Museum of Science and Industry

Hiya!

Welcome to the fourth of eight posts detailing my Summer 2024 foray in downtown Chicago:

B1: Chicago Overview, CityPASS, & Millennium Park

B4: Museum of Science and Industry (this post)

B7: Willis/Sears Tower Skydeck, the Rookery, Chicago Fed Money Museum, Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago Cultural Center, & Design Museum of Chicago

B8: Medieval Torture Museum (NSFW)

This time around I'll be documenting my visit to the Museum of Science and Industry. This museum has a heavy emphasis on natural scientific processes and transportation technology. All of the pictures in this post were taken by me except for the one map of the museum.

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY

5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60637

The museum is in Hyde Park, on the south side of Chicago.

Website: https://www.msichicago.org/

Hours: Open Daily, 9 A.M. — 4 P.M.

Check the official website for exceptions when the museum closes early or is open late.

Cost (as of 2024):

Adult (12+) – $25.95
Child (Ages 3 - 11) – $14.95
Members – FREE

Ticketed Experiences (that cost extra money):

Giant Dome Theater or Coal Mine tour
Adult – $12
Child (Ages 3 - 11) – $9
Member – FREE for the Giant Dome Theater, $1 off discount for Coal Mine tour

Giant Dome Theater movies are currently: Superhuman Body, Space: The New Frontier, and Oceans: Our Blue Planet

U-505 On-board Tour
Adult – $18
Child (Ages 3 - 11) – $14
Member – $1 off discount
Active military and veterans receive $4 off discount for U-505

007 Science: Inventing the World of James Bond
Special exhibit through October 27, 2024
Mon–Thu (ex. holidays): Adult – $16 / Child (3 - 11) – $11
Fri–Sun + holidays: Adult – $22 / Child (3 - 11) – $14
Members (all ages): $9

Add-Ons:

Interactive Flight Simulators: $20 per ride (up to 2 people), $2 off discount for members
VR Transporter: $12 (up to 4 people per ride), $1 off discount for members
Motion Simulators: $8 per person, $1 off discount for members

For Museum Entry, Chicago Residents get $9 off for adults and $5 off for children (3 - 11).

Illinois Free Days on selected dates for Illinois residents. Includes Museum Entry but does not include ticketed experiences.

Museum Entry is always free for U.S. military active duty personnel and veterans, Illinois POWs, Chicago firefighters, Chicago police officers, and Illinois teachers (Pre-K through 12th grade).

Illinois school groups on registered field trips receive free Museum Entry. Illinois home school groups and families can receive free Museum Entry.

Free Museum Entry to members of Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC) institutions located more than 90 miles away.

Chicago C3 provides museum entry while the full Chicago CityPASS also includes one Giant Dome Theater film or Motion Ride (but does not include a ticketed experience).

Estimated Time: 4 - 5 hours, but you could easily spend 1 - 2 full days exploring all of the content in the museum.

On this visit, I spent 4.5 hours at the museum. I did not view the ticketed exhibits (007 Science or Coal Mine), the U-505 On-board Tour (though I did go through the free exhibit portion), Idea Factory (only for kids), or Notes to Neurons (long lines and bad timing) but I did go through all the other exhibits, of which half I went through thoroughly and half I rushed through. I would say there's enough content to spend 1 - 2 full days, not quite as much as the Field Museum or Art Institute (which could take 2 - 3 days or more).

SUMMARY

Established in 1933, the museum has been officially known as the Museum of Science and Industry for most of its existence. It was only recently renamed as the Kenneth C. Griffin Museum of Science and Industry in 2019, which is why a lot of people still refer to it by its longstanding and shorter name.

It is an excellent museum that I would rate as a solid 4 stars. It's not quite at the level of a world-class museum that the Field Museum or the Art Institute are at.

