To those who have well traveled Chicago, which museum is more interesting:
The Museum of Science and Industry or the Field Museum
I am planning a trip to Chicago and I cannot fit both of these on the same day. Please help! Thank you!
2007-01-07 07:27:50 · 12 answers · asked by chanteuse87 5 in Travel ➔ United States ➔ Chicago
Actually both Museums are great. But here is a little breakdown of the 2.
Field Museum. Dinosaurs(Sue), many stuffed animals in natural habitats, mummies, gems, South Pacific cultures.....Parking is mostly at Soldier field so you must walk out side to enter.
Science & Industry. All Science, coal mine, fetus to baby display, walk in human heart, real plane to walk into, flight simulator, real submarine......Parking is in a connected garage.
I have been to both many times. My son (8 now) prefers Science and industry, but liike the Field museum. There are more hands on things at Science and industry. The field is on the museum campus. Located next to the Planitarium and the Aquarium, and the lake front.
If the chance, go to both. Both are excellant. They have free days in the begining of the year. Else it can be pretty expensive. Parking and tickets.
2007-01-09 03:23:40 · answer #1 · answered by jmpauley2005 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Depends on your attention span and how much time you have. The Museum of Science and Industry is on the south side of the city so it will take a little longer to get there, though there is a bus you can catch in the Loop on State Street that stops about a block away from the main entrance.
MSI is more interactive: lots of buttons to push and things to do. it has an Imax movie theater, a coal mine, a submarine you can walk through. Lots of little kids running around screaming.
The Field Museum is more scholarly. Mostly it's just artifacts to look it, but if you're a history buff it's great. It's amazing to stand in front of a piece of pottery or see robe that was made hundreds or even thousands of years ago. It's a great way to get perspective on your life; to realize that there has been SO MUCH that has occured in human existance, that the people living to day are mere specks on the timeline. And as an added bonus, the Field Museum is part of the Museum Campus with the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium, so you could possible see THREE museums instead of just the one in the amount of time it would take you to get to the MSI on the bus, look at the exhibits and then ride the bus back.
Personally, I like the MSI, but then I live here and I have all the time in the world.
2007-01-08 04:38:24 · answer #2 · answered by bodinibold 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I prefer the Museum of Science and Industry, where I could easily spend a whole day. I'm not as interested in the Field Museum's exhibits, which have improved in recent years. It's a smaller museum and can be viewed in a few hours.
2007-01-07 11:09:30 · answer #3 · answered by skellyatsogang 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Shedd Aquarium is honestly the best place to visit, and the Field Museum, Planetarium, Soldier Field, and Navy Pier are all in the same vicinity as the aquarium. If you only go to one place, I would definitely choose to the aquarium.... it is the best one in the country and sooooo cool.
If you are set on one of those 2, though, the Museum of Science and Industry is much more fun. The Field Museum is also nice, but it is mostly just exhibits, where the MSI is more interactive.
2007-01-09 02:45:25 · answer #4 · answered by Rebecca A 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends a bit what you're looking for. The Museum of Science and Industry is a bit more interactive - more exhibits that you can actually use and work with as well as explore, and its variety is a little wider. But it's quite off the beaten trail, in south Chicago. The Field Museum is a more traditional museum, with lots of static exhibits (though also some very interesting ones, such as the Egypt exhibits), but is in a more interesting location overall. I prefer the Museum of Science and Industry myself.
2007-01-07 09:16:31 · answer #5 · answered by Marc W 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
all of our museums are good. You can go on line to see what free days there are. The Field Museum offers 52 free days a year. also check out a chicago City Pass for museum discounts
2016-05-23 04:06:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It really depends what you prefer. The museum of science and industry has a lot of fun exhibits but I prefer the Field Museum. It is a vast array of many different types of history and exhibits that please almost anyone. My other suggestion is the Aquarium. I believe that is the best place to visit while in the city.
2007-01-08 06:42:22 · answer #7 · answered by Samantha 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've only been to the Museum of Science & Industry and my sister-in-law has been to the Field Museum. When I went to the MS&I, we were there for about 6 hours going through everything. Wear comfortable shoes!!! We loved it!!
My sister-in-law really like the Field Museum. Her boys liked the life-size mummies. She said to wear comfortable shoes there as well.
Have fun!!!
2007-01-07 07:38:12 · answer #8 · answered by dodd319 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Museum of Science has much more to do than the Field Museum. Coal Mine, Imax a bunch of space stuff makes it all fun.
2007-01-07 10:03:32 · answer #9 · answered by berta44 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can think of other museums that are better if you are interested in specific subjects. Why not find another? Here's a sight with 51 more museums that are in Chgo. Most are hidden gems. At least one has a name that is mis-understood...Oriental Institute Museum. Others are self-discriptive. Some are even free.
Check them out:
http://collaboratory.nunet.net/museums/pages.cfm
2007-01-07 10:21:20 · answer #10 · answered by tichur 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