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178 reviews for Museum of Science & Industry
Wow! What an amazing museum. Chicago has no shortage of great museums and on my last trip to Chicago I crossed the last last major one off my Windy City bucket list. Little did I know that I was unconsciously saving the best for last.
We dedicated a whole day to this meseum and I still felt like I didn't see everything I wanted to see. If I lived in Chicago I would definitely become a member and visit often. It's one of those places that I could just hang out at and enjoy all of the hands on learning.
My favorite exhibit is the Smart Home. If you've ever watched Planet Green you've probably seen this home of the future on television. Being a fan of green architecture and doing things that are good for the environment guaranteed that I'd dig everything inside. Even if you aren't environmentally conscious you'd probably enjoy some of the amazing technology inside the Smart Home.
There is also a full size U-boat at the Museum of Science & Industry. I'm kind of a WWII buff so being able to see something that terrorized the Atlantic Ocean during the war was really cool. You can even take a tour of the U-boat to get a sense of life on a submarine. Plus you can try out one of my Italian grandfather's favorite jokes.
Two sailors, one Irish-American, the other Italian-American were on watch on a supply ship headed to England. The Irish-American sailor spotted something off the port bow and asked his buddy, "Hey! Is that a U-boat?!?" The Italian-American sailor looked and said, "No, thatsa notta my boat."
Thank you. Thank you. Don't forget to tip your waitress.
Back to the museum. I'm not a model train hobbiest but if I had enough space and time I always thought it would be cool to build a massive model railroad that had a ton of detail. The model train display at the Museum of Science and Industry is the most amazing train setup I have ever seen. There is so much detail that I could watch it for hours on end. I spent 10 minutes following a train through one loop of tracks. Very cool stuff indeed.
FREE M-F this last week of October for General Admission ONLY! But that's saving $13pp adult fee, that was Cool since we were there Fri Oct 23, 2009.
It was a wet, rainy day so it felt like every school kid was there. We got there around 10am, though it opens at 9:30am. We stayed until like 2pm and didn't see everything.
To see the German submarine U-505 we had to pay an extra $7 per person. It's huge, huge, huge. I didn't think it'll be that big. B. really enjoyed it. It's only a 15 min tour with the guide doing lame jokes & trying to be funny. I didn't think the tour was worth it, but that's just me plus NO Pics Inside the Submarine, Outside ok.
The YOU! exhibit is a new permanent exhibit. I thought it was just ok. Too crowded to really enjoy it, but there's lots to see & do there. Seeing sliced up body parts is kinda cool, I've seen similar before.
The chicken hatchery is kinda cute. Didn't see any new birth from an egg - that would have been cool. Once they get out of their shell they look almost dead. One chick got stuck on his back, feet in the air. It worked so hard to turn around. The bigger chicks in the other area were way too cute.
Coal Mine Tour - gotta get FREE timed tickets once you're near their exhibit, not at the admission. That's lame. I thought the tour was just ok. Go down a long elevator, guide talks lots, then on a "train" for a bit. See machines move. Then back up - over.
We ate in the food area. Food is overpriced and not very tasty. We got a turkey meatloaf meal w/ 2 sides: creamed spinach & mac & cheese w/ a roll. Over $7 pp. Bottled water over $2.
Still I'll recommend it.
I have heard people in and outside of Chicago rave about this museum, so with family visiting, we came to see what everyone was raving about!
Appreciative that there was an attached, underground parking garage available($16), which put you right to the entrance of the museum. We further enjoyed the free admission (General Only) today-yeah!
One's perspective on this museum, may depend on whether or not you come with children or with many people in tow, but my perspective is from two adults, minus children.
We only had about three hours to spend at the museum, so upon asking one of the attendants of how we could best use our time, exploring the U-505 submarine exhibit, as well as the Coal Mine exhibit were suggested.
I am a big American History buff, so even if you have a remote interest in history, or want to see a spectacular site, then you must see the U-505 sub, which is a German sub captured by the Allies in WWII. Not to be missed, but make sure you see the part of the exhibit, where it explains how the sub came to physically be placed in the museum (wow!). Plan to spend a good portion of time, when visiting this particular exhibit.
We then ventured to the coal mine exhibit, where you are taken in an elevator (coal mine-esque), down to a replica of a coal mine (do not attempt this tour if you suffer from claustrophobia!). It was interesting, and was made to be as realistic as possible! The tour took about 45 mins. or so? The guide also makes it fun for the kids.
The "You" exhibit is a very interactive exhibit, which was very interesting to see. We also saw the Art/Architecture exhibit (clipper ship upon ship replicas), and the Car Exhibit. These areas were a little more dated, but to car enthusiasts (Aston Marton, Model T), it is worth some time to view.
