The Field Museum
add photosAs an educational institution the Field Museum offers multiple opportunities for both informal and more structured public learning. Exhibits remain the primary means of informal education, but throughout its history the Museum has supplemented this approach with innovative educational programs. The Harris Loan Program, for example, begun in 1912, provides educational outreach to children, bringing artifacts, specimens, audiovisual materials, and activity kits to Chicago area schools. The Department of Education, begun in 1922, offers a changing program of classes, lectures, field trips, museum overnights and special events for families, adults and children. Professional symposia and lectures, such as the annual A. Watson Armour III Spring Symposium, presents the latest scientific results to the international scientific community as well as the public at large.
The Crown Family PlayLab
Now Open!
Dig in...Dress up... Explore and grow! Young children are natural scientists, constantly observing and testing the world around them. Now there’s a wonderful new place to encourage your child’s explorations and creative play: the Crown Family PlayLab at The Field Museum.
The PlayLab starts with a child’s innate curiosity and a family-friendly environment, adds real artifacts and specimens, and encourages young explorers to discover the wonders of nature and learn about diverse cultures.
What does your child want to do today? At the PlayLab, children can dress up as a local animal and star in their own nature play, or explore a pueblo home and see how families lived in different times and places. They can examine insects in amber and colorful woven pouches, play an African drum or dance to a Latin beat. They can pull out drawers and discover hidden objects, play in a dinosaur’s nest, or uncover a dinosaur bone. The PlayLab offers endless opportunities for young visitors to express themselves, thrill to their own discoveries, and be a scientist for a day. With activities and challenges that grow along with your child’s interests, the PlayLab offers a new adventure every time you visit.
http://www.fieldmuseum.org/playlab/highlights.asp
31 Reviews for The Field Museum
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70 families found this helpful
"Fascinating Treasures at the Field Museum"
After spending the day touring Chicago it felt like we walked for hours and we ended our walking tour at the Field Museum.
Although it wasn't one of our toddler son's favorite things to do for the day {read: he hated it and screamed until he fell asleep}, the other kids loved that it reminded them of Night at the Museum.
There was a little bit of everything to see, from dinosaurs to mummies to native Americans, and the kids kept wondering when we would run into Teddy Roosevelt, Jedediah or Sacajawea ;)
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0 families found this helpful
"Fascinating Treasures at the Field Museum"
It felt like we walked for hours and, let me tell you, Pete walks FAST, so we covered a lot of ground in that day and ended our walking tour at the Field Museum.
Although it wasn't one of Will's favorite things to do for the day {read: he hated it and screamed until he fell asleep}, the other kids loved that it reminded them of Night at the Museum. There was a little bit of everything to see and the kids kept wondering when we would run into Teddy Roosevelt, Jedediah or Sacajawea ;)
0 families found this helpful
"Don't miss this!"
A trip to Chicago is not complete without visiting this fabulous museum. I've been to lots of museums in my life, and this is in the top 3 for sure! There are endless exhibits and things to do for all ages. Parking in the area is a pain and very expensive, so be prepared.
'11
0 families found this helpful
"LOTS of exhibits"
My favorite part of the Field Museum is the huge T-rex... or is it the Egyptian exhibits? Both? If your kids are into dinosaurs or mummies, they'll find a lot of both here. I would definitely bring babies in a baby carrier, however. This is not the most stroller-friendly museum in the city, so I'd pack as light as possible.
1 family found this helpful
"Great Museum "
This is one of the better Museums around! It is filled with tons of exhibits. I don't recommend taking young children...it is not particularly fun for them. Also, be sure to check out the free days schedule for the museum to get a deep discount. I just did a Google search for Field Museum free day schedule. There are over 50 free days throughout the year. Although this only includes general admission.
0 families found this helpful
"Not baby friendly"
I found out the hard way that this museum is not at all stroller friendly. Me, plus my 3-year-old, plus my 1-year-old did not at all equal fun! There are no elevators to the basement (the Egypt exhibit) and I had to carry a baby on one shoulder and a folded up double stroller on the other shoulder down a very long, narrow, and crowded spiral staircase, all the while worrying that my 3-year-old was going to fall down the steps...then, we had to walk back up the stairs when we were done.
There is a general admission fee, but (again) there are exhibits that you must pay for if you want to see them. If you go, I would plan to pay the extra money for those exhibits, as they are good exhibits. It can get costly for a family to visit this museum.
The exhibits are more appropriate for older elementary-aged children. I prefer the Museum of Science and Industry over this museum if you are going with children.
0 families found this helpful
"Great!"
Super fun! I'm not all into museums but this one was great! I had so much fun & so did the people I went with! I cannot wait until I go again! All the activites are so much fun! The gift shops are great & so are the resturants! So much fun to spend your day here!
