Exhibit Essentials
- Ages:
- This exhibit is suitable for all ages.
- Location:
- Lower Level, Smart Home
Museum Map - Tickets:
- This exhibit requires an additional ticket with a specified entry time.
- Cost:
- $8 adults/seniors,
$2 children (3-11)
Showtimes
Final tours of day: 1:30 p.m.
(Tour times may vary.)
See how to make eco-friendly living part of your life
One of Chicago's greenest homes is re-opened for 2012 with new decor and innovative ways to live green! On a 20-minute tour, explore the three-story home with an eco-friendly interior, showcasing re-used and refurbished pieces given new life by Chicago furnishing store Scout. See unique pieces like a dining room table that was formerly a maintenance table in a South Side steel plant, inventive light fixtures made from old globes, cabinets salvaged from an Illinois law office, and lamps made from reclaimed iron pillars.You’ll be inspired to recycle in a whole new way when you see how older furniture and home items have been transformed.
The latest in smart technology is also featured, from solar film on the roof to a state-of-the-art energy monitoring system. With help from technology blog Gizmodo, you’ll also see some of the newest high-tech home gadgets on the market today. Conclude the tour with a stroll through the Smart Park: discover native plantings; the vertical, rain and vegetable gardens; and a 40-foot wind turbine. See the home that has shown more than 300,000 guests new ways to live eco-friendly.
Explore the Exhibit
Tickets
This exhibit is not included in general admission and requires an additional timed-entry ticket. Tickets are $8 for adults and seniors, $2 for children 3-11.
Tour Times Daily Until 1:30 p.m. (later on certain dates)
Confirm the tour times on the date of your visit by seeing the online ticketing page, or call the Museum at (773) 684-1414. Tour times may vary and are subject to change.
Plan A Class Trip
Take a guided tour of the Smart Home for an engaging lesson in environmental science and technology.
- Museum Hours
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- Daily from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Open daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas
- Museum Location
- Getting Here
- Happening Now
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Animal Inside Out
A stunning look inside the animal kingdom from the creators of BODY WORLDS.
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Space Junk
A visually stunning exploration of our planet's perilous ring of orbiting debris.
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Air Racers
Ride along as elite pilots fight for position, wingtip-to-wingtip, in the fastest motor sport.
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- Coming Soon
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Inventive Genius Lecture: Empires of Light
Jill Jonnes discusses the electric clashes between Edison, Tesla and Westinghouse.
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The Wooded Isle and Gardens of the World's Fair
Cathy Maloney discusses the gardens of the World's Fairs and tours the Wooded Isle.
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The Wooded Isle and Gardens of the World's Fair
Cathy Maloney returns to discuss World's Fair gardens and tour the Wooded Isle.
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Exhibit Resource Guide
- Download the 2012 Smart Home resource guide to see the eco-friendly products, "green" ideas and resources found in the exhibit.
- Exhibit Resource Guide (PDF)
Smart Home Podcast
- Meet the architect of "Chicago's greenest home" in our interview with Michelle Kaufmann.
Download the Smart Home Podcast