Chicago may be known for its architectural landmarks, but it’s more than just magnificent buildings. It’s home to renowned museums that show everything architectural, biological, historical, and anthropological. While all are worth every traveler’s time, the Field Museum of Natural History Chicago has everything from all over the world to keep adventurers in awe.
It’s one of the world’s biggest museums of natural history that gives a glimpse of what life was like (and what existed) thousands or millions of years ago. The museum itself is a work of art, but its thrilling selection of exhibits aims to enlighten, inspire, and leave vacationers with lingering memories. Here are more details about why this history museum is worth visiting.
A Brief History Of The Field Museum Of Natural History Chicago
Opened to the public on 2nd May 1921, the Field Museum has been home to fascinating anthropological and biological selections. Its story began years earlier, in 1893, when it housed 65,000 expositions of the World’s Columbian Exposition. Initially, it was known as the Columbian Museum of Chicago until it was named after its major benefactor, Marshall Field. His generous contribution, which amounted to $1 million, plus other donations from the wealthy, helped create a permanent museum.
However, in 1905, the ancient Palace of Fine Arts, which contained the museum, started deteriorating. There were back-and-forth backlashes on where to rebuild the museum till the South Park Commission settled for land just south of Roosevelt Road. Construction began in July 1915 and took almost six years to complete after a series of challenges. The foundation extends to 95 feet in some spots, and the interior architecture has ionic columns and Caryatids (sculpted female figures) that make up a majestic museum.
Today, the Field Museum holds nearly 40 million societal artifacts and natural wonders that are only in America. While a fraction of the specimens and artifacts are seen by the public, they help scientists conduct cutting-edge research related to zoology, anthropology, geology, and botany.
Why Is The Field Museum Worth Seeing?
Over the years, this museum has continued to keep history alive through educational and stunning exhibits. No wonder visiting it is one of the activities tourists must do in Chicago. While there are numerous things to see, all with different charms to intrigue many, there are two worth seeing. They include:
SUE The T. Rex
Named after its discoverer, Susan Hendrickson, this dinosaur remains an indispensable specimen of the paleontological community. And perhaps one of the most awe-inspiring exhibits in this museum. Seeing this fossil is exciting, but learning about its history, which dates back to over 67 million years, is something else. Here, tourists will understand Sue’s hard knocks, exceptional hunting techniques, and how she ended up in the Field Museum.
Its massive body makes it the largest Tyrannosaurus rex among the 30 specimens that have been found. With such a humongous body, its visual splendor effortlessly steals the heart of both adults and kids. Taking magnificent photos of Sue from different angles is allowed, provided travelers use them for personal and non-commercial use.
Man-Eating Lions Of Tsavo
While lions are some of Africa’s most savage and feared animals, they don’t earn a reputation for being cold-blooded man-eaters. But these two Tsavo lions made 1898 a year like no other. Of course, in a tragic way! During this time, these ruthless animals would drag railway workers from their campsites and devour them. The trend increased in intensity for a while as the lions would now attack during the day and night. And unfortunately, not even thorn fences and fires would scare them off.
At this point, the worker started fleeing, but peace was restored after the beasts were killed by John Henry Patterson. Now, the lion exhibits are mounted as taxidermy specimens that continue attracting and fascinating thousands of history lovers.
Tips For Visiting The Museum
For a notable and highly visited spot like this, it would be smart for visitors to understand some tips to help them maneuver around without encountering challenges. Vacationers should:
- Know what ticket to buy: Tourists can choose between three tickets, basic admission, a discovery pass, and an all-access pass. Historians who want to watch a 3D movie, general admittance to the exhibits, and entry to see the three special exhibitions should pick the all-access pass
- Arrive early: The museum attracts thousands of guests, especially on weekends, so it’s best to explore the spot immediately after it opens. This saves adventurers the trouble of dealing with crowds in the ‘Inside Ancient Egypt,’ which is the most sought-after exhibition
- Spare ample time: With a space of about half a million square feet, it’s recommended that visitors set aside at least five hours to get the most out of it. This ensures they don’t miss out on top exhibits before exploring the rest
- Bring lunch: While the museum has two dining options, the locally sourced meals can be costly to some guests. Tourists who want to save some cash can carry snacks to munch after hours of wandering around
There’s no better place to learn about everything related to history than in the Field Museum. It’s one of Chicago’s most notable museums that quench the thirst of history buffs and art lovers. While the aforementioned exhibits make the spot worth visiting, there are other collections that promise to keep curious visitors in awe.