Art Photo Music

One of the most popular attractions in Chicago is the Chicago Field Museum, sometimes referred to as the Field Museum of Natural History. Its present location is in a purpose built building, finished in 1921, adjacent to Lake Michigan. This setting is also the site for the Adler Planetarium and the Shedd Aquarium.

The museum was placed on the US National Register of Historic Places in 1975. It is divided into four sections, namely Zoology, Anthropology, Botany and Geology. The Field Museum has an international reputation as an excellent exhibition space and as an institution that funds valuable field research across the world. There is an impressive 20 million specimens in the collection.

The most well known display is that of Sue, the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton fossil in the world. Sue, named after the paleontologist that found her (or him, no one is sure), helped to put the Chicago Field Museum on the map. It's an imposing presence, standing at 13 foot high and measuring 42 feet in length. Experts date Sue at 67 million years old. There is a large collection of dinosaurs and a diverse taxidermy display, including two African elephants.

There are outreach programs at the museum that have forged a good relationship with the local community. Parents and teachers are allowed to borrow certain items for educational purposes and there is an extensive museum library. The Field Museum has even made it to the big screen on two occasions. It was used as a location for the film, The Relic in 1997 and for Damien: Omen II in 1978.

Other exhibits include Native American artifacts, including totem poles and traditional garments. There is also Mammals of Asia and Mammals of Africa. The Inside Ancient Egypt exhibit contains mummified animals and 23 human mummies. There are also displays that explore human and natural history in China, Tibet and the Pacific Islands. It's not all skeletons, stuffed animals and fossils. Insects: 105 Years of Collecting has one of the largest collections of its kind in the world. The Chicago Field Museum has a beautiful display of diamonds and precious stones in The Grainger Hall of Gems, brought from various parts of the world. The Hall of Jade is also beautiful and houses items made from jade, crafted in China. This museum has something for everyone and offers a terrific day out for families and groups.