Comparing it to other natural history museums, history museums, and science museums but excluding most art museums, here is how it stacks up:

5 stars:

Field Museum (Chicago)
Castello Sforzesco (Milan, Italy)

4 stars:

The Ringling (Sarasota)
Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago)
CDC Museum (Atlanta, Free)
Mardi Gras World (New Orleans)
World War 2 Museum (New Orleans)
Museum d'Histoire Naturelle (Nice, France) (2 stars without the Lego special exhibit)
Musée Masséna (Nice, France)
Galata Museo del Mare (Genoa, Italy)
Museo del Duomo (Milan, Italy)

3 stars:

Chicago Fed Money Museum (Chicago, Free)
Medieval Torture Museum (Chicago)
Michael C Carlos Museum (Atlanta)
Center for Puppetry Arts (Atlanta)
Fernbank Museum of Natural History (Atlanta)
Musée d'Archéologie de Nice-Cimiez (Nice France)
Palais Lascaris (Nice, France)
Museo Diocesano (Genoa, Italy)
Civico Museo Archeologico (Milan, Italy)
Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci (Milan, Italy)
Museo di Storia Naturale (Milan, Italy)

2 stars:

Museum of Illusions (Atlanta)
Atlanta History Center (Atlanta)
Musée d'Archéologie d'Antibes (Antibes, France)
Museo Civico di Storia Naturale Giacomo Doria (Genoa, Italy)
Museo del Tesoro di San Lorenzo (Genoa, Italy)

1 star:

National Center for Civil and Human Rights (Atlanta)

I do think you could make a persuasive argument that the Museum of Science and Industry is 5 stars as a children's museum. In fact, I would not be surprised if many kids prefer this museum over natural history or art museums. There are tons of interactive displays that help educate visitors on scientific processes and history. Although there were a handful of displays which were not working when I visited, the sheer quantity and the user-friendliness of them make them ideal for children, who could easily spend all day exploring the museum.

Here you can see the map of the museum:

Museum of Science and Industry - Map - Copy.jpg

My biggest criticism of the museum is that the placement of exhibits and galleries seems rather haphazard. For example, airplanes, spacecraft, trains, and bicycles are all in completely separate and distant areas. Ships are at least next to racing cars, but they are then in an isolated area as well. One might think that since these are all transportation related, that maybe they should be grouped together. Similarly, Science Storms, Numbers in Nature, Extreme Ice, and the Blue Paradox have common themes yet they are all in completely separate areas. Now admittedly there may be space constraints based on how large an exhibit is and the size of the rooms available. Plus the availability of space may change over time (i.e. when a temporary exhibit leaves or when an old exhibit is closed down). But it's just a little confusing why some exhibits are placed where they are.

MUSEUM TIP: In terms of planning your schedule, you should plan around timed events. If you paid extra for a ticketed exhibit (007 Science, U-505 tour, Coal Mine) then you have to book a specific time (with the exception being the premium 007 pass) in advance. If you plan to watch any Giant Dome movies (including the one included in the Chicago CityPASS) you'll want to figure out the show times of the movie you want to see. The Giant Dome Theater was sparsely populated when I went there so it's unlikely that the movie will sell out. Now one important tip that I wish I knew beforehand is that the Blue Paradox, Numbers in Nature, and the kids-only Idea Factory are free but you need to make a reservation in advance (there is a kiosk display outside those exhibits where you can book it). Oftentimes, the earliest available slot is an hour or more away. Idea Factory can get completely booked for the whole day. So what you should do when you first arrive at the museum is book your free timed tickets then plan your viewing schedule around those times. Notes to Neurons is also free but you can't make advance reservations. Only 15 people can go at a time and it's only available every half hour or so, thus you may need to wait in line.

You mainly get to see vintage models in the bicycle and racing car exhibits - there isn't too much to see or read. Much of the planes section was taken up by flight and motion simulators and the VR transporter. There were only a few actual planes to see (including parts of a 727 that you can enter) but there were lots of informational displays to read. I was surprised by how much content was in the ships gallery. In addition to nearly 50 model ships, there were figureheads, and a steering wheel that you could physically interact with. The train area has a lot of historic information to read and then you can see the giant model train. The Henry Crown Space Center has numerous actual space modules, along with loads of informational displays and a few videos to watch.

