Visitors to Chicago, Illinois, should definitely pay a visit to the Field Museum of Natural History. This museum is extremely popular and was named Chicago’s number 1 cultural attraction in 2006.

The History of the Chicago Field Museum of Natural History

The Field Museum started out in September 16, 1893, under the name of the Columbian Museum of Chicago, and was based at the site that the Museum of Science and Industry is now at. In 1905, the museum's name was changed in honor of the museum's 1st prominent benefactor, Marshall Field. It moved to its present site in 1921, next to the Adler Planetarium and the G. Shedd Aquarium.

Exhibitions at the Chicago Field Museum of Natural History
This museum has an amazing collection of items, more than 21 million specimens to be exact, of which they are only able to display a little bit at a time.

Some important, large, and diverse collections include:

• A dinosaur collection.
• A taxidermy collection, featuring many large animals such as elephants and lions.
• A human cultural anthropology collection, including Egyptian and Tibetan artifacts.
• A Native American artifact collection called the “Ancient Americas collection.”

Meet the Chicago Field Museum’s prize exhibit: Sue

Sue is the world’s current largest complete Tyrannosaurus skeleton and has been the museum’s prize exhibit since the year 2000.  This best-preserved Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil is 13 meters long, stands 4 meters high and is sixty-seven million years old. Sue was named after the female paleontologist who found her — Sue Hendrickson. Well, no one really knows if Sue is male or female, but is mostly referred to as female because of her namesake.  You will find this permanent fixture at the museum’s Stanley Field Hall. Scientists estimate that Sue was 29 years old at the time of her death.

The Chicago Field Museum’s Particulars

This museum is situated on Lake Shore Drive, South of Roosevelt Road, next to Lake Michigan, and forms part of Museum Campus Chicago complex.  The museum has an East Entrance that especially caters for guests in strollers, wheelchairs, or those with limited mobility.

If you need a hotel room near the museum, you can look at ChicagoHotels.org. Another option is CheapHotels.org, they have a special section with cheap hotels in Chicago.

They offer several ticket options which you can buy at the museum, online, or book via the telephone.

The museum is open Mondays – Fridays: 11 AM to 2 PM and features free highlight tours during which tour guides will show you some of the best and most exciting objects on display at the Museum.