There are many exhibits for kids, and so many to name! Give yourself at least 4 hours to wander around in general. We did not take in the OmniMax, and beginning on 11/20, there will be a replica of the White House (or at least a portion of it), at the museum.
We also had a quick lunch at the "Brain Food" Court. I had a piece of pizza and some yogurt (not bad, but you are also not there for the cuisine!). They also have a deli, pasta/pizza bar, fast/fried food and a salad bar.
This was definitely unlike any museum I have ever visited. There was activity at every turn, and whlle there are elevators, make sure you wear comfortable shoes for when climbing the many stairs.
I had a great time while visiting, and hope to go back again soon!
A real-life German U-Boat and a 1930s high-speed locomotive aren't enough to merit five stars? Wow, please direct me to the über-cool Midwest museums I must have overlooked.
Perhaps I had heard a lot of hype about this place and therefore had unrealistic expectations for what I would find inside, but, for some reason, I was a little disappointed with the quality of the exhibits. Some of them were fascinating, including the model train sets (in "the Great Train Story") and the 30-minute guided tour of the coal mine, which was both enlightening and descriptive, but other exhibits I found to be too "fluffy" for my liking (e.g. too geared towards kids and not nearly as educational as I would have liked).
The transportation gallery was fascinating inasmuch as it chronicled the evolution of transportation innovations in the US.
For the amount of space that this museum takes up, I was expecting it to be chock-full of interesting and educational exhibits. While I greatly enjoyed a few exhibits, I wish I could say the same for the museum overall. If you've been to the Franklin Institute Museum in Philadelphia, you might be disappointed by the breadth and depth of what the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago offers. That being said, however, I am glad I visited, and would recommend this place for the transportation section and coal mine alone. I would also recommend this place to people who have young children who are looking to entertain them for a day.
This is one of Chicago's must see attractions. I lived 2 blocks away for about 4 years and visited several times. I also remember all the great school field trips we took here when I was a kid.
Some exhibits have been here for many many years, like a working coal mine and the adorable baby chick hatchery. Others are newer or updated, for example the U-505 is now in a specially constructed massive underground room instead of outside in the elements.
Spend the day here, then head over to one of the several tasty restaurants within walking distance for a bite (Salonica, Piccolo Mondo) or to Istria for some great coffee and gelato.
Um whoa. Children overload. I don't hate kids or nothin.. I have a 5 year old brother, he's cool and all but Good God.. they should rename this place the children's museum. I'm just sayin! I'm a little traumatized because I didn't come prepared with more energy. Don't expect a nice, semi-quiet leisurely walk in this place. This is more children and family oriented.. the exhibit on the human body.. boooooooooring, unless you're in kindergarten. I was expecting more but it's mostly a bunch of activities for kids that involve taping shit together, i.e. toilet paper rolls and string- and some diagrams behind glass. *Snore* A lot of their interactive touch screen things seemed to malfunction pretty easily, freezing up a lot. I would not bring my little brother here if he were to come visit me in Chicago... a mall would be way more interesting. Admission is a dollar cheaper if you are a Chicago resident btw. They ask for your zip code when you pay. Museum parking is 16 bucks. yeah, you're welcome.
Daaammmmn. There's a lot to do here!
I will sound like a geek by saying this, but this was my first experience with the hi-tech hand dryers. Of course, now I see them more often (but this was back in April).
For the price of admission, I will say there is a great deal offered here. My husband especially enjoyed the Transportation Gallery on Level 3. I got a kick out of the Coal Mine exhibit/ride and Fast Forward. Watching science experiments being done in the rotunda was a great way to relax and plot our next move. You can easily get lost here.
Oh, and say hey to the R2D2 mailbox outside!
Want to check out a piece of Chicago history? Then spend a day at the Museum of Science and Industry on Chicago's south side.
The museum is located in the former Palace of Fine Arts building in Jackson park- one of only two buildings left from the World's Colombian exposition from 1893 (the other is the Art Institute of Chicago) and the former location of the original Field Museum. It underwent major renovation and re-opened as the the Museum of Science and Industry just in time for the 1933 World's Fair. With 2 million visitors annually- this museum is one of Chicago's most visited attractions.
I have been here for several fundraisers over the years, and most recently for the Harry Potter exhibit. I was a bit surprised to learn that everything at this museum is a la carte. So while general admission is only $13- the submarine exhibit is another $7, Green and wired $10, and the Harry Potter exhibit is another $13, etc. It does begin to add up. So know before you go.