While the U-505 submarine is the big attraction for its exhibit, it's really more of a World War 2 exhibit than just about the submarine. Also, visitors can easily get confused by what is free to view and what isn't. Most of the exhibit (90%) is free. You can walk through the galleries detailing the history of the war and even look at the outside of the submarine. Only the interior tour of the submarine requires a paid ticket. For most people, I think this is a great and informative exhibit on WW2. In my case, I recently saw the actual World War 2 Museum in New Orleans last December, so it's not really a fair comparison.

The Blue Paradox was one of my favorite exhibits at this museum with really well done visuals and a fantastic movie experience. Science Storms has a bunch of fun and interactive displays that explain how natural phenomena such as natural disasters work. It's great for both kids and adults. Numbers in Nature and Genetics have a lot of informational displays (though I found it boring since I knew most of it already) but the main highlights are the Mirror Maze and the Baby Chick Hatchery. Extreme Ice has a short movie and the wall of ice that you can touch.

I was less than impressed by the Giant Dome Theater (I watched the Superhuman Body movie). The screen (which also encompasses the ceiling) is awkwardly positioned so that you have to strain your neck a lot of the time to see everything (I sat in the middle of the mostly empty theater). And the movie seemed like a lot of fluff with little substance. Many of these movies tend to get a famous person to do the narrating (Matthew McConaughey in this case) and is inspirational to make you feel good but you don't really learn much from watching it. When I visited the Fernbank Museum in Atlanta I watched Reasons for Hope and Into America’s Wild (narrated by Jane Goodall) which was also a feel-good movie where you don't really learn very much.

I spent a lot of time at the Fairy Castle and the Mold-A-Rama exhibits, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed and heavily photographed.

On the top floor there is a YOU! The Experience exhibit on human anatomy. It includes some real human specimens, reminiscent of Bodies the Exhibition (which I saw many years ago in New York). There is also an interesting gallery on embryonic development with preserved embryos and fetuses at varying week milestones.

The Fab Lab was interesting to see but unfortunately the Toymaker was temporarily closed for maintenance.

Kids are likely to enjoy the Idea Factory (restricted to children age 10 or younger and their families), Eye Spy galleries, watching the Swiss Jolly Ball, Science Storms, the Whispering Gallery, the Mirror Maze, the Baby Chick Hatchery, and the Fairy Castle.

There is so much to see that is already included in your basic museum entry ticket that I don't think it's worth it to pay for access to any of the special ticketed experiences unless you really like that subject area or unless you've already visited the Museum of Science and Industry before and are familiar with many of the permanent exhibits.

THE ROTUNDA EXPERIENCE

Shortly after entering the Museum of Science and Industry and taking the escalator up, you will find yourself in the Rotunda with a giant screen on the floor that can simulate water, space, and other environments.

The Rotunda is available to rent for special events and private functions:

https://www.msichicago.org/visit/private-events/event-spaces/main-level/

GENETICS

The Museum of Science and Industry is perhaps best known for the Baby Chick Hatchery, where you can watch baby chicks emerge from eggs. Previously, this could be found in the Genetics section of the museum but it seems like the Genetics exhibit will be closing and the Baby Chick Hatchery will move to the Farm Tech area.

Besides chicks you can also see some mice:

THE BLUE PARADOX

This immersive experience focuses on how plastic pollution has impacted the oceans. There are some really breathtaking visuals. There is also an impressive movie in a room where the walls, floor, and ceiling are part of the screen. This was far better than the Giant Dome Theater.

You do need to book a free timed ticket to enter the Blue Paradox. This can be done online or at a kiosk outside the exhibit.

The entrance projects the visual of ocean waves on to the floor:

Inside the exhibit:

FAIRY CASTLE

Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle was built by the famous Hollywood actress who did much of her walk during the 1920's and 1930's. This miniature castle has been at the museum since 1949.

