Cernan Earth and Space Center
Triton College, 2000 5th Ave., River Grove; 708-456-0300, http://www.triton.edu/cernan
Explore the wonders of the universe and the latest discoveries in astronomy, space exploration and Earth science at this space-age facility that combines education and entertainment for people of all ages. Open all year, the Cernan Center houses a 100-seat dome theater that features star-filled planetarium shows, wraparound films, children’s shows and laser light shows, along with a Space Hall and Star Store gift shop.
DuPage Children’s
Museum
301 N. Washington St., Naperville; 630-637-8000, dupagechildrensmuseum.org
The museum offers activities and exhibits that stimulate curiosity, creative thinking and problem solving with self-directed, open-ended experiences, integration of the arts, science and math, and a child-adult learning partnership.
Ongoing: “Trains — Get on Board!”: The Interact with Art gallery at the museum has become a depot for exploration since this exhibit pulled into the station. From a control tower at the entrance, to a kid-size Metra train and a model train diorama with passenger and freight trains winding around tracks, “Trains” is a lesson in the ways of locomotive travel, as well as math, science and the arts, with continuing updates to the display adding to the fun learning experience.
Harold Washington
Library Center
400 S. State; 312-747-4300, chipublib.org
The Chicago Public Library’s Special Collections and Preservation Division provides access to rare materials of the Chicago Public Library including items relating to the Civil War and Chicago theaters, Chicago’s world’s fairs, neighborhood history and rare books and manuscripts from Chicago authors and publishers. The Preservation Division also houses the Harold Washington Archives & Collections, which documents Mayor Harold Washington’s political career with artifacts, published material and manuscripts, photographs, audio and video cassettes.
Through May 15: “Actors, Plays and Stages: Early Theater in Chicago”: The exhibition looks at the origin of Chicago’s rich theatrical legacy and playhouses that have operated for more than 100 years.
Kohl Children’s Museum
2100 Patriot Blvd., Glenview; 847-832-6600, kohlchildrensmuseum.org
Recently named one of the country’s Ten Best Children’s Museums by Parents Magazine, Kohl offers interactive, hands-on exhibits for children ages birth to 8 that encourage children to become effective learners through self-directed complex play.
Through May 13: “Eggs to Chicks”: The cooperative exhibit with the Garfield Farm Museum returns to Kohl, giving visitors an opportunity to see the life cycle of the rare White Java and Black Java chicken. The delivery and incubation times of more than 100 eggs allow for new chicks to be hatched throughout the run of the exhibit in a special child-height egg incubator. The growing chicks, an endangered species less than a decade ago, are given new homes on farms in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana to be used for egg production and species repopulation.
Mitchell Museum of the American Indian
3001 Central St., Evanston; 847-475-1030, mitchellmuseum.org
The museum was founded after John and Betty Mitchell donated their personal collection of 3,000 Native American artifacts to Evanston’s Kendall College in 1977, before becoming an independent nonprofit institution in 2006. Since the initial donation of artifacts, the museum’s collection has grown to approximately 10,000 pieces, and it is one of only a handful of museums in the nation that focuses exclusively on the art, history and culture of American Indian and First Nation peoples from throughout the United States and Canada.
Through May 27: “Treasures of the Collection”: Art from the museum’s collection is on display, items dating from the mid-1800s to the late 20th century, including baskets, beadwork, Inuit art, ledger drawings, rugs and Southwest art.
Museum of Contemporary Photography
Columbia College, 600 S. Michigan Ave.; 312-663-5554, mocp.org
The only museum in the Midwest dedicated solely to photography, MOCP presents exhibitions and projects in a wide range of contemporary aesthetics and technologies that communicate the value and significance of photographic images as expressions of human thought, imagination and creativity.
Through July 1: “Survival Techniques: Narratives of Resistance”: A group exhibit by 14 international artists looks at how individuals and groups endure long-term hardships. Subject matters include exile, displacement and the struggle to exist in a state of flux.
Submit information to ctc-ent-events@tribune.com
