Museum of Science and Industry

Photos

1. The recently modernized Farm Tech exhibit opened to guests in 2007.
2. The Transportation Gallery has been reimagined, including our repositioned aircraft collection that dramatically depicts flight and new guest access to the 999 Steam Locomotive.
3. Exciting additions to the Henry Crown Space Center include opportunities to "dock" with the International Space Station and "remote control" a Mars Rover.
4. The Coal Mine reopened in April 2008 with new lighting, sound and graphic displays that help take guests "600 feet" into a mineshaft.
5. A revitalized Idea Factory includes enhanced interactive experiences for our youngest guests, from toddlers to third graders.

Over 75 years, Chicago has grown to love the Museum of Science and Industry’s inspiring interactive exhibits. As a world-renowned science museum with a vision to inspire and motivate the next generation of inventors and innovators, we are committed to presenting the most current and cutting-edge science, technology, medicine and engineering available. To do this, we have undertaken an aggressive exhibit renewal program to accompany our brand new exhibitions. By 2011, nearly 90 percent of the Museum’s exhibit space will be either new or completely renewed and re-energized.

Farm Tech

The recently modernized Farm Tech exhibit invites guests to explore the innovative technology that farmers use to be more efficient, effective and eco-friendly as they deliver food from field to market. Highlights of the exhibit challenge guests to: plant, grow and harvest crops using GPS technology; put their milking skills to the test against a timer; gain insights into hydroponics and other advanced crop-growing techniques; and learn about the unique occupations in the agriculture field today, including animal nutritionists, agriculture meteorologists and custom-feed cattle farmers.

Transportation Zone

In 2007, the Museum began work on creating a new, sophisticated interpretation of the story of aviation in the Transportation Gallery. Conserved aircraft have been dramatically repositioned in the gallery to represent movement and flight and to showcase each aircraft’s chronological importance within the field of aviation. A new interpretative presentation of the Museum’s authentic Wright Flyer replica is being incorporated into the gallery space.

Henry Crown Space Center

This recently renovated gallery offers an expanded and more interactive exploration of the space program from the early years of the Space Race to what our future in space may hold. Guests are now invited to “dock” at the International Space Station, “remote control” a Mars Rover, explore an inflatable moon base and discover the upcoming technologies of human space exploration. A new and dynamic multimedia presentation has been added depicting the historic journey of the Apollo 11 lunar lander to the surface of the moon.

Coal Mine

The Coal Mine, a revered experience at the Museum since it first debuted in 1933, reopened in early April 2008 with new interpretative media depicting the history of coal mining during the early 20th century and a completely refurbished coal mine experience, with new lighting, sound, interpretative elements and graphic displays. More than ever, guests will enjoy the experience of descending “600 feet” into a mineshaft, riding the rails and learning about the technology behind mining.

Idea Factory

This exhibit space inspires the inventive genius in the Museum’s youngest guests, from toddlers to third graders. A revitalized Idea Factory debuted in spring 2008, featuring enhanced interactive experiences. Using basic objects, children experiment and test their own theories about the fundamentals of construction, simple machines, light, color, magnetism, balance, air and water.