If you go to the Harry Potter exhibit- know that it is not in the actual museum but housed in tents in front of the museum. We happened to visit on one of those 95 degree days in Chicago's summer and the air conditioning in the tents was working hard to keep things comfortable but it was fighting a losing battle against all the body heat in the place. So if heat or cold are an issue for you- go on a temperate day. Another tip: They will rent you a guided tour for the exhibit and while they run about $5- know that they are really just the costume designers talking about how they created the costumes. So if you are not interested in that- save your money. Also- the show sells out quickly so you are best off to order your tickets on line before you go. Another tip is that day of tickets are not available to the exhibit on line so plan accordingly.
My favorite part of the museum was the U-505 submarine exhibit. So cool! While the exhibit is included in the admission fee- you do have to pay to get on the actual submarine. But even if you don't do that- the information that they have on video around the sub will draw you in. Pretty amazing story not only of the capture but of how they got it salvaged and to Chicago. And don't miss the story of how they got it in the basement of the museum!
The one exhibit that I have yet to see is the working coal mine. All the times I've come here- the wait is an hour to get in and since the exhibit takes about an hour- I never seem to be willing to invest the 2 hours to it. But one of these times the stars will be aligned and I will get in!
Parking is easy with several outside lots located around the museum- or you can park in the underground lot at the museum for $16.
Loved the history, loved the exhibits- hated that everything was a la carte thus the loss of one star. Oh- and if you really are a history buff- take a stroll around the back of the museum to where the lake is and just visualize yourself at the World's Fair back in 1934. The theme at that time was a "Century of Progress". Oh if those folks could only see Chicago now!
In school I never really liked science and the industry part of history bored me as well. I usually took the time to nap or catch up on writing notes to friends or doodling in my agenda. If it wasn't creative I wasn't interested. Maybe if my teachers had presented it in a creative way like the Museum of Science & Industry I would have paid more attention.
I spent a few fun filled ours here today. The main attraction was the Harry Potter Exhibition but we had a couple of hours to kill so we toured the Museum. I love the hands on aspect of many of the exhibits. I think my favorite exhibit was the giant train room with the huge railroad. I loved watching the trains and all the little details. I could have spent hours in there.
Next was the HP Exhibit. It was pretty great. I was hoping for a little more of a hands on experience - which I didn't get - but it was so much fun to see how the characters have changed and to see what was put in to the movies. If you're interested in buying the jewelry worn by the cast you can buy replicas for $90 something a piece or you can buy chocolate frogs for $4 a piece.
Minus a star for pricing. The place seems a little over priced especially when you consider some of the exhibits really need to be updated. Even with a buy one get one coupon I was surprised by the price but if you asked me if I would do it again I definitely would...in a heartbeat.
As a life long Massachusetts girl it is difficult for me to write this, but, I think that this museum might be better than our own Museum of Science. I went here to see the Harry Potter exhibit (and yes I know that it will be at the Boston MOS in late October) and was surprised that it was being held in a tent on the front law. Albeit a nice tent, but it is still a tent. Once I got inside I understood; it is HUGE. There is a ton of stuff in there too. It seemed to me that if the Air and Space museum in DC and our own Museum of Science Boston had a baby it would be this place.
Once on the main floor there are so many exhibits open to you that the benches in the rotunda are great idea. A resting place to get your map and trace out where you want to go and how you are getting there. May I suggest the whispering gallery? Not to populated and totally freaky (read: I loved it) it is a room that is about 20ft. long with curved plexi-glass on either end; you stand at one end and your friend at the other and whisper to each other which is no problem because you can hear each other perfectly.
The chicken hatchery is pretty cool too. But no where near as awesome as the coal mine; MINER MINERS! Ahahahaha... Man, that is still making me laugh like a week later! Ahhh, anyway. The model trains are pretty rockin' as well. At first I thought that it was a few different sets but after walking all the way around the model I realised that it is one giant set that connects together.
Though we didn't run into that many employees, the ones on the specific exhibits where very nice and seemed like they liked being there. They did not have the " This is my summer internship for my history degree so leave me alone" look to them, so that is a plus. The gift shop had astronaut ice cream. This fact made me SUPER happy. I didn't even see any space type of exhibits, but that didn't prevent me from buying it; if it is good enough for Buzz Aldrin it is good enough for me.
If you find yourself in Chicago with small children and don't know what to do you should try this place out. And if you find yourself in Chicago without small children you should still check this place out. Please note that I did not eat there so as for food prices (which in all museums are insanely over priced) I can not help you. But I can tell you that it was around $26 for general admission and Harry Potter for an adult ticket; not too shabby in my book, especially considering all the stuff that is in there and it was fairly clean.
