Visit the Field Museum in Chicago - Carltonaut's Travel Tips

The Field Museum is one of the most popular natural history museums in the world. The massive building provides hours of educational opportunities for people of all ages. Explore the world of dinosaurs, life underground, ancient Egypt and even death.

With so many exhibits at the Field Museum, it’s going to be too long of an article to write about each individual exhibit. So if you plan to visit the Field Museum while you’re in Chicago, here’s a rundown on the main exhibits – organized by floor – to help you prepare for and plan your visit.

Main atrium of the Field Museum in Chicago

Ticket Options and Directions to the Field Museum in Chicago

The Field Museum is located next to some of the other popular museums in Chicago – the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium. Even though they’re next to each other, it would be tough to visit and enjoy all three museums in a single day. There’s a lot to see at each one.

The best way to get to the museum is via UBER/Lyft, or a taxi. You could also ride a bike. The reason I recommend one of those options is because it saves the hassle of finding a parking spot and paying for one. There are two main parking lots – Soldier Field North Garage and the East Museum Lot. Prices start around $25 for the first four hours and can be as much as $30 for 12 hours.

There are three different tiers for tickets to the Field Museum: Chicago Residents, Illinois Residents and Out-of-State Residents. Under each of those tiers (with Chicago residents being the least expensive), there are three different ticket options:

All-Access Pass: Includes general admission, one ticket to a 3-D film and access to all three ticketed special exhibits
Discovery Pass: Includes general admission, one ticket to a 3-D film and access to one of the three ticketed special exhibits
Basic Access: Includes general admission

If you’re planning to visit some of the other popular museums in Chicago, I recommend checking out the Chicago CityPASS. It’s a great way to save some money during your visit to the Windy City.

Man takes a selfie in front of the south entrance to the Field Museum in Chicago.

How to Prepare for Your Visit

The Field Museum in Chicago is massive. There are three separate floors with several exhibit areas on each floor. You could spend an entire day at the museum and still not be able to fully experience everything they have. But here are a few tips to help you maximize your experience at the Field Museum.

Know What You Want to Explore in Advance

Similar to the Louvre in Paris, there are way too many things to see at the museum during a single visit. If you know what exhibits you want to check out before you arrive, then you can target those areas and visit them first. You can always arrive with no clue of what to expect, then you can wander at your own pace. But that increases the chances of you missing out on something that you would’ve really enjoyed.

Schedule Your 3-D Showtime in Advance

During the online ticketing process, you have the opportunity to book a showtime for the 3-D feature. There are roughly three different movies, each with two or three showtimes throughout the day – morning, midday and afternoon. Knowing when the showtimes are will help you plan your other activities at the Field Museum.

Plan Lunch Accordingly

There are two places at the Field Museum where you can buy food. But you can save the cost and bring your own food, with a few requirements. The food must be in a closed container and you eat in the designated areas. Don’t eat in the exhibit areas. You’re also okay to bring in your own water bottles, as long as they have a resealable lid.

Entrance to the Africa exhibit at the Field Museum in Chicago

The Exhibits on the Main Floor

The main floor level is the one you entered the museum and checked in with your tickets. There are several exhibits on this floor, so I’ll try to give you a rundown on what to expect at most of them. I’ll note if a particular exhibit requires an additional fee or if it’s included in the general admission ticket.

In the main atrium, you’ll notice two very iconic displays to the Field Museum – Maximo the Titanosaur and some Wolly Mammoths. Before you venture into the hallways and exhibits, take a moment to learn about those two creatures.

If you need to grab a bite, make a stop at the Field Bistro. You can enjoy soups, salads and sandwiches, pizza and a variety of desserts. If you’re starting your day at the Field Museum, they do offer some breakfast options. They also offer coffee, beer, wine and cocktails, in addition to bottled water and sodas. For lunch, they have a grill option for hamburgers, bratwursts, fries and even mac & cheese.

Learn About Animals at the Field Museum

If you want to learn about a variety of animals, then you’ll love the west side of the main floor. The best way to start is on the southwest side with the What is an Animal? Exhibit. From there, you can venture right into the Mammals exhibit and read all about the animals and see the variety that exists. On the northwest side, there are two different exhibits about animals: Nature and Wilderness and Birds.

Explore the Cultures of Africa

The African continent houses a wide variety of people and cultures. This was one of my favorite exhibits and offered a glimpse into several cultures and languages. Did you know there are more than 2,000 unique languages in Africa? For kids, there are hands on exhibits so you truly can experience what life’s like for the more than one billion residents.

Native Americans and Ancient Americas

These two exhibits – starting with Native Truths – explore the history and culture of Native Americans. They’ve gone to great lengths to capture the stories and artifacts that help us learn about those cultures. The second exhibit area – Ancient Americas – walks you through the cultures that existed in the Americas long before the Europeans arrived in the 1400s. Learn about 13,000 years of Hunans and the evolution through innovation.

