Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
The Chicago Academy of Sciences Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
The Nature Museum as seen from the southwest
Established	1857
Location	2430 N Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614
Type	Natural history museum

The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is a cool natural history museum in Chicago, Illinois. It's run by the Chicago Academy of Sciences. This museum teaches you all about nature, especially in the Chicago area. It also has fun learning programs for kids and adults.

A super popular part of the museum is its live butterfly house. This special area is connected to a lab where scientists study butterflies. They even help increase butterfly numbers in the Chicago area!

Museum History
- Early Collections and Challenges
- New Homes and Growth
Exhibits and Fun Programs
- The Butterfly Haven
- Learning for Everyone
About the Name
Images for kids
See also

Museum History

The Chicago Academy of Sciences started way back in 1857. It was founded by young, famous nature experts like Robert Kennicott. This made it Chicago's very first museum focused on nature and science.

Early Collections and Challenges

In the mid-1800s, the museum built one of the best natural history collections in the United States. But sadly, most of it was lost in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The museum was rebuilt, but it lost its home again in the late 1880s due to money problems.

New Homes and Growth

In 1898, the academy built a new museum building in Lincoln Park. This building became a model for other museums in Chicago's parks. The old museum was famous for its lifelike displays called dioramas. These showed how nature looked in different local places.

Eventually, the academy needed an even bigger space. So, a new museum was built nearby in 1999. This is the museum's current home, named after a kind supporter, Peggy Notebaert. The old building is now used by the Lincoln Park Zoo.

Exhibits and Fun Programs

The museum has many exciting things to see and do. You can learn about the history of nature in Illinois. There's also the amazing live butterfly house and a special "green home" display.

The Butterfly Haven

The butterfly house is a highlight! It's home to over 200 different kinds of butterflies. Some are from the local area, and others are from far away. Scientists at the museum work hard to study and care for these butterflies. They even help breed native butterflies to support their populations in Chicago.

Learning for Everyone

Beyond the exhibits, the museum offers more than 100 educational programs. These programs teach about natural sciences and are great for both kids and adults. You can learn about animals, plants, and how to protect our planet.

About the Name

The museum building is named to honor Peggy Notebaert. She was a very generous person who helped the museum a lot. The building itself was designed by a company called Perkins and Will.