I guess I am not as big as a nerd as I thought. The exhibits weren't very interesting and I was really bummed that they wanted an extra $18 for the Harry Potter exhibit. Even though we got the citypass, I would think that they would make it fair and just charge the remaining balance which would have been like $10 or so... but, NO- they wanted to nickel and dime us.
I've been to the San Jose Tech Museum before, so it was pretty shocking to see the same exact revolving globe/earth exhibit.
They also wanted more $ to see the green building outside.... and then more $ to get on the submarine. WTF, okay, at some point- it just gets ridiculous... charging for ever extra little thing. In my opinion, it would be better just to include it into the general admission fee. I saw that the other Chicago museums did as well, but it wasn't as severe as the Science & Industry museum. Overall impression: LAME.
Although I wouldn't say that the Museum of Science & Industry as a bad museum by any means, I remember liking it a lot more as a kid. It is more about pop science, than actually getting into the nitty gritty of scientific discovery, and seems to focus more on industry than on the science part.
My major criticism is that it is overly geared towards kids. The temporary exhibit of Leonardo da Vinci was great a couple years ago, but the permanent exhibits are all "press this and things will light up" and not much brain food for someone over fifteen seeking intellectual stimulation. The cafe is dreadfully bad and overpriced, as well.
Its not all bad. There are a few interesting tidbits, since as the walk-on Boeing 727 plane suspended over the main hall. It was probably the most interesting part of the museum. Among the many museums in Chicago, though, I wouldn't put this one on the top of the list. I would say that The Field Museum actually has more Science than does the so-called Science & Industry Museum.
I can't believe I spent 4 hours in a museum and didn't get bored. It's a miracle!
1. It's easy to get to. I caught the #10 bus that took me straight there.
2. It was pretty easy to navigate via the map.
3. There's something for everyone - cars, trains, space exploration, health sciences, farming, nuclear science!
4. They don't hold back - watch a cow and a pig being birthed!
The only negative was I was so excited to see the Harry Potter exhibit and come to find out - it's not included in general admission, nor did they have as much as I would have thought. Many items are extra charge - the Green House & Coal Mine, etc. Keep that in mind!
(Whew, good to be back. I'm rusty.)
The museum was very easy to get to from the city. We were able to catch express buses to and from, which was nice, but unfortunately the highlight of the trip for me might have been getting to see Soldier Field while riding by on the bus. The museum seems relatively new, which kind of hurts it. A lot of the exhibits look too childish, or fake even. It just didn't reach out and grab my interest.
The building was built in such a way that the main escalators go up from the middle of one level to the middle of another. This means to see exhibits, you have to break off into a corner, then retrace your steps out of that corner, back to the middle, and into another corner. It seemed as if the building were built for something else, and they decided to make exhibit halls out of it. This poor layout was what bothered me the most.
I realize it is mainly for the kids, so giving two stars might be a bit harsh, but the museum was just not set up in a way that would be conducive to me enjoying it.
What can I say, I'm a Bargain Hunter! We came here on one of its FREE days, saving $13 a pop, but unfortunately, the Harry Potter exhibit was going to be another $18 so we skipped that. ::sigh::
There were plenty of exhibits ranging from actual old skool classic cars and miniature models of classic ships, to the new technologies of the internet and such. There was a pretty cool one that demonstrated through the sound of music how network connections work together. And also a robot that interacted with you when you said certain phrases. Not too impressive, but still interesting.
There was also The Henry Crown Space Center, featuring a full scale replica of the Apollo 11 training module, and the actual Apollo 8 spacecraft. My son would have loved this section the best.
One of their big exhibits is the U-505 submarine. Unfortunately, it wasn't open for tours on the day we came. (Awww phooey!) But we got to watch the informative videos. I wish we didn't linger too long on this exhibit, however, because there were so many other cool things we didn't get to see at this museum.
For example, we did not have enough time to check out the first electric train, except for a quick picture in front of it. And there were many other exhibits we missed, as well. For example, the coal mine section, the giant pin ball machine, and the replica of the Wright Brothers' plane.
However, we did wander outside by accident out of curiosity about the Green House. And then we got locked out! Lol.
The coolest model train layout I have ever seen. We got lucky and ended up going on a free day. Only had to pay a little extra to take the tour of the U-505 German Submarine that was captured by the US and is on display for the whole world to see.
The Museum of Science and Industry opened in 1933 and is the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere.
Photography is totally ALLOWED except when inside the U-505, which is very cool for a museum.
The museum is quite expansive and we would suggest that you try to spend an entire day there. The airplanes on display are beautiful and what is cool is that you can go inside of a 727 which from time to time lowers it's landing gear above the grand lobby.
