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The Field Museum of Natural History (FMNH), also known as The Field Museum, is a natural history museum in Chicago, Illinois, and is one of the largest such museums in the world. The museum is popular for the size and quality of its educational and scientific programs, and its extensive scientific specimen and artifact collections. The permanent exhibitions, which attract up to 2 million visitors annually, include fossils, current cultures from around the world, and interactive programming demonstrating today's urgent conservation needs. The museum is named in honor of its first major benefactor, Marshall Field, the department-store magnate. The museum and its collections originated from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition and the artifacts displayed at the fair.
The museum maintains a temporary exhibition program of traveling shows as well as in-house produced topical exhibitions. The professional staff maintains collections of over 24Â million specimens and objects that provide the basis for the museum's scientific-research programs. These collections include the full range of existing biodiversity, gems, meteorites, fossils, and rich anthropological collections and cultural artifacts from around the globe. The museum's library, which contains over 275,000 books, journals, and photo archives focused on biological systematics, evolutionary biology, geology, archaeology, ethnology and material culture, supports the museum's academic-research faculty and exhibit development. The academic faculty and scientific staff engage in field expeditions, in biodiversity and cultural research on every continent, in local and foreign student training, and in stewardship of the rich specimen and artifact collections. They work in close collaboration with public programming exhibitions and education initiatives.
One of the greatest museums in this country, visiting it is a joy. Very family friendly, but still a museum worth visiting on your own, it has art and science and history and community engagement. You can spend an entire day in these halls and you will be better for it. I cannot reccomend it strongly enough. There is also a great "Meet the scientist" room in the main hall, where you can interact one on one with researchers about their work. It is different to discuss science with actual scientists and a brilliant way to show children that scientists are real people, doing real work, and that anybody can grow up to be one.
Richard-Patrick CromwellMar 1, 2018
A lovely place to spend an entire morning, or an afternoon. The place closes at 5 pm. Free entry for residents of Illinois. It is pretty similar to an American Museum of Natural History. You get to see an actual dinosaur skull here. I can imagine it's a great place for kids to visit. I did not go to the interactive sessions. There are stalls for Native American culture, an exhibit for dinosaurs, one for the Earth's geography and the different periods it went through, the Egyptian and Tibetan cultures. Would highly recommend. Great views of the city skyline, and the lake from not too far away from the museum.
Jyothsna HarithsaFeb 15, 2018
Fantastic place. Never visited a place like this before. It took me two days to explore the whole museum. Even then I couldn't see few places in the museum. I love how then have organized the planet evolution with the fossil finds from various parts of the world. Not to mention the dinosaur fossils and Sue the TRex especially. Would love to visit this place again 😊
pathki chandra shekhar raoFeb 26, 2018
This definitely one of the places you really need to go to if you are in the area. While the Museum of Science and Industry is filled with technology and human marvels, this place is great if you want to experience the natural wonders. Even though it means paying a little extra, you should definitely check out the Jurassic World section. Trust me, You won't be disappointed. They do a pretty good job of trying to convince you that you are in the Jurassic World of the movie.
Akkas UddinJan 30, 2018
Enjoyed our visit. Parked at soldier field, and was a better parking experience than the surface lot between the Field and aquarium. The museum had some very interesting exhibits including the soil exhibit sponsored by Monsanto. Early Americans area was very good. The dinosaur skeletons were excellent. Did not do the Jurassic area. Also enjoyed the rocks and gems. Many bugs and natural specimens. Interesting to see and understand how specimens are gathered even today to compare with similar species from across time and compare not just evolution but the effects of pollution on birds and etc.
Bill BoelkeDec 30, 2017
First off...it says people spend up to three hours. This is no where near enough time. Loved the general exhibits, only wish the exhibits I wanted to see we not extra charges. We entered through north doors...very minimal wait Whereas the south doors...the line was horrendous. Take your time and enjoy!
Victor HillsMar 29, 2018
Such a fascinating museum! We came here to see the mummy exhibit which was incredible! There were so many other fun and interesting exhibits to check out so we actually ended up going through them all. The dinosaur exhibit was also really interesting and featured a ton of really cool facts.
Matt PeppesMar 31, 2018
The Field Museum is a legendary place. Far too much to see in just one day. Come early and well-fed, and stay until closing. Regardless your level of interest in natural history prior to arrival, you will find something to love here. There is something for everyone!
Jeff KentonMar 31, 2018
It all started with the gentleman who collected our entrance fee. In fact, I commented to him about what a great big smile he had. For me, that was out of the ordinary because where I'm from almost nobody smiles, EVER. It turned out that almost all of the museum employees we as happy as he was with only a single exception, the large woman working in the mummy exhibit. Even one of the janitorial staff struck up a conversation with us as we were walking the same direction. What a fantastic time we all had. My recommendation for those visiting, spend the extra money for the all access pass. It was well worth a few extra bucks. Oh, and be sure to wear comfortable shoes. This place is huge.
