How They Really Do It: Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry

By Jonathan Berohn

Are your kids the type that always want to know how things work? Are you tired of having to run to the Internet to figure out the answers to their questions? Next time you’re in Chicago, take them to the Museum of Science and Industry, and watch them go wild just soaking in all the information and facts—better still, watch them have a great time doing it, and have fun learning a few new things yourself.

The Museum of Science and Industry offers the perfect combination of real life artifacts and amazing simulations to immerse you and your junior inquisitors in a full day of investigation, exploration, and fun. If you want to start with the real, check out the Pioneer Zephyr locomotive and the 727 jet airplane. You can walk through both and learn some interesting facts about transportation. For a little more offbeat transportation, make sure you don’t miss the WWII German U-boat (the only one of its kind in the U.S.). Seeing the cramped conditions helps bring the history alive like no book can.

The simulated exhibits are also incredible. From the working coalmine to the automated toy factory, the whole family will find plenty of excitement. And don’t forget to check out the Internet exhibit. It’s a great introduction for younger kids, and it will help you bone up for the questions that are sure to come later. When you get worn out from all your exploring, I would also recommend you don’t miss the old fashioned ice-cream shop—definitely a family favorite.

The only down side is the distinct impression that you are getting nickeled and dimed to death. Admission isn’t too bad at $9 for adults and $5 for kids 3-11 (prices are slightly less for Chicago residents), but when you start adding for things like special exhibits (there was a great monster truck exhibit when we visited last summer) and Omnimax movies, you get well into the $75-80 dollar range for a family of four. Even then, what I really found annoying was the extra charges in some of the exhibits. If your kid wants to build his or her own toy on the animated assembly line—extra charge. If he or she wants a card to make some of the Internet exhibits work—extra charge. You get the picture. You can certainly enjoy all the exhibits without paying extra, but it’s still a bit annoying.

All in all, though, we had a great time and learned some interesting facts at the same time. The Museum of Science and Industry is definitely worth adding to any Chicago trip, and worth its own excursion if you live nearby.

For More Information:

You can check out current exhibits and prices at the Museum of Science and Industry web site. You can also get a preview of most of the things you can see to help you plan your trip and start building interest with your kids.