Museum of Science and Industry

Museum of Science and Industry. Located in Jackson Park on the South Side of Chicago, it is one of the largest science museums in the world. Housed in the former Palace of Fine Arts from the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, the museum is renowned for its interactive exhibits and historic artifacts. It was established in 1933 with the support of Sears, Roebuck and Company executive Julius Rosenwald.

History

The museum's origins are intrinsically linked to the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, where its building served as the Palace of Fine Arts. After the exposition, the structure housed the Field Museum of Natural History until 1920. The concept for a new type of museum was championed by Julius Rosenwald, who was inspired by the Deutsches Museum in Munich. Rosenwald pledged over $5 million and convinced the Chicago City Council to support the project, leading to the museum's opening during the Century of Progress world's fair in 1933. Key early exhibits included a working coal mine and the U-505 submarine, captured during World War II by the United States Navy.

Exhibits and attractions

The museum features over 400,000 square feet of exhibit space, housing thousands of artifacts. Permanent highlights include the captured German U-505, the only Type IX submarine in the United States. Other major exhibits encompass a full-scale replica of a coal mine, the Apollo 8 command module, and a historic Pioneer Zephyr train. The Henry Crown Space Center features spacecraft and simulators, while the Science Storms exhibit explores phenomena like tornadoes and tsunamis. The museum also operates the OMNIMAX theater, one of the first in the world, showing films on a giant dome screen.

Architecture and location

The museum occupies the former Palace of Fine Arts, the only major building from the World's Columbian Exposition constructed with a brick substructure to be permanent. Designed by Charles B. Atwood of D. H. Burnham & Company, the original Beaux-Arts structure was rebuilt in limestone during the 1930s. It is situated in Jackson Park, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, near the University of Chicago and the Lake Michigan shoreline. Major expansions include the underground Henry Crown Space Center and the Morton International wing, added in the late 20th century.

Educational programs

The museum operates extensive educational outreach, serving over 300,000 students annually. Programs include the Center for the Advancement of Science Education, which provides teacher development and classroom resources. Signature initiatives involve the Black Creativity program, the nation's longest-running exhibition of African-American art and science achievement. The museum also hosts the annual Invent It. Build It. event with the Society of Women Engineers and partners with Argonne National Laboratory and Boeing on STEM initiatives. Its traveling exhibits and digital learning platforms extend its reach across Illinois.

Governance and funding

The museum is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization governed by a board of trustees. It receives no direct tax-based operating support from the City of Chicago or the State of Illinois. Funding is derived from admissions, memberships, corporate sponsorships, and private donations from foundations like the Crown and McCormick families. Major capital campaigns, such as the $205 million "Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago Campaign" completed in 2001, have funded renovations and new exhibits. The museum maintains partnerships with corporations including Boeing, ComEd, and Motorola Solutions.

Category:Museums in Chicago Category:Science museums in Illinois Category:Buildings and structures in Jackson Park, Chicago Category:1933 establishments in Illinois