TIM TIPTONJun 3, 2018
A must visit place in Chicago! I didn't have much time to go around the whole museum as we were doing many attractions on the same day. You need at least half a day so you can enjoy most of the galleries. I do recommend getting the city pass as it gives you preferential entry and to arrive at 9 am which is when it opens. At the time of our visit, the T-Rex was not on displayed as they were working on relocating her to another room and were getting it ready, not sure how long it'll take. But it is a must go, you will definitely enjoy and be amazed with everything.
Karina GonzálezJun 4, 2018
My favorite exhibition is "Evolving Planet": it takes the visitor through the history of life on Earth, marking each mass extinction and displaying amazing fossils for each period. It also marks great moments in the evolution of plants (the seed!) and animals (the egg!). Take your time to admire the excellently preserved fossils. I loved that the scientists working on the museum are also part of the exhibitions; sometimes you can even ask them questions directly. 😃
Leonides MartinezMay 16, 2018
The Field Museum is one of the three or four top natural history museums in the United States. I love the old-school dioramas, the three "man-eater" lions, and the collections of gems, minerals, and meteorites. The anthropological exhibits are great, although I disagree with some of the curatorial choices (for example: the decision to group the exhibits thematically rather than chronologically or culturally makes it difficult to figure out what makes any particular group unique, or to understand changes through time). Sue was not on display when I was there in May 2018, but a cast of Maximo the titanosaur (the largest dinosaur in the world) was being installed in the main hall, which was awesome. This is a great place to spend a day, so my three-hour visit felt rushed. I look forward to coming here again the next time I'm in Chicago.
David CainJun 9, 2018
Did not have enough time to see the whole place but this is definitely the best museum I've ever experienced! There at thousands of taxidermy. If you love animals and ecology you must come. I only purchased the basic ticket and in 4 hours I still didn't get to see much of the place. You will need to dedicate the entire day if you are planning on seeing all the special exhibits. Even going on a Saturday it wasn't that busy and I did not have to wait in line. I especially loved going through time to see all the animals evolve. Unfortunately they did not have sue on display but i got to see many other dinosaurs. I drove all the way from Louisville and would definitely do it again. Worth every penny!
John GerlachJun 11, 2018
One of the greatest museums in this country, visiting it is a joy. Very family friendly, but still a museum worth visiting on your own, it has art and science and history and community engagement. You can spend an entire day in these halls and you will be better for it. I cannot reccomend it strongly enough. There is also a great "Meet the scientist" room in the main hall, where you can interact one on one with researchers about their work. It is different to discuss science with actual scientists and a brilliant way to show children that scientists are real people, doing real work, and that anybody can grow up to be one.
Richard-Patrick CromwellMar 1, 2018
A lovely place to spend an entire morning, or an afternoon. The place closes at 5 pm. Free entry for residents of Illinois. It is pretty similar to an American Museum of Natural History. You get to see an actual dinosaur skull here. I can imagine it's a great place for kids to visit. I did not go to the interactive sessions. There are stalls for Native American culture, an exhibit for dinosaurs, one for the Earth's geography and the different periods it went through, the Egyptian and Tibetan cultures. Would highly recommend. Great views of the city skyline, and the lake from not too far away from the museum.
Jyothsna HarithsaFeb 15, 2018
Fantastic place. Never visited a place like this before. It took me two days to explore the whole museum. Even then I couldn't see few places in the museum. I love how then have organized the planet evolution with the fossil finds from various parts of the world. Not to mention the dinosaur fossils and Sue the TRex especially. Would love to visit this place again 😊
pathki chandra shekhar raoFeb 26, 2018
This definitely one of the places you really need to go to if you are in the area. While the Museum of Science and Industry is filled with technology and human marvels, this place is great if you want to experience the natural wonders. Even though it means paying a little extra, you should definitely check out the Jurassic World section. Trust me, You won't be disappointed. They do a pretty good job of trying to convince you that you are in the Jurassic World of the movie.
Akkas UddinJan 30, 2018
Enjoyed our visit. Parked at soldier field, and was a better parking experience than the surface lot between the Field and aquarium. The museum had some very interesting exhibits including the soil exhibit sponsored by Monsanto. Early Americans area was very good. The dinosaur skeletons were excellent. Did not do the Jurassic area. Also enjoyed the rocks and gems. Many bugs and natural specimens. Interesting to see and understand how specimens are gathered even today to compare with similar species from across time and compare not just evolution but the effects of pollution on birds and etc.