The science exhibits are very cool with one in particular that allows you to combine chemicals that will create a (controlled) explosion that will scare the hell out of you and everyone on the same floor. We had to do that twice! :)
Awesome rocket car, coal mine ride, NASA exhibit with actual real lunar landing capsules, robotic display that you can control and the list goes on. I gave this 5 stars as it's one of the most family / tourist friendly and cool places in the United States.
Plan though for food as the cafeteria closes too early and leaves throngs of starving people that have been walking the miles of cool stuff here. Perhaps take some sandwiches with you for later.
I have been visiting this museum since I was just a wee little lad who cried through the entire mine exhibit. I will never live that down. Now when friends come into town i know to tell them this is a hot museum to visit. one of the best in the city. Minus one star only because it is so difficult to get to!
We enjoyed 5 or so hours here, and honestly saw about 30% of the place. A quick bus ride down here and we walk in shortly after 10AM. We chose to add the Smart Home and the U-505 tours to our day as well.
SMART HOME: Don't bother. You will learn loads more by watching Planet Green. The tour guide didn't know much, answered a few questions incorrectly, and overall was a disappointment. $10 for about 15-20 minutes in the place.
U-505: This was pretty good, but still probably not worth the $7 or whatever they dinged us for to go through it. You see and learn more outside looking at the exhibits. The tourguide was pretty good though, some little kids that were on our tour thought it was awesome.
Next time, I won't do any of the add on stuff, and I'll probably research to see what's there to see if I even want to go. We did see a lot of neat stuff but also skipped right past a ton of things too.
Visited the Harry Potter exhibit I can't say enough great things about this place. Kathy from the gift shop, Phyllis the security lady at HP, and Katie in the HP gift shop were exceptional. They went above and beyond made our experience one to never forget. From the parking, to the lines, everything ran smoothly and efficiently.
The H.P. exhibit was phenomenal. Costumes and props from the movies were set up to look like you've just stepped into Hogwarts and the wizard world. Music and movie clips played in the background. Kids and adults alike had smiles across their faces the entire times, with the occasional giggle of course. Great time had by all!
I was reading Devil in the White City a few years ago and thought, wow - I need to go back to the MSI! I did remember liking it as a child so I was excited when my immediate family with spouses all decided to go around Christmas.
It was kind of a disappointment. It need major re-vamping and there were some old exhibits. It was fun to run through the museum and act like a kid but honestly, my favorite part was the Christmas trees from different parts of the world and the ice cream shop.
In order to make this modern and relevant, they probably have to invest a lot of money but come on - it is the Museum of Science and Industry after all and not the History Museum.
This is seriously one of the best museums I've ever been too. Mu, Jenn and I came here for the Harry Potter exhibit and it was freakin awesome! When we first walked through, I noticed there were a bunch of little kids there...which I figured was pretty typical so it was sort of annoying when we got to the sorting hat area. Yes I said it..sorting hat area! If you had any brains at all, you would notice that one of the workers was holding a remote and pressing it according to which house each person liked. To no one's surprise, each little kid wanted to be in gryffindor...how lame. If I had it my way, I would sort a few of them into Slytherin just to have a quick laugh at their reactions.
Anywho, all the displays they had inside were straight from the movie and they even set up an area where we could sort of play quidditch...they let us throw the bludgers through the rings. My other favorite was the big wooden chair from Hagrid's hut...we actually got to sit on it and if there was a time I ever felt like a midge, that was it.
After walking around the exhibit, we left the harry potter area and went walking around the rest of the museum, which was gynormous! I don't remember everything I saw but some of the highlights include walking around the submarine and playing with the built in toilet system display (it's a must-see!). I highly recommend this museum for everyone even if you're not into science. By the way, the Harry Potter exhibit might be gone so you should look it up.
Came for the Potter Exhibit - $20+ per person, no pictures, overcrowded, and you're essentially herded through the exhibit - sorting hat....more like Sorting-Native-Chicagoan with a fake British accent. Sure we got to see some unique props, but bang for the buck this was not - I can't even fathom the STRICT pictureless policy.
The rest of the musem is okay, but honestly Cosi in Columbus and most of the museums in NYC are cheaper and more interesting. The huge submarine was excellent, but the fact that they nickle and dime you for EVERYTHING (toys, pass cards, pictures, admission to the sub, etc) is lame.
The farm exhibit was fun for taking goofy pics, as was the circus area....they pricess castle....I don't even know what to make of that.
As a grade-school student growing up in Chicago, how could you not have went to MSI for a field trip? It was a typical standard fare when Lincoln Park Zoo wasn't a possibly as a student might lose a finger to frostbite.
