Adler Planetarium
1300 S. Lake Shore Drive; 312-922-7827, adlerplanetarium.org
America’s first planetarium has one of the world’s greatest collections of antique astronomical instruments. One of those is the fully restored Gemini 12 spacecraft flown by astronauts Jim Lovell and Buzz Aldrin in the permanent exhibit “A Journey With Jim Lovell.” The Adler also has state-of-the-art exhibits, including interactive computers in the CyberSpace Gallery and virtual reality experiences in the Definiti Space Theater.
Ongoing: “Journey to the Stars”: The space show takes you through the life and death of a star and features never-before-seen visuals of the night sky and the sun.
Ongoing: “One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure”: Big Bird, Elmo and their friend from China, Hu Hu Zhu, take visitors on a journey to learn about the Big Dipper, North Star, sun and moon in this Definiti Space Theater show.
Ongoing: “Planet Explorers”: A hands-on exhibition that allows children to be backyard stargazers, go on a planetary excavation, experience a simulated blastoff into space and more. Recommended for ages 3-8.
Chicago Botanic Garden
1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe; 847-835-5440, chicagobotanic.org
The garden’s 385 acres are situated on nine islands surrounded by 81 acres of tranquil waters, with 24 display gardens. Three native habitats educate visitors about Illinois’ native flora. The Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center features a 16,000-square-foot roof garden, where you can get a view of the grounds from the Garden Cafe.
Friday through Sunday: Fine Art of Fiber: Fiber art in the form of quilts, wall hangings, clothing, dolls, fabrics, beadwork and more are on display and for sale at this art fair that also includes lectures and demonstrations.
Chicago Cultural Center
78 E. Washington St.; 312-744-6630, chicagoculturalcenter.org
The Chicago Cultural Center, a building that once housed the main branch of the Chicago Public Library, is one of the splendid structures found downtown, a neoclassical masterpiece that features art-glass domes and glittering mosaic walls. Free daytime concerts are often staged in Preston Bradley Hall. Many galleries in the Cultural Center exhibit contemporary art from around town and around the world. Live musical, dance and cultural arts performances (most of them free) take place year-round.
Through April 29: “Write Now: Artists and Letterforms”: An exhibition of recent works using letters and text in painting, printmaking, sculpture and video explores letterforms. More than 40 artists, mostly Chicago-based, have works on display, including Jo Hormuth, Rick Valicenti, Ken Fandell, Jason Lazarus, Mario Gonzalez Jr., Michael Thompson, Buzz Spector, Jason Pickleman, Joel Ross and Mike Genovese.
Clarke House Museum
1827 S. Indiana Ave.; 312-326-1480, clarkehousemuseum.org
The historic Clarke House, considered the oldest surviving building in Chicago’s original city limits, was built for Henry Brown Clarke and his wife, Caroline Palmer Clarke, and is an example of Greek revival style architecture.
Ongoing: Tours: Explore the Clarke House and see what life was like for a family in Chicago before the Civil War, when the city received its charter and was still mostly undeveloped prairie. Noon, 2 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
Field Museum
1400 S. Lake Shore Drive; 312-922-9410, fieldmuseum.org
The museum educates and entertains visitors with exhibits about nature and culture, prehistoric to present. One of the most popular attractions is “Sue,” the world’s largest and most complete T. rex dinosaur skeleton. You can also take a trip back in time in the Western Hemisphere, moving through the Ice Age, Aztec empire and more in the 19,000-square-foot “Ancient Americas” exhibit. Then travel around the world with exhibits on Egypt, Asia, Africa and China. , where you can learn about animals like the man-eating lion of Africa and the giant pandas of Asia. The Field Museum is also a world-renowned research center. The full-size replica of an 1850s Pawnee Earth Lodge reopened in 2004 after being enhanced and relocated within the Native American exhibit halls.
Through January: “Whales: Giants of the Deep”: Science and storytelling bring visitors into the underwater world of whales. The exhibit includes whale skeletons that are larger than a school bus, and audio of whale songs.
Ongoing: “Sue the T. rex”: The permanent exhibition is the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex ever discovered.
Museum of Science
and Industry
5700 S. Lake Shore Drive; 773-684-1414, msichicago.org
The museum is home to the WWII U-505 German submarine (a National Historic Landmark). The exhibit includes veterans’ testimonials, interactive replicas and re-enactments. Also at MSI is the exhibit “Take Flight,” which details modern aeronautics in a real Boeing 727. And, with more than 1,400 feet of track and 34 operating trains, “The Great Train Story” exhibit depicts a rail journey between Chicago and Seattle, and includes a miniature Willis Tower and Chicago River drawbridges. The Omnimax Theater, with its domed, five-story screen and booming sound system, is also a popular attraction.
Ongoing: “Science Storms”: Learn about the science of storms in this interactive exhibit where you can manipulate the strength of a tornado, launch a tsunami, explore air currents and more.
Shedd Aquarium
1200 S. Lake Shore Drive; 312-939-2438, 312-559-0200, sheddaquarium.org
One of the largest indoor aquariums features permanent exhibits such as “Seahorses and Seadragons,” featured in the “Waters of the World” exhibit; and “Amazon Rising,” which brings to life one of the world’s most diverse environments, where anacondas, piranhas and arowanas make their home. Additional exhibits include the “Wild Reef” display, one of the most diverse shark exhibits in North America featuring more than 25 sharks, 500 species of reef fish and the largest display of live coral in the Midwest; and “Grand Cayman Iguana,” featuring one of the critically endangered giant lizards.
Through May 28: “Jellies”: A showcase of the strange anatomies and life cycles of the translucent ocean-dwellers.
Ongoing: Aquatic show: Dolphins spring out of the water and belugas dance.
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