Bill BoelkeDec 30, 2017
First off...it says people spend up to three hours. This is no where near enough time. Loved the general exhibits, only wish the exhibits I wanted to see we not extra charges. We entered through north doors...very minimal wait Whereas the south doors...the line was horrendous. Take your time and enjoy!
Victor HillsMar 29, 2018
Such a fascinating museum! We came here to see the mummy exhibit which was incredible! There were so many other fun and interesting exhibits to check out so we actually ended up going through them all. The dinosaur exhibit was also really interesting and featured a ton of really cool facts.
Matt PeppesMar 31, 2018
The Field Museum is a legendary place. Far too much to see in just one day. Come early and well-fed, and stay until closing. Regardless your level of interest in natural history prior to arrival, you will find something to love here. There is something for everyone!
Jeff KentonMar 31, 2018
It all started with the gentleman who collected our entrance fee. In fact, I commented to him about what a great big smile he had. For me, that was out of the ordinary because where I'm from almost nobody smiles, EVER. It turned out that almost all of the museum employees we as happy as he was with only a single exception, the large woman working in the mummy exhibit. Even one of the janitorial staff struck up a conversation with us as we were walking the same direction. What a fantastic time we all had. My recommendation for those visiting, spend the extra money for the all access pass. It was well worth a few extra bucks. Oh, and be sure to wear comfortable shoes. This place is huge.
TIM TIPTONJun 3, 2018
A must visit place in Chicago! I didn't have much time to go around the whole museum as we were doing many attractions on the same day. You need at least half a day so you can enjoy most of the galleries. I do recommend getting the city pass as it gives you preferential entry and to arrive at 9 am which is when it opens. At the time of our visit, the T-Rex was not on displayed as they were working on relocating her to another room and were getting it ready, not sure how long it'll take. But it is a must go, you will definitely enjoy and be amazed with everything.
Karina GonzálezJun 4, 2018
My favorite exhibition is "Evolving Planet": it takes the visitor through the history of life on Earth, marking each mass extinction and displaying amazing fossils for each period. It also marks great moments in the evolution of plants (the seed!) and animals (the egg!). Take your time to admire the excellently preserved fossils. I loved that the scientists working on the museum are also part of the exhibitions; sometimes you can even ask them questions directly. 😃
Leonides MartinezMay 16, 2018
The Field Museum is one of the three or four top natural history museums in the United States. I love the old-school dioramas, the three "man-eater" lions, and the collections of gems, minerals, and meteorites. The anthropological exhibits are great, although I disagree with some of the curatorial choices (for example: the decision to group the exhibits thematically rather than chronologically or culturally makes it difficult to figure out what makes any particular group unique, or to understand changes through time). Sue was not on display when I was there in May 2018, but a cast of Maximo the titanosaur (the largest dinosaur in the world) was being installed in the main hall, which was awesome. This is a great place to spend a day, so my three-hour visit felt rushed. I look forward to coming here again the next time I'm in Chicago.
David CainJun 9, 2018
Did not have enough time to see the whole place but this is definitely the best museum I've ever experienced! There at thousands of taxidermy. If you love animals and ecology you must come. I only purchased the basic ticket and in 4 hours I still didn't get to see much of the place. You will need to dedicate the entire day if you are planning on seeing all the special exhibits. Even going on a Saturday it wasn't that busy and I did not have to wait in line. I especially loved going through time to see all the animals evolve. Unfortunately they did not have sue on display but i got to see many other dinosaurs. I drove all the way from Louisville and would definitely do it again. Worth every penny!
John GerlachJun 11, 2018
One of the greatest museums in this country, visiting it is a joy. Very family friendly, but still a museum worth visiting on your own, it has art and science and history and community engagement. You can spend an entire day in these halls and you will be better for it. I cannot reccomend it strongly enough. There is also a great "Meet the scientist" room in the main hall, where you can interact one on one with researchers about their work. It is different to discuss science with actual scientists and a brilliant way to show children that scientists are real people, doing real work, and that anybody can grow up to be one.
Richard-Patrick CromwellMar 1, 2018
A lovely place to spend an entire morning, or an afternoon. The place closes at 5 pm. Free entry for residents of Illinois. It is pretty similar to an American Museum of Natural History. You get to see an actual dinosaur skull here. I can imagine it's a great place for kids to visit. I did not go to the interactive sessions. There are stalls for Native American culture, an exhibit for dinosaurs, one for the Earth's geography and the different periods it went through, the Egyptian and Tibetan cultures. Would highly recommend. Great views of the city skyline, and the lake from not too far away from the museum.