That was back in the 1980s. Nothing has changed much for the museum. Except they have removed one exhibit I loved and that was the fancy old cars for... a children's play stage area. It's sad to say the only new technology in the whole place is the Dyson Airblade hand dryer.
Still I return every year. How can you not love the Coal Mine, the Old Timey Main Street (with soda fountain shop and old silent films... love) or the U-505 sub? The also have travelling exhibits from time to time which can peak your interest. Right now it's Harry Potter. For all that, there still is a special place in my heart for MSI.
Still outstanding for all ages.
My grandsons, ages 7 and 2, both had a great time at the Museum of Science and Industry. The Harry Potter exhibit kept everybody interested, including their parents, for an hour+. It's well done and not too crowded. Time-specific tickets for the Harry Potter exhibition need to be purchased in advanced. After that, the seven year old ran from submarine to railroad train to newborn chicks, loving it all.
What they enjoyed most was the children's play area, with water and air pressure blowing balls everywhere in the room. They could have stayed there half a day.
The indoor parking garage is very handy. Going early helps beat the crowds. I feel this is the most kid-friendly of the big three (Shedd, Field, and MS&I) in Chicago.
Really fun museum for kids and young at heart @ majority of displays but there were a few for the adults to appreciate too. Lots of different media used from the usual display cases, wall murals, interactive, observing ("sand witch" in the food display!) and videos.
Harry Potter exhibit, loads and loads of things from all the movies as well as video displays. Audio tour was more technical about reasons why the items where chosen, how they were made, problems executing or some funny tidbits about the actors (while using those props). There was a wide range from costumes as well as big (Buckbeak, wraith and Hagrid's hut) displays and little things like various wands, scarves, jewelry, Dumbledore's Army list and etc). The movie is also being shown on the IMax screen :D Excellent exhibit for fans of either the books or movies (or both).
We also made it to the Fairy Castle dollhouse exhibit, the display was much too dark but the castle itself was amazing and opulent. Honestly, you've got furniture that size of your pinkie so the *more* light the better, right? They tried though, there were spotlights in each room and the audio segments were very helpful and informative.
Hands down my favorite museum in the city. There are so many things to do here. I also love that taking the #10 bus from the loop gets you there in no time. Easy in and Out. I don't think I can ever take less than 20 min looking at the small city and trains. Its just so cool. I get a good laugh too with some of the small people and their places (note: the people in the mountains and one stuck in a river, lol). Its fun to see the baby chicks and Old Tyme Town, complete with an Ice Cream Shop!!
The Harry Potter exhibit was fantastic. I am a huge fan and they definitely didn't disappoint. It took me about 45 min to go through it all on a Friday afternoon. I did however make sure to check out every single thing and my sister and enjoyed some of the fun, hands on, activities...Quidditch anyone???
MSI is one of the greatest museums in Chicago, other than the price. LOOKING TO SAVE MONEY, LOOK AT THE LAST PART OF MY REVIEW....
Some hints:
The new smart home exhibit is pretty cool, but probably not worth ten bucks. Check out Chicago's center for green technology instead. Its run by the city and free. Or do some online research to find the products in the home. Not for kids. And the quality of your tour really depends on the guide.
Go to the Omnimax if you have not been and are not afraid of heights or get motion sickness. Its a one of a kind experience though. Worth the 9 bucks because it lasts almost an hour.
Go on a FREE day. Unlike Adler or Shedd, this place is SO huge that you can see lots and not pay anything. The museum is MASSIVE if you have not been there before. One of the largest in the country.
Some things to see: the technology fast forward exhibit, the genes exhibit with the baby chicks, idea factory for kids, the 727 plane, the wright flyer, the u505 sub (best for adults probably, the tour is worth the 5 bucks), the lego exhibit, the coal mine, special daily programs.
Check out the special exhibits, if you think its worth the price. Is it worth it to pay $100 for the whole family to see Harry Potter props for example. Maybe. Sometimes they are really cool though.
BUT, THE BIGGEST SECRET OF MSI IS THE PARKING!. DO NOT PAY $16!!! TO PARK IN THE GARAGE. If coming from the city, keep going on lake shore drive and go past the exit for the museum (56th street), be in the right lane and at the next light turn right. This is called Columbia Drive. YOU CAN PARK HERE, either turn left or right and take any space and then enter through the Henry Crown Space Center. There is a desk there where you can purchase tickets and there is almost never a line. While it is uncovered and you may need to walk a bit, the parking is free! :) and the museum won't tell you anything about it.
