Group Arrival & Check-In
Child/Student Groups
The Museum has a strict Chaperone Policy: student/youth groups in grades K-3 are required to have one adult for every five children; student/youth groups in grades 4-12 are required to have one adult per 10 children. Please make sure your group has the required number of chaperones. Chaperones must remain with their students at all times while in the Museum. Please call (773) 684-1414 with any questions on this policy.
Arrival
- Review departure time and meeting place with everyone in your group.
- Do a final head count to determine the exact number in your group.
- Plan to arrive at the Museum at least a half-hour before any scheduled event (e.g., Omnimax®, ticketed exhibits, etc.)
- The group center entrance is located on the west side of the Museum. (See below.) On-site bus parking is not available; see Groups Bus Parking for more.
Check-In
- Keep in mind that the Group Center can become congested if several groups arrive at the same time. Check-in may take up to 15-20 minutes.
- The group leader should proceed to the counter where a representative will register the group and provide tickets and maps.
- Present the confirmation form and an accurate group count.
- At this time, you may pay for any additional people in your group.
- You will also confirm any group lunch information, if applicable.
- Please have your confirmation number and payment ready when you step up to the counter to ensure swift entry into the Museum.
- Museum staff will collect your group’s lunches (if applicable) and assign a storage locker for coats.
Group Center
The Group Center is where groups enter and leave the Museum, with space for eating lunches (with advance arrangement). The Group Center is located on the west side of the Museum's ground level. The Group Center entrance is in the west ground-level lot on Cornell Drive, just south of the underground parking garage entrance. See Getting Here for general directions to the Museum.
- Museum Hours
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- Monday – Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Sunday: 11 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Open every day except Christmas Day
- Museum Location
- Getting Here
- Happening Now
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Smart Home: Green + Wired
Learn how to make green living and eco-friendly technology part of your life.
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Dinosaurs Alive!
Journey with some of the world's preeminent paleontologists as they explore some of the greatest dinosaur finds in history.
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Grand Canyon Adventure
Get ready for an exhilarating river-rafting adventure down the Colorado River!
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- Coming Soon
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Member Day Trip: Chicago Center for Green Technology
Tour the Chicago Center for Green Technology and "the greenest home in Chicago."
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Future Exhibits Unveiled
Be the first to get a glimpse of the Museum’s upcoming “big three” permanent exhibits.
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DNA Testing for African Ancestry: Science and Cynicism
Dr. Kittles offers insight on how genetics can be used to infer African Ancestry.
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