Museum of Science and Industry

Museum Mission

To inspire the inventive genius in everyone.

Museum Vision

To inspire and motivate our children to achieve their full potential in science, technology, medicine and engineering.

Facilities    

The Museum is housed in the only remaining building from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. It was built as the fair's Palace of Fine Arts by Burnham & Root architect Charles Atwood and is now the largest science center in the Western Hemisphere. Our facilities include:

• Over 14 acres of hands-on exhibits
• More than 400,000 square feet of exhibit space
• Chicago's only five-story, domed Omnimax® theater
• Restaurants: The Brain Food Court, Jazzman's Café and Finnigan's Ice Cream Parlor
• Gift Shops: Museum Store, The Galaxy Shop, The Kids Stop and the U-505 Store
• A student and teacher e-learning center with videoconferencing capability
• An 800-seat auditorium and two smaller theater spaces
• Twelve learning lab areas for education programming
• Convenient indoor parking connected to the Museum's Entry Hall
• Wheelchair and stroller rental and coat check facilities

Audience

• In 2010, over 1.48 million guests visited the Museum. In our 78-year history, we have welcomed more than 175 million guests!
• We hosted more than 322,800 children in school groups in 2010, making us the top field trip destination among Chicago-area zoos and museums.

Exhibits and Programs

• The Museum is home to more than 35,000 artifacts.
• Public programming includes daily live science experiences, facilitated exhibits, special access tours, science theater shows, lectures, live videoconferences and special overnight events.
• Major permanent exhibits include: U-505 Submarine, YOU! The Experience, Science Storms, the Coal Mine, the Baby Chick Hatchery, The Great Train Story, ToyMaker 3000, Genetics: Decoding Life, Earth Revealed, Colleen Moore’s Fairy Castle, the Pioneer Zephyr, Farm Tech and Take Flight.

Education Programs

• We have improved science teaching for nearly 500 teachers through our science teacher education courses. 
• We have inspired more than 600 teens to consider science careers through our Science Minors and Science Achievers youth development programs.
• We have brought science into the neighborhood for over 12,000 young children through our network of after-school Science Minors Clubs.
• We provide hands-on Learning Lab programs to over 20,000 students visiting on field trips each school year.
• We have invited all 1.4 million annual Museum guests to participate in science like never before through our daily live science experiences.

Accolades

• Named one of the Seven Wonders of Chicago by readers of the Chicago Tribune
• Named one of the country's 50 top family attractions by Zagat Survey (2004)
• Voted best museum in Chicago by Citysearch.com users (2003)
• Named one of Chicago's top museums by Today's Chicago Woman readers (2004)
• Featured in the 2005 World Almanac For Kids
• Named one of the top 15 museums in the world by Life magazine's millennium edition