Full disclosure. I work here, but even so, growing up this had always been one of my favorite museums just behind the Children's Museum in Indianapolis. As an adult, I LOVE the U-505. I have even before I worked at the museum. The onboard tour ($5) is completely worth it, and the wealth of artifacts they have in that exhibit are sure to awe any history buff. I also adore the history of the building itself. Being built for the Colombian Exposition and then being saved from demolition in the 1920's.
I love the people (volunteers and workers) we have. One of my favorite things to do is run up onto the transportation gallery and chat with the volunteer United Airlines Pilots that hang out by the 727 (the largest plane to ever land at Meig's field). Also worth mentioning is that the Stuka dive bomber we have is one of only two intact Stukas left in the world.
The museum has really worked the past few years to revamp outdated exhibits (though major overhauls are always slow processes) and just opened up YOU! the Experience up in the human health sciences portion of the balcony and it is pretty breathtaking. Sadly, the giant heart is no longer there, but the preserved fetuses (from the 20's!) have been relocated to a gorgeous area accompanied with interactive learning tools about early human growth (and some pretty interesting quotes from mothers about the process). All sorts of brand new medical technology and one of my favorite things: a health issues interactive forum. Several people (up to 20?) sit down at video screens and learn about the chosen issue for debate that day. Mine was "should cat scans be made available to anyone who wants them as a preventative screening method?" And there were interviews from medical professionals pro and con.
Coming up in 2010 there is a brand new exhibit about physics and natural phenomena.
Like I said, I work here, but even so the exhibits we have really excite me. When you come visit, be sure to stop by and say "hi" to me on my coal mine tour (speaking of history, it's all from a REAL coal mine that was active in southern Illinois. The museum bought the tools/hoist/man trip/rotary dump, etc after the coal mine went defunct and installed them in 1933 in the museum. Just yesterday I had someone on my tour who's great grandfather had worked in the original old ben #17... Way cool!).
And as for extra cost, The coal mine isn't an extra fee (I noticed a few reviewers had this wrong). It's included in general admission. The only extra items are the sub tour (and the artifacts worth seeing are all OUTSIDE the sub, you don't need the extra ticket to enjoy the exhibit) and smart home, which is seasonal. Traveling exhibits that charge leave the museum at the mercy of copyright holders. I know for Harry Potter cost was pretty much dictated by Warner Bro's. I worked the exhibit and my family still had to buy full price tickets to see it.
All I can say is that if you happened to chance by when most everything was under construction, you should give it a second chance. Come on a free day. This October (2009), weekdays are free in celebration of YOU! opening.
Model train room: AWESOME
U-Boat tour: AWESOME
Old Tyme town: AWESOME
Everything about this museum is awesome- it's the best museum in the city. I've lived in Chicago my whole life and even has an adult this palce still turns me into a giddy child!
Recently we went to see the Harry Potter exhibit and I have to admit I loved it. We got tickets without previous research on what it will be like and I was positively surprised. I adore this museum all year long but when an exhibit like that comes to town you just have to be there.
3.5 stars for the Harry Potter exhibit. It was pretty interesting to see all the props, although I felt like I was being stalked by the security people at times. I liked the interactive "quidditch" area (throwing the quaffle into the hoops) and getting to sit in Hagrid's chair, but those security people are serious about no photographs, and one guy started following me after he saw me using the camera on my phone. I get it, you don't want people to take pictures, but really now.
Other than that, the exhibit isn't huge and $18 can be a bit much unless you're a huge Harry Potter fan. That on top of the museum admission fee can make it pretty pricey. I went on a free day, so it wasn't too bad, wandering around the other exhibits. I watched a baby chick hatch and watched a mechanized production line make toy gyroscopes. It can be a fun museum, but I think I prefer the other museums in comparison.
I recommend taking the CTA down here - the 10 line drops you off right at the front entrance, and there are a few other lines that drop you off nearby.
This is a must-see museum if you're visiting Chicago. I'm not much of a science person, but I actually enjoyed this place as it had "real" stuff, not man made models. For example, they actually had the real German U505 submarine which was captured by the US in 1944. For an extra $6-7, we were able to go inside the submarine, which was not as big as it seemed on the outside considering that 57 people lived inside there for a year. They also had a real Boeing 727 hanging from the 3rd floor. The miniature train going around was pretty neat.
The real toy factory was pretty cool and seemed fun for the kids, especially if you paid a few bucks to see the toy actually being made by the machines. For lunch, we went to the Brain Cafe, which reminded of a work cafeteria. The food was actually good. Lastly, we went to the coal mine which ended up taking us underground where they had a coal mine replica with all the various tools and machines that are used. You can easily spend a day there.
Shit yeah!