0 families found this helpful
"A must visit museum"
Plan on spending the entire day at the field museum. It is by far my personal favorite Museum to go to. From the dinosaurs to the Trains and everything else inbetween! there are plenty of hands on areas for kids old and young to take part in. This museum is HUGE so deff plan on spending at the very least 8 hours walking threw it.
0 families found this helpful
"A Wealth Of Knowledge"
This museum features exhibits from cultures around the world. Thousands upon thousands of artifacts have been carefully preserved and are on display in creative and eye-catching ways at the museum. The IMAX theater has several different shows geared towards people of all ages, and the museum's many floors ensure at least one full day of exploring, if not two.
0 families found this helpful
"Repeat Visit!"
There is so much to see in this museum! One of my personal visits is the reproduction of and ancient Egyptian mastaba that we can walk in and then explore the inner caverns of. When you exit the tomb there is so much to see, an huge ancient Egyptian boat and lots of recreations of ancient Egyptian daily life items to play in. The museum also has one of the best dinosaur exhibits I have ever seen. Huge dinosaurs. One of their stars is Sue the T-Rex. Their Native American/First Peoples exhibit is engaging and surprising for adults and kids maybe closer to school age as opposed to toddlers.
0 families found this helpful
"Need more than one day here!"
This museum is so spectacular. There is so much to see that everyone will be happy here. It is also very easy to get to if you take public transit to get there. Like my subject line says this museum is so large you definitely want to set aside a whole day for it and expect to stand in line if you haven't gotten tickets in advance.
0 families found this helpful
"great for school projects"
the museum is full of information and exhibits...but it's a little boring to me and the younger children after they see the great dinosaur exhibit. a tad pricey as is everything in Chicago, but worth going to at least twice (twice b/c you'll get tired the first day and have to finish the rest of the museum the next time lol)
0 families found this helpful
"must visit for tourist"
My family loves spending time at the museum. Recent rennovations of the dinosaur exhibit are amazing. The building itself is wonderful to explore. I could see how young children would get bored within an hour. This is probably not the best place to bring a very young child or a very active child.
0 families found this helpful
"Perfect for musuem lovers"
Make sure you give yourself plenty of time here. We loved that there was so many different things to see. Expect to spend several hours walking and wear comfortable shoes. I wouldn't recommend bringing children under 5. This would probably more than most of them could handle. Good educational family outing.
0 families found this helpful
"Great Museum"
This isn't only a great museum for the children, its great for the parents as well. I had an amazing time with my family here and I would definitely go again in an instant. This museum is great for people who love science and nature, and since I loved that when I was in school, I had an absolute blast there too! Definitely a go!!!
0 families found this helpful
"nature related"
This is a great museum for anyone who thirsts for information on dinosaurs, animals, history, and I believe the mummies were here too. This one also has a great hands on area for the kids, including music, harvesting, costumes and more. Again the CityPass or GoCard will make this easier on your wallet.
2 families found this helpful
"Family Adventure Tour"
Most museums want your children to have a good time and have fond memories of their visit (this is how they insure future generations will visit after all). So most museums put together some sort of family packet for your visit, which will direct you to the interactive exhibits and kid favorite exhibits. The Field Museum is no exception. They go a step further and offer a download option so you can get it right from their website before your visit. If you forget, you can always pick up the Family Adventure Tour packet from the info desk.
Our family loved the scavenger hunt and the fossils in the floor-oh and the mummies! sue is awesome too!
The Crown Family Lab is another must. I would end in the lab (otherwise you'll never see any of the museum).
When going to museums (especially with younger kids) we have to remember to reset our expectations. A younger child can't and won't muster through a whole museum. Pick the kid friendly things and just do that. As they become older we can expose them to more and more of the museum and they will want to keep coming back.
0 families found this helpful
"Love the different featured exhibits!"
There is always something going on and being featured at the Field Museum. It is pricey and for ages 3-4 and up. It is a classic museum though that I have been visiting since I was a kid and I probably visit it once every few years to see what has changed.
1 family found this helpful
"Crown Family PlayLab"
Our 2 yr old son didn't find the bulk of the museum all that interesting - but he REALLY got excited while we were in the Crown Family PlayLab on the bottom floor. We could easily have skipped everything else and stayed there all day. He especially loved the drumming room [soundproof!] and the Pueblos that encourage children to play that they are Natives that must grind corn for their bread.
0 families found this helpful
"Wish I had more time..."
My only regret in visiting Chicago was that I didn't have the time to fully explore this museum. It was amazing! From Sue to mummies....it isn't to be missed. Make sure you plan plenty of time to see it and don't plan on hitting the other attractions near by on the same day.
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