| Chicago has museums which are educational and | | | | between the three buildings is Gunsaulus Hall, |
| cultural landmarks. If you are planning a student | | | | throughout which arms and armor are prominently |
| outing or field trip in Chicago, then these great | | | | displayed. |
| museums should be on your list of places to visit. | | | | One especially unique exhibit found at the Art |
| Here is a brief guide to three of the most important | | | | Institute is the display in the Thorne Miniature Rooms. |
| museums in Chicago. | | | | The collection contains 68 rooms that are miniature |
| Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum | | | | replications of rooms ranging from the 17th century |
| On the shores of Lake Michigan, on Chicago's | | | | to the 1930s. The rooms focus on American, |
| Museum Campus, the Adler Planetarium and | | | | European, and Oriental decorative arts, with |
| Astronomy Museum is dedicated to the study of | | | | architectural interiors from the various time periods. |
| planets, moons, stars, and distant galaxies. | | | | Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio |
| Founded in 1930 by Max Adler, this facility was the | | | | Another great Chicago landmark is the Frank Lloyd |
| first planetarium in America. The original 1930's building | | | | Wright Home and Studio which has been restored |
| still remains, but in recent years a new addition, the | | | | and preserved as a museum. It's a memorial to one |
| Sky Pavilion, was added to increase exhibit space. | | | | of our country's most influential and innovative |
| Today, the Museum features one of the largest and | | | | architects, Frank Lloyd Wright. |
| most important collections in the world, including more | | | | Best known for his Prairie style of architecture, |
| than 2,000 historic astronomical, navigational, and | | | | Wright moved away from the detailed ornamental |
| mathematical instruments. | | | | abundance in the Victorian homes of the time and |
| Some highlights of the planetarium include exhibits on | | | | created a style that focused on simplicity and clean |
| the Solar System, the Milky Way Galaxy, the history | | | | lines. |
| of astronomical discovery, and an exhibit showing | | | | In 1889, Wright borrowed $5,000 from Louis Sullivan |
| how astronomy has affected various cultures. | | | | to build his Oak Park home. At the time, Wright was |
| Teachers planning student tours of the Planetarium | | | | working for Sullivan's architecture firm as a |
| can take advantage of on-site educational programs | | | | draftsman. Sullivan and Wright parted company in |
| and pre-visit lesson plans. | | | | 1893. Wright began his own architectural practice in |
| The Art Institute of Chicago | | | | Chicago. In 1898, Wright added the studio onto his |
| The Art Institute of Chicago houses one of the | | | | home. |
| world's best art collections. With more than 300,000 | | | | Wright moved away from the home in 1909 and |
| works on display, representing over 40 centuries of | | | | finally sold the house in 1925. Over the years, the |
| art, the Institute's collections include some of the | | | | home fell into severe disrepair. It was not until 1974, |
| finest and most famous art ever created. | | | | when the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio |
| The Art Institute began as the Chicago Academy of | | | | Foundation was formed. |
| Design, founded by a small group of artists in 1866. | | | | Plans were made to turn the house into a historic |
| The first collections included a gift of plaster casts | | | | museum and education center dedicated to Wright |
| from the French Government. Many other name | | | | and his work. It took 13 years and three million dollars |
| changes occurred before becoming The Art Institute | | | | to meticulously restore the house to its 1909 |
| of Chicago in 1882. | | | | appearance. |
| Art collections include: European and American | | | | Students can tour the Home and Studio and learn |
| paintings, African and Asian art, architecture, | | | | about both Wright's life and work. In addition to |
| photography, textiles, and sculpture. Some of the | | | | seeing where Wright lived and worked for 20 years, |
| individual highlights include masterpieces such as | | | | the home also contains a number of furniture pieces |
| Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte--1884, | | | | and decorative art objects designed and built by |
| Cassatt's The Bath, and Wood's celebrated American | | | | Wright. |
| Gothic. | | | | Chicago's Adler Planetarium, The Art Institute of |
| The Institute also boasts an impressive collection of | | | | Chicago and Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio are |
| works by artists such as Monet, Renoir, Degas, Van | | | | all sites of exceptional scientific and cultural |
| Gogh, and many others. | | | | importance and are fruitful venues for student tours |
| The Institute consists of three levels of exhibits, | | | | in the windy city. |
| divided into three buildings. The only connection | | | | |