List of museums and cultural institutions in Chicago facts for kids

Chicago is a big city in Illinois with lots of cool places to visit, especially if you love learning new things! It has many cultural spots and museums, both big and small.

Some of the most famous places include:

• The Art Institute of Chicago, where you can see amazing art.
• The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, which plays beautiful music.
• The Chicago Architecture Foundation, where you learn about buildings.
• The Lyric Opera of Chicago, for incredible singing performances.
• The Goodman Theater and Joffrey Ballet, for plays and dance.
• The Harold Washington Library, a huge public library.
• The Chicago Cultural Center, a beautiful building with free events.

These are all located in the heart of the city, known as the Loop.

Near the Near South Side, you'll find the Museum Campus. Here you can explore:

• The Field Museum, full of dinosaurs and ancient artifacts.
• The Shedd Aquarium, home to many sea creatures.
• The Adler Planetarium, where you can learn about space.

In Hyde Park, there's the Museum of Science and Industry, which is packed with interactive exhibits. You can also find the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures and the Smart Museum of Art here.

Lincoln Park offers:

• The Lincoln Park Zoo, a free zoo with animals from all over the world.
• The Lincoln Park Conservatory, a lovely greenhouse.
• The Chicago History Museum, to discover the city's past.
• The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, for nature and science fun.

Other great places include the Museum of Contemporary Art and the famous comedy group The Second City. The Garfield Park Conservatory is another amazing greenhouse. In Pilsen, you can visit the National Museum of Mexican Art.

Even outside the city, in nearby suburbs, there are more exciting places like the Brookfield Zoo, Chicago Botanic Gardens, and the Illinois Holocaust Museum.

Awesome Museums in Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago is one of the largest art museums in the United States.

Chicago has many museums that cover all sorts of topics, from art to science!

Art Museums

If you love art, Chicago has some fantastic places to visit:

• The Art Institute of Chicago is one of the largest art museums in the United States. It has famous paintings, sculptures, and more.
• The Chicago Cultural Center often has free art exhibits.
• The Museum of Contemporary Art shows modern and new art.
• The National Museum of Mexican Art celebrates Mexican culture and art.
• The Smart Museum of Art at the University of Chicago has a diverse collection.
• The Polish Museum of America shares Polish heritage through art and history.

Architecture Museums

Chicago is famous for its amazing buildings! You can learn about them at:

• The Chicago Architecture Center, which offers tours and exhibits.
• The Driehaus Museum, a beautifully restored historic mansion.
• The Robie House, a famous house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Museums for Kids

These museums are specially designed for younger visitors:

• The Bronzeville Children's Museum focuses on African American history and culture for kids.
• The Chicago Children's Museum has many hands-on activities and exhibits.
• The Swedish American Museum and Children's Museum of Immigration teaches about Swedish heritage and the immigrant experience.

Chicago History Museums

Discover Chicago's past at these museums:

• The Chicago History Museum tells the story of the city from its beginnings.
• The Chicago Maritime Museum explores the city's connection to its rivers and Lake Michigan.
• The Jane Addams Hull-House Museum shows how people helped others in the past.
• The McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum is inside a bridge and teaches about the Chicago River.
• The Walt Disney Birthplace is where the famous creator of Mickey Mouse was born.

Cultural Heritage Museums

These museums celebrate different cultures that make up Chicago:

• The American Writers Museum celebrates American authors and their stories.
• The DuSable Museum of African American History is one of the oldest museums of African American culture in the U.S.
• The National Hellenic Museum shares Greek history and culture.
• The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture showcases Puerto Rican art and traditions.
• The Swedish American Museum Center explores Swedish-American history.

Special Interest Museums

• The A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum tells the story of African American railroad workers.
• The Chicago Sports Museum celebrates Chicago's famous sports teams and athletes.
• The Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank teaches you about money and economics.
• The Pritzker Military Museum & Library focuses on military history.

Science and Nature Museums

These museums are perfect for science lovers:

• The Adler Planetarium lets you explore space, stars, and planets.
• The Field Museum of Natural History has dinosaurs, ancient mummies, and exhibits on nature.
• The Museum of Science and Industry is huge and has many interactive exhibits on science, technology, and industry.
• The Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures, West Asia & North Africa (formerly the Oriental Institute) has artifacts from ancient civilizations.
• The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum focuses on local wildlife and ecosystems.

Future Museums

• The Barack Obama Presidential Center is currently being built and will include a museum about the former president.

Plants and Animals

The Lincoln Park Conservatory is a beautiful greenhouse with many different plants.

Chicago has some wonderful places to see plants and animals:

• The Garfield Park Conservatory is one of the largest conservatories in the United States, with many different plant rooms.
• The Lincoln Park Conservatory is another beautiful greenhouse with exotic plants.
• The Lincoln Park Zoo is a free zoo where you can see animals from all over the world.
• The Shedd Aquarium is home to thousands of aquatic animals, from fish to whales.

Libraries

The Harold Washington Library Center is the main branch of the Chicago Public Library.

Libraries are great places to find books and learn:

• The Chicago Public Library has many branches across the city, including the huge Harold Washington Library downtown.
• The Newberry Library is a special research library with rare books and historical documents.
• The Poetry Foundation has a library dedicated to poetry.

Music, Theater, and Performing Arts

The Symphony Center is home to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

The Civic Opera House is a grand venue for opera performances.

Chicago is a lively city for performances, from dance to music to plays!

Dance

You can see amazing dance performances by groups like:

• The Joffrey Ballet, a world-famous ballet company.
• Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, known for its modern dance.
• Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, a pioneer in American jazz dance.

Opera

Opera combines music, singing, and theater. Chicago's main opera company is:

• The Lyric Opera of Chicago, which performs at the grand Civic Opera House.

Symphony Music

• The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is one of the best orchestras in the world, performing at the Symphony Center.
• The Grant Park Symphony Orchestra performs free concerts in the summer.

Music Venues

You can catch live music at many places, including:

• The Harris Theater for music and dance.
• The Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, an outdoor concert venue.
• The Symphony Center, home to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Theater

Chicago has a thriving theater scene with many different types of plays and shows.

Festivals and Fairs

Chicago hosts many fun festivals and fairs throughout the year, celebrating music, food, art, and culture.

Organizations

Many organizations help support and promote arts and culture in Chicago, like the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events which organizes many city events.

See also

• Culture of Chicago
• List of colleges and universities in Chicago
• List of museums in Illinois
• Music of Chicago