Don’t miss the Pawnee Earth Lodge – a full-sized replica of a dwelling from the Pawnee Indians on the Great Plains in the 19th century.

Death: Life’s Greatest Mystery (Ticketed Special Exhibit)

Multiple cultures and religions have different ways of looking at death. Some fear it, while others celebrate it. As you walk through the Death exhibit, you can see how different cultures have looked at death and how that’s shaped what they do in life.

First Kings of Europe (Ticketed Special Exhibit)

During my visit to the Field Museum, there was a different exhibit in this area. I’ve read about what this current exhibit entails, and it looks pretty interesting. Learn about some of the first kings of Europe with more than 700 artifacts borrowed from 26 museums in 11 countries. This exhibit will be available until January 2024.

House replica as seen in the Pacific Islands at the Field Museum in Chicago

Explore the Upper Floor of the Field Museum

Similar to the main level of the Field Museum, the upper floor has several exhibits around cultures, nature and of course… dinosaurs. Here’s a rundown on what you’ll find on this level.

The Pacific and Maori Meeting House

The Pacific Islands are scattered across the Pacific Ocean, and each one has their own culture. These exhibits share the life and culture of a few of these islands, including New Zealand, Hawaii, the Philippines, and more. As you visit each area, take the tine to read about what life was like on those islands and see elements of the culture that help tell their story. Don’t miss the Maori House, which is an important meeting place of the New Zealand culture on the island.

Abbott Hall of Conservation: Restoring Earth

If you’ve paid attention in school, you’ll know that there are many things we are doing that damage our planet. While that’s true, there are things happening around the world to try and heal the earth or minimize the damage. Engage with the interactive exhibits to see how scientists around the world are working to conserve the planet we call home.

Evolving Planet and Sue the T. Rex

If your kids are fascinated with dinosaurs, then you’ll want to spend a chunk of time in this exhibit area. When you first enter, you’ll see how the Earth started and walk through the number mass extinctions that kept shaping the earth and its inhabitants. Eventually, you’ll get to see the fossils of a triceratops as well as Sue the Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Cyrus Tang Hall of China (Ticketed Special Exhibit)

Explore more than 10,000 years of culture across China as you walk through this exhibit area. China is a massive country, which means there’s a wide variety of people, landscapes, industry and more. As you explore the more than 300 artifacts on display, you can get a brief sense of the magnitude of the country and the history that’s shaped it.

Gems, Jades and Plants

Rocks are part of pretty much every natural history museum. The Field Museum is no different. Located on the south end of the upper level are two separate rooms. Check out some of the amazing gems that grace our planet, as seen in multiple types and styles of jewelry. Each display case shoes the gem in various stages along the jewelry-making process: raw crystal, cut and polished stone, and mounted jewel. On the other side of the hall you’ll find a room dedicated to the history and evolution of jade.

Finally, after learning about the gems and jades, you can wander through the plant exhibit. Here you’ll learn about the foliage that graces our planet and the benefits they provide.

An exhibit at the Field Museum of Chicago teaches about the people of ancient Egypt

Journey to the Ground Floor for Additional Exhibits

Before you wrap up your visit to the Field Museum, make sure you venture to the ground level (basement) to catch the exhibits there. It’s also here where you’ll find the theater for your 3-D film as per your scheduled time.

Ancient Egypt

Check out one of the largest collection of mummies in the United States as you wander through Ancient Egypt. The culture is fascinating, and the mummies (both human and animal) provide insights to how the culture viewed death. They’ve also setup a marketplace that young kids will enjoy checking out and playing the role of shopper.

Underground Adventures

One of my favorite exhibit at the Field Museum is a chance to shrink down and walk through life underground. Begin by walking through a shrinking machine before you start exploring the underground tunnels. You can learn about life in the soils and what creatures call that home. It’s more than just worms. There are ants, roots, fungus and much more. Kids loves this exhibit area as well – and it’s reminiscient of the kids in the old movie, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.

Walk through the eras of mass extinction at the Field Museum in Chicago

The Details

Address: 1400 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605

How long to spend: You could spend a full day at the Field Museum. Allocate at least 2-4 hours to get a general taste for what the museum holds.

Cost: Prices for Out-of-State visitors range from $30-$43 for adults. Prices are less for Illinois residents and even less for residents of Chicago. If you plan to visit other popular museums in Chicago, I recommend getting the Chicago CityPASS.

Hours: Open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, the Field Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Website: https://www.fieldmuseum.org/

Phone: (312) 922-9410

How to Visit the Field Museum in Chicago

Ticket Options and Directions to the Field Museum in Chicago