As a nerd and a big fan of my hometown Boston Museum of Science, I can say with some certainty that Museum of Science and Industry is totally sweet and certainly a worthy tourist stop if you're in Chicago and want to pack in some science and engineering learning along with lots of things you can touch and watch. I had a blast there last week and I'm sure that 8-year-old me would have been nearly overwhelmed with all the cool exhibits.
Highlights:
- Really cool "Fast Forward: Inventing the Future" exhibit with cool tech demos
- Decommissioned Boeing 727 you can walk inside complete with cutaways to see engines, control surfaces, cargo hold, etc!
- Giant model train set with an accurate model of downtown Chicago!
- "Toymaker 3000!" - a complete automated assembly line using real industrial hardware that will make you a custom laser-etched spinny-top thing for $5 that you can SEE BEING MADE RIGHT THERE!
Definitely worth a stop and super fun-nerdy-cool!
Fun times! My husband happened to nab one of the free family passes from our library, so we spent a Saturday afternoon at MSI. We saw a show at the omnimax, ate at the food court (good options and very tasty) and took a trip down the coal mine.
All in all, a great museum! Our only complaint was it was PACKED - but that's probably just Saturday, for ya. Also, it would have been pricey if not for the free pass. We had to pay $9 each for the movie.
Sweet Merlin's Beard! The Harry Potter exhibit was amazing. Stop what you're doing and buy tickets now. It's incredible. Apart from the amazing props, costumes, and other goodies, playing the "real accent or fake accent" game is pretty fun.
P.S. The sorting hat totally put me in Gryffindor.
EXCELLENT SERVICE! I just held a large event there, and Tara was great. They worked with my budget, and my crew to pull off a wonderful event.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
Are you a billionaire looking to make your mark on the Chicago cultural landscape, well have i got a fix me up gem for you my friend.
Remember when your were 6 and it was cool to look at dioramas of ecosystems behind smudged glass? And where oh where are these live chicks that the museum loves to advertise?
Calling all landed gentry without a cause - the museum of science and indsustry needs you.
What is the deal with the signage, or should I say lack thereof and this institution? It started with coming off of southbound Lake Shore Drive, following the blue signs saying "museum parking" and ended with the signs simply stopping and us on the University of Chicago campus. Fantastic. We turn back around and pull into the group entrance parking lot because two security guys were posted on the steps and we were told to go to the opposite side of the building. As we are heading that way we cruise on by the GARAGE ENTRANCE which was literally about 200 feet around the corner.
We finally park above ground by the green demonstration house and look at our tickets (we were there after hours for Harry Potter) which say to follow the signs to the exhibit entrance. Um, yeah, that just wasn't happening. Because there were no signs. ANY WHERE. So we go to the main entrance and luckily there was a prom going on and we just went in their door, down the three flights of stairs to the main ticket counter and were directed up an escalator to the exhibit. At this point we were almost 40 minutes late for our entry time.
From there things were pretty cool-the exhibit was fun but as many others have said, pricey. The wands in the gift shop? The same $49.99 wand there can be purchased at Barnes & Noble on line for $26.99. Unless it is something really unique to the exhibit keep your money in your pocket. Heck even then...they had a cool replica of the Marauder's Map and it was $49.99. Nope, that is correct there are that many 9's after the 4.
Overall staff was friendly (and those in the HP exhibit were enthusiastic in a nice way) and their customer service totally made up for the hot mess of getting there.
Love the museum! This review is strictly on the Harry Potter Exhibition:
Pros
The Exhibition is set up in a way that flows nicely, starting off with a dramatic entry. I won't give it away so you can enjoy it yourself.
There is a lot of detail through out the exhibit.
It is interesting to see how much character was put into each of the wizard's wands when viewed up close.
I got to sit in Hagrid's chair inside his hut. I felt like a little kid because the chair was so gigantic.
The people that work the exhibit are obviously Potter fans and excited to be there. My daughter was the only kid on our tour and one of workers followed her around asking her questions and helping her to play a game.
Cons
Get ready to spend some money. Ticket prices are high, parking is $16 and the gift shop (which you are conveniently let out into at the end of the exhibit) is out of control. The knick knacks are for die hard fans only, and way over priced. We made it out with the cheapest thing in the gift shop, a book mark for $3.95.
I got to sit in Hagrid's chair, but I couldn't take a picture because they banned all cameras.
EVERYONE who works the Potter Exhibition is British! No wait, they're all American cheerleaders with horribly fake english accents. The staff are so overly enthusiastic that you instinctively take a few steps back when they come at you. I've never meet a Brit that over the moon happy in my life.
To sum things up, go when the museum is open so you can enjoy all that it has to offer. The Harry Potter Exhibition is worth seeing if you have money to burn and/or you are an extreme Potter fan.