Jyothsna HarithsaFeb 15, 2018
Fantastic place. Never visited a place like this before. It took me two days to explore the whole museum. Even then I couldn't see few places in the museum. I love how then have organized the planet evolution with the fossil finds from various parts of the world. Not to mention the dinosaur fossils and Sue the TRex especially. Would love to visit this place again 😊
pathki chandra shekhar raoFeb 26, 2018
This definitely one of the places you really need to go to if you are in the area. While the Museum of Science and Industry is filled with technology and human marvels, this place is great if you want to experience the natural wonders. Even though it means paying a little extra, you should definitely check out the Jurassic World section. Trust me, You won't be disappointed. They do a pretty good job of trying to convince you that you are in the Jurassic World of the movie.
Akkas UddinJan 30, 2018
Enjoyed our visit. Parked at soldier field, and was a better parking experience than the surface lot between the Field and aquarium. The museum had some very interesting exhibits including the soil exhibit sponsored by Monsanto. Early Americans area was very good. The dinosaur skeletons were excellent. Did not do the Jurassic area. Also enjoyed the rocks and gems. Many bugs and natural specimens. Interesting to see and understand how specimens are gathered even today to compare with similar species from across time and compare not just evolution but the effects of pollution on birds and etc.
Bill BoelkeDec 30, 2017
First off...it says people spend up to three hours. This is no where near enough time. Loved the general exhibits, only wish the exhibits I wanted to see we not extra charges. We entered through north doors...very minimal wait Whereas the south doors...the line was horrendous. Take your time and enjoy!
Victor HillsMar 29, 2018
Such a fascinating museum! We came here to see the mummy exhibit which was incredible! There were so many other fun and interesting exhibits to check out so we actually ended up going through them all. The dinosaur exhibit was also really interesting and featured a ton of really cool facts.
Matt PeppesMar 31, 2018
The Field Museum is a legendary place. Far too much to see in just one day. Come early and well-fed, and stay until closing. Regardless your level of interest in natural history prior to arrival, you will find something to love here. There is something for everyone!
Jeff KentonMar 31, 2018
It all started with the gentleman who collected our entrance fee. In fact, I commented to him about what a great big smile he had. For me, that was out of the ordinary because where I'm from almost nobody smiles, EVER. It turned out that almost all of the museum employees we as happy as he was with only a single exception, the large woman working in the mummy exhibit. Even one of the janitorial staff struck up a conversation with us as we were walking the same direction. What a fantastic time we all had. My recommendation for those visiting, spend the extra money for the all access pass. It was well worth a few extra bucks. Oh, and be sure to wear comfortable shoes. This place is huge.
TIM TIPTONJun 3, 2018
A must visit place in Chicago! I didn't have much time to go around the whole museum as we were doing many attractions on the same day. You need at least half a day so you can enjoy most of the galleries. I do recommend getting the city pass as it gives you preferential entry and to arrive at 9 am which is when it opens. At the time of our visit, the T-Rex was not on displayed as they were working on relocating her to another room and were getting it ready, not sure how long it'll take. But it is a must go, you will definitely enjoy and be amazed with everything.
Karina GonzálezJun 4, 2018
My favorite exhibition is "Evolving Planet": it takes the visitor through the history of life on Earth, marking each mass extinction and displaying amazing fossils for each period. It also marks great moments in the evolution of plants (the seed!) and animals (the egg!). Take your time to admire the excellently preserved fossils. I loved that the scientists working on the museum are also part of the exhibitions; sometimes you can even ask them questions directly. 😃
Leonides MartinezMay 16, 2018
The Field Museum is one of the three or four top natural history museums in the United States. I love the old-school dioramas, the three "man-eater" lions, and the collections of gems, minerals, and meteorites. The anthropological exhibits are great, although I disagree with some of the curatorial choices (for example: the decision to group the exhibits thematically rather than chronologically or culturally makes it difficult to figure out what makes any particular group unique, or to understand changes through time). Sue was not on display when I was there in May 2018, but a cast of Maximo the titanosaur (the largest dinosaur in the world) was being installed in the main hall, which was awesome. This is a great place to spend a day, so my three-hour visit felt rushed. I look forward to coming here again the next time I'm in Chicago.
David CainJun 9, 2018
Did not have enough time to see the whole place but this is definitely the best museum I've ever experienced! There at thousands of taxidermy. If you love animals and ecology you must come. I only purchased the basic ticket and in 4 hours I still didn't get to see much of the place. You will need to dedicate the entire day if you are planning on seeing all the special exhibits. Even going on a Saturday it wasn't that busy and I did not have to wait in line. I especially loved going through time to see all the animals evolve. Unfortunately they did not have sue on display but i got to see many other dinosaurs. I drove all the way from Louisville and would definitely do it again. Worth every penny!
John GerlachJun 11, 2018
| Monday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Thursday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Friday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
Wander is a travel search engine that allows you to find the perfect travel destination that fits your budget and preferences.