Find yourself in the Windy City and any Chicago guide will tell you have to visit the Museum of Science and Industry, a must see Chicago attraction filled with activities for all ages. Unlike many museums that are to focused in on area, the Museum of Science and Industry covers the past, present, and future. You get to discover a German sub from the second world war, get breath-taking views of space, and a glance at homes of the future.
You can start your visit at U-505, a German sub captured during the war. The exhibit has over 200 artifacts, like the M4 Enigma machine and a Navy cross from the boarding team. They even chronicle the sub from the war to present. It even details the restoration of the sub as it tries to survive Chicago’s brutal winters. You can even finish your trip through the exhibit with an actual tour of the sub, one of the true activities Chicago.
If space is more up you alley then you will want to take a tour of the planet. It was constructed from the 1000′s of pictures NASA has made from various probes like Magellan and both Voyages over the years. Then, artist Micheal Benson digitally enhanced the details to show you the solar system like you have never seen. While this is a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian, don’t forget to visit the permanent Henry Crown Space Center to watch the space race unfold before you. If you like Imax films you can even finish off your time in space with Hubble. It is the story of triumph, disaster, ingenuity, and success.
If you are ready to move into the future now it is time to stop by to see a full sized house of the future. Freshly renovate, it gives you an idea about what your future house might be like. This includes the wiring to support the technology we will be using to the solar cells that will provide power to the roof top gardens that will help supply food. You will learn why the future thinkers are predicting modular houses and even get to see it in use in a design that is reminiscent of Frank Loyd Wright. If more future is what you want after that you will need to check out the “Fast Forward…Inventing the Future” exhibit. There you will get to see more of what lies ahead like high-rise farms, TVs you can smell, and email hugs you can feel. You are introduced to a whole world of what might be right around the corner.
That is only the tip of the iceberg of what is at the Museum of Science and Industry; there is much more. When you are done with your tours make sure you do a little shopping at the gift shop for all sorts of science novelties. If you can’t find the book you were looking for the there are two great ones right near by. Also, since you are on Lakeshore Drive you are only a few miles from even more Chicago shopping at specialty shops and boutiques.