Illinois.

The main attraction, however, is a 60-by-13 foot replica of the White House. The culmination of years of work, the back of the house is opened up so you can see right into the incredibly detailed rooms. 

Additional Exhibits

The Coal Mine: This is the museum's first interactive exhibit since opening in 1933. Visitors will be lowered more than 50 feet down an Illinois mineshaft. It's over 70 years old and this interactive exhibit still impresses its visitors.

U-505 Submarine: This is the only German submarine in the United States and it is now a national memorial to 55,000 American sailors who gave their lives in WWI and WWII. U-505 was captured by the Allies during WWII and is one of the museum’s most honored exhibits. Learn about life in a submarine while boarding the 35,000 square-foot display. Find ticketing information for the U-505 Submarine tour on the MSI website.

Live Science Experiences

Don't forget to participate in live demonstrations throughout the day at the museum. It is only at the Museum of Science and Industry where you can see your own DNA, spend 30 minutes dissecting a cow eye, and learn how CSI uses fingerprinting. (Find more information on the Museum of Science and Industry website).

Museum of Science and Industry: Omnimax

Watch a movie like you have never before. This five-story domed theater has a scientific adventure larger than life, wrapping the images around you in a way you've never experienced. Current shows include shows are "Wired to Win," "The Human Body," and "Wild Ocean." For more information on these events and more, check out the Omnimax website!

Museum of Science and Industry: Dining

All this learning can start to make you hungry! Have no fear, there are plenty of dining options at the Museum of Science and Industry:

Need a quick hunger fix? The Brain Food Cafe features Starbucks Coffee and other specialty drinks, pastries, breakfast items like muffins and bagels, some sandwiches, and salads. 

The museum's main eatery, the Brain Food Court, offers quick lunch options like pizzas, deli sandwiches, stir-fry delights, salads and grilled specialties. The Court selections will satisfy any craving you may have.

And finally, for some sweets: Finnigan's Ice Cream Parlor. Built to look like a turn of the century Hyde Park ice cream shop, Finnigan's 1900s décor matches its tasty ice cream selects. Choose between sundaes, cones, and ice cream sodas. Sandwiches are also served for a quick, light lunch.

Planning Your Visit

For additional information on these exhibits, additional exhibits, special tours, and more check out the Museum of Science and Industry website, where you can also find information on hours, pricing, and directions.