If you like the Art Institute of Chicago's Thorne Miniatures Rooms, then this will be right up your alley!

MIRROR MAZE

The Mirror Maze is in the Numbers in Nature exhibit.

You need to book a free timed ticket to enter. This can be done online or at a kiosk outside the exhibit.

I found most of the exhibit to be rather boring, especially if you are already aware of mathematical patterns in nature. But the Mirror Maze was fun and definitely the highlight of this section! It was not too hard to navigate through the maze though - you could usually identify the mirrors because you can see fingerprints on the surface.

MOLD-A-RAMA

Mold-A-Rama's used to be very common in museums and zoos. Even today, some attractions still maintain a few machines which can trigger nostalgia for some. The injection molded plastic figurines also have a very distinctive smell.

The museum has an exhibit on Mold-A-Rama that explains how the process works, shows the industrial equipment that is used, provides a historical timeline, and presents an impressive collection of mold figurines:

Here are a few animal molds that caught my eye:

SWISS JOLLY BALL

At over 7 feet high and 15 feet wide, this was declared by the Guinness World Records to be the "world's largest flipper machine" (a type of pinball machine) in 1988. It is a massive Rube Goldberg machine that is fun to watch!

FAB LAB

The Fab Lab is a workshop for digital fabrication and 3-D printing. Unfortunately the machines were temporarily closed when I visited. You could look around but you couldn't actually make anything.

That is Zeno the Robot Boy. Created by Hanson Robotics, Zeno cost $8,500 to $14,500 back in 2012.

Pandas, pandas, pandas!!!

THE GREAT TRAIN STORY

This model railroad consists of over 1,400 feet in track and covers 3,500 square feet in area. Follow more than 20 trains as they travel from Chicago to Seattle.

SCIENCE STORMS

Science Storms is an exhibit that explores natural phenomena.

The upper floor includes a gallery of historical scientific instruments and you can also learn about combustion:

The lower floor includes simulations on avalanches, tornadoes, and tsunamis:

SPACE

Located in the Henry Crown Space Center and right next to the Giant Dome Theater, the space exhibit includes real space modules.

This is from the SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft that supplied the International Space Station with cargo and experiments in two missions in 2017 and 2019:

A recreation of where Apollo astronauts used this lunar module trainer at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida:

The Apollo 8 command module:

The Mercury Aurora 7 capsule:

U-505 SUBMARINE

This is the only German sub in the U.S. You can go through most of the exhibit and admire the U-505 from outside for free. However, if you want to actually go inside and see the tour, then you have to pay separately for a ticket.

SHIPS

The Ships gallery includes nearly 50 model ships spanning numerous eras of maritime history:

There are also a pair of figureheads that were used on the masts of ships:

CARS

The Racing Cars exhibit includes a variety of vintage era cars.

A 1971 Aston Martin Lagonda Limited. These cars became famous in James Bond movies:

A 1908 Stoddard Dayton. Look at what passed for a child seat in the back:

EYE SPY

Eye Spy includes a series of themed rooms where you need to visually find a list of items. It is reminiscent of hidden picture books or seek and find books for children.

GARDEN

There is an outside garden near the Henry Crown Space Center which you can normally go and visit. Unfortunately it was closed during my visit so the best I could do is take some pictures from inside. The windows are tinted, hence the yellowish perspective:

Look at the squirrel!

OTHER ODDS AND ENDS

Due to the acoustics of the Whispering Gallery, a friend all the way across the room can hear you as if you were right next to them:

The Extreme Ice exhibit educates you about glaciers. You can physically touch a real 7-foot-tall wall of ice:

Wired to Wear showcases examples of wearable tech. This Eye of the Storm dress demonstrates the potential of inorganic printed electronics, specifically, micro light emitting diodes (LEDs). The dress lights up in response to sound to create "visual music."

This is a ticketed exhibit about Coal Mine technology. I did not go on this visit but I have seen the exhibit before in the past. In fact, this was the museum's very first exhibit, opening all the way back in 1933.