Field Museum

Field Museum. The Field Museum of Natural History is a major natural history museum located in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1893 following the World's Columbian Exposition, it was originally named for its first major benefactor, Marshall Field. The museum's mission is centered on the collection, preservation, and study of objects to develop and share knowledge about the natural world and human cultures.

History

The museum's origins are directly tied to the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, where its initial collection was assembled from anthropological and biological exhibits. Financier Marshall Field donated $1 million to establish the permanent institution, originally named the Columbian Museum of Chicago. In 1905, it was renamed in Field's honor. The museum was initially housed in the Palace of Fine Arts building in Jackson Park. To accommodate its rapidly growing collections, the institution moved in 1921 to its current site in Grant Park, a building funded by the Marshall Field estate. Key early figures included its first director, Frederick J. V. Skiff, and curator Carl Akeley, who pioneered modern taxidermy techniques. Throughout the 20th century, the museum sponsored major global expeditions, such as those to Egypt and China, solidifying its reputation for field research.

Collections and research

The museum houses a collection of over 40 million specimens and artifacts, forming the basis for extensive scientific research. Its Gantz Family Collections Center provides state-of-the-art storage and laboratory facilities. Major collections include the Grainger Hall of Gems with the Tiffany Diamond, extensive dinosaur fossils like the Tyrannosaurus rex specimen Sue, and the Egyptian mummies from the University of Chicago's Oriental Institute excavations. The botany department holds one of the world's largest plant collections, while the anthropology division includes vast holdings from the Americas, Oceania, and Africa. The museum's scientists, including researchers from the Keller Science Action Center, conduct work in disciplines like evolutionary biology, geology, and archaeology, often collaborating with institutions like the University of Illinois and the Smithsonian Institution.

Exhibitions

The museum presents both permanent and temporary exhibitions designed to engage the public with natural history and world cultures. Iconic permanent halls include the Evolving Planet exhibition, which traces the history of life on Earth and features numerous fossils, and the Ancient Americas, which explores pre-Columbian civilizations. The Inside Ancient Egypt exhibit contains a real mastaba tomb complex. Other notable displays are the Hall of Gems and the Underground Adventure. The museum gained worldwide fame for its acquisition and display of Sue, the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever found. Temporary exhibitions have covered topics ranging from Pompeii to the art of the Inca Empire.

Architecture and campus

The museum's main building is a monumental Neoclassical structure designed by the firm of D. H. Burnham & Company, specifically architect Pierce Anderson. Constructed from Georgia marble, it occupies a prominent lakefront location in Grant Park, part of the city's Museum Campus Chicago which it shares with the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium. The building's grand interior is organized around two large central courtyards, with the iconic Stanley Field Hall serving as the primary atrium. Later additions, such as the west-facing Rice Pavilion, have expanded gallery and research space. The surrounding campus includes public plazas and gardens.

Governance and public role

The museum is governed by a board of trustees and is a private, non-profit institution accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Its public role is extensive, encompassing educational programming for students, public lectures, and community science initiatives. The museum collaborates with the Chicago Public Schools and other cultural institutions like the Art Institute of Chicago. It is a major tourist attraction within the city of Chicago, contributing significantly to the local economy and the cultural landscape of the Midwestern United States. Leadership has included notable figures such as Stanley Field and current president and CEO Julian Siggers.

Category:Natural history museums in Illinois Category:Museums in Chicago Category:World's Columbian Exposition Category:1893 establishments in Illinois