mcc_aerial.jpgJust south of Chicago’s Loop is the 57-acre lakefront Museum Campus. Visiting this destination is a real treat. What other big city lets you go from seeing dinosaurs to viewing a star-bright sky to watching dolphins and whales frolic in the sea? You can do all of this by visiting the Field Museum, the Adler Planetarium and the Shedd Aquarium.

(Those of you who watch football on TV have seen it many times. The Chicago Bears play their home games at Soldier Field, right next to the campus, and the blimp provides many interesting shots).

Transportation

You can get to the Museum Campus by cab, car, or city bus:

  • View driving directions (from MapQuest)
  • View Museum Campus map
  • CTA Bus #146 Southbound to Museum Campus (pdf) - stops along Michigan Avenue north of the river and on State Street south of the river. From the Hyatt, walk west to Michigan Ave. Cross the bridge and look for a 146 bus stop sign on the West side of the street. Hop on the bus and tour through downtown. The bus will drop you off right across the street from the Museum.

Adler Planetarium
Address: 1300 South Lake Shore Drive
Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m daily
Admission: $10 (adult general admission)

Field Museum of Natural History
Address: Roosevelt Road at Lake Shore Drive
Hours: 9:00am - 5:00 pm daily, last admission at 4:00pm
Admission: $14, general admission (adult); extra for tickets to some special exhibits

Shedd Aquarium
Address: 1200 South Lake Shore Drive
Hours: 9:00am-5:00pm M-F, 9:00am-6:00pm Sa-Su
Admission: $8, aquarium only (adult); $27.50, aquarium, special exhibits, Oceanarium, and 4-D theater

There are many other museums listed in the MLA ‘08 Chicago Attractions Guide (pdf).

-Pat Pinkowski & Jim Shedlock

(Photo from City of Chicago website)