Top 5 Museums in South Loop, Illinois (IL)

December 21, 2021 Carley Gatson

The windy city is a cornucopia of modern art, fine dining, cutting edge comedy, and die-hard sports fans. Snap a photo of your reflection in the silver Cloud Gate sculpture at Millennium Park before heading to Grant Park to get hit with the refreshing spray of Buckingham Fountain. There are dozens of museums and theater companies in Chicago, so a cultural experience is never hard to find. You’re sure to laugh your head off at the Second City Theater, the professional launch pad of many famous comedians.
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1. Field Museum

1400 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605-2827 +1 312-922-9410 [email protected] http://www.fieldmuseum.org
Excellent
63%
Good
26%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 8,689 reviews

Field Museum

The Field Museum fuels a journey of discovery across time to enable solutions for a brighter future rich in nature and culture. With almost 40 million specimens and artifacts in our collections—including SUE, the world's most complete Tyrannosaurus rex—there's something for everyone. Start planning your visit at fieldmuseum.org.

Reviewed By TracyWfromWA - Arlington, United States

Rivaling the Museum of Natural History in New York, this museum is replete with towering dinosaur skeletons, fossils, ancient artifacts from early humankind, all under a magnificently designed Romanesque-style building. It is an expansive space. The atrium soars up to a grid-work of square windows that let natural light into the space. Tickets are on the pricey side, but it is well worth the experience. You could spend hours wandering the many themed exhibits once inside. The crown jewel of the exhibit, a T. Rex named Sue, is breathtaking in its scope. This is something you wouldn't want to miss on your trip to Chicago.

2. Glessner House Museum

1800 S Prairie Ave, Chicago, IL 60616-1320 +1 312-326-1480 [email protected] http://www.glessnerhouse.org
Excellent
66%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
1%
Terrible
4%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 92 reviews

Glessner House Museum

A National Historic Landmark, Glessner House was designed by noted American architect Henry Hobson Richardson and completed in 1887. It remains an internationally-known architectural treasure in Chicago. A radical departure from traditional Victorian architecture, the structure served as an inspiration to architects such as Louis Sullivan, Mies van der Rohe, and the young Frank Lloyd Wright and helped redefine domestic architecture.

Reviewed By MidwestKathM - Detroit, United States

Ever on the hunt for something interesting to see in Chicago, having visited there at least a dozen times through the years, I came across this architectural gem by Richardson that gives visitors a peek at the Gilded Age life in Chicago. The Glessner House tells the history of one family in a time of industrial growth and personal prosperity. With original furnishings and personal belongings, it is unique in sharing the family's legacy. Our tour guide was outstanding in telling the story and answering questions for nearly 90 minutes. To become more immersed, walk up and down Prairie Avenue to see some of the other remaining original houses and the in-fill houses built in the style of the times. Truly a must-see gem!!

3. Hamilton: The Exhibition

1535 S Lynn White Dr, Chicago, IL 60605-2820 http://hamiltonexhibition.com/
Excellent
76%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 58 reviews

Hamilton: The Exhibition

Alexander Hamilton’s remarkable story inspired millions of Americans. Now, you can see it through his eyes in this 360-degree immersive museum exhibition from the creators of the revolutionary musical. Featuring interactive games and displays, lifelike projections, full-scale statues, and Instagram-worthy art installations, Hamilton: The Exhibition takes visitors deeper into Alexander Hamilton’s life as it chronicles the American Revolution and the creation of the United States of America. Underscored by a brand-new, 27-piece orchestral recording of the music from Hamilton, the exhibition also features an audio tour narrated by the musical’s author, Lin-Manuel Miranda, along with Phillipa Soo and Christopher Jackson, who played Eliza Schuyler and George Washington in the original Broadway production. The perfect opportunity for the entire family to experience the full story of Alexander Hamilton and the inspiring founding of our nation. See it. Live it. Walk in his shoes.

4. Adler Planetarium

1300 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605-2489 +1 312-922-7827 [email protected] http://www.adlerplanetarium.org
Excellent
36%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
23%
Poor
7%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 2,138 reviews

Adler Planetarium

The Adler Planetarium connects people to the universe and each other. Whether it is introducing a guest to the Ring Nebula, a neighborhood school to a community partner, a research team to an army of citizen scientists, or one staff member to another, the Adler’s focus on meaningful connections dates back nearly a century. Today, the museum hosts more than half a million visitors each year and reaches millions more through youth STEAM programs, neighborhood skywatching events, online citizen science, and other outreach projects. With the Adler’s support, people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities gain the confidence to explore their universe together and return to their communities ready to think critically and creatively about any challenge that comes their way.

Reviewed By redcoombe

We all enjoyed the Planetarium & the bonus was the BEST photo opportunity of the Chicago skyline!!! Alex was great with her SKYWATCH live explanation of the night sky, constellations & zodiac signs. Really enjoyed it all!!

5. Clarke House Museum

1827 S Indiana Ave, Chicago, IL 60616-1308 +1 312-326-1480 [email protected] https://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/clarke_house_museum.html
Excellent
32%
Good
55%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
0%
Terrible
4%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 22 reviews

Clarke House Museum

Clarke House is oldest surviving building in the original Chicago city limits. Built in 1836 for New York businessman Henry Brown Clarke, the timber frame structure is a rare example of domestic architecture from Chicago's earliest days. Guided tours of Clarke House and related educational programming explore life in early Chicago through the social and cultural experiences of the Clarke family, the symbolism of Greek Revival architecture, and the fascinating preservation of this local landmark. Clarke House Museum is the centerpiece of Chicago Women's Park & Gardens in the Prairie Avenue Historic District. Operated as a museum by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events since 1982, it is furnished with period artifacts through the generosity of The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in The State of Illinois, and interpreted through a partnership with Glessner House Museum.

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