Chicago Architecture Foundation
224 S. Michigan Ave.; 312-922-3432, architecture.org
The foundation has entertains nearly 500,000 people a year on more than 85 architecture tours, with free exhibitions and a retail store.
Ongoing: “Stories Behind the Skylines” tours: Walking, boat and bus tours highlight Chicago’s architectural landscape, including historic residencies, lakefront parks and modern skyscrapers.
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.
Clarke House Museum
1827 S. Indiana Ave.; 312-326-1480, clarkehousemuseum.org
The historic Clarke House is considered the oldest surviving building in Chicago’s original city limits. It was built for Henry Brown Clarke and his wife, Caroline Palmer Clarke, and is an example of Greek revival style architecture.
Ongoing: Tours: Noon and 2 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday (includes tour of Glessner House Museum).
Driehaus Museum
40 E. Erie St.; 312-482-8933, driehausmuseum.org
Housed in the restored Samuel M. Nickerson Mansion, the museum’s galleries are decorated with objets d’art from the Driehaus collection by famous designers of the 19th and 20th centuries, draped in the elegance displayed by the wealthy during America’s Gilded Age. Guided tours are offered.
Ongoing: Twilight Tours: Every first and third Tuesday.
Frances Willard House
1730 Chicago Ave., Evanston; 847-328-7500, franceswillardhouse.org
The home of the 19th-century reformer and second president of the Woman’s Christmas Temperance Union (1879–98) is where Frances Willard lived and worked from 1865 until her death in 1898. Visitors can walk through rooms decorated with the activist’s original furniture and accessories (including an Edison Dictaphone) while learning about Willard’s work.
Ongoing: “Lifting as We Climb”: The exhibit that highlights notable Evanston women is part of the Evanston Women’s History Project, a research effort to document the accomplishments of Evanston women.
Ongoing: Tours: Guided tours are offered the first and third Sunday by appointment. 1-4 p.m. (last tour begins at 3 p.m.); $10, $5 for children under 12
John Hancock Center
875 N. Michigan Ave.; 888-875-8439, jhochicago.com
Ongoing: Skywalk: The patiolike enclosure with industrial-strength screens is Chicago’s highest open-air viewing deck, 1,000 feet above the Magnificent Mile.
Morton Arboretum
4100 Illinois Highway 53, Lisle; 630-968-0074, mortonarb.org
Ongoing: “Tree House Tales”: Children of all ages can learn about the species of various trees in this interactive exhibit of tree houses like the Empress Tree Castle or the Bur Oak Clubhouse Hideaway that offer fun and educational activities.
The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
2430 N. Cannon Drive; 773-755-5100, naturemuseum.org
The museum offers information about local ecology and the many plants, animals and insects found in the Midwest through its collections and archives, and provides documentation on how humans have changed local ecosystems. The collections include natural history specimens, historic artifacts, manuscripts, photographs and more.
Ongoing: Judy Istock Butterfly Haven: Get up close to more than 75 species of exotic butterflies and bird species from the Southern Hemisphere in a 2,700-square-foot greenhouse with water, flowers, tropical trees and 1,000 butterflies, including some never before seen in our region.
Submit information to ctc-ent-events@tribune.com
