Road Trip: Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry

by Amy L. Hatch

Learn about air pressure in the "Science Storms" exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. Photo by Amy L. Hatch

Just before I boarded a plane two weeks ago with my two children, my husband took our daughter aside and promised her that if she got a “perfect report” on both the flight to and from Rochester that she would get a very special surprise.

She was, indeed, a very good girl and a helper to boot, and so Saturday we loaded her up into the car, waved goodbye to her little brother and his babysitter, and headed for the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood.

I’m always intimidated by the drive up to the Windy City – two! hours! there! and! back! — but the trip was well worth it. The museum is chock full o’ fascinating exhibits and not just for the little ones. One of the largest science museums in the world, it houses more than 35,000 artifacts on nearly 14 acres of land. Some of the most exciting new exhibits include the Smart Home (which we did not see) and “Science Storms,” where we spent the bulk of our time.

“Science Storms” shows the science behind seven natural phenomena, including but not limited to avalanches, tsunamis and — of course — tornadoes. The exhibit is very popular, and was pretty crowded even on what one museum employee called “a slow day.” However, there’s so much to do and experience (chase a tornado with a team of scientists, make rainbows and create tsunamis in a tank) that it was easy to get a turn at every interactive activity. It was also cool to see the University of Illinois so well-represented in the accompanying films and materials!

One note about “Science Storms:” If you have a kid who is afraid of or sensitive to loud noises, this may not be for you. Every so often a lightning machine goes off, creating a very loud sound. We eventually had to leave the exhibit because of it.

We also really enjoyed some of the museum favorites, like Farm Tech and the Fairy Castle. We did raise our eyebrows a bit at Petroleum Planet, which had a whole different feel to it after the disaster in the Gulf.

So what was Emmie’s favorite, in the end? Hands down, the U-505, the only remaining German U-boat on display. We took the $8 per-person tour, and it was worth every penny to hear her tell us about the “secret bedroom” (secret code book) that American soldiers found on board.

We even give the food court a thumbs up. After a quick scan, I couldn’t find Emmie’s food du jour, a grilled cheese sandwich. When I asked the woman at the panini station about it, she went to the back kitchen and got the ingredients to make one for us.

After the museum we needed to get dinner (be prepared to stay all day, and bring your walking shoes), and several friends recommended Medici on 57th, which wasn’t far from the museum itself. We enjoyed a great meal and some really great atmosphere before heading home again.

One caveat: We heard and saw a lot of unhappy young toddlers and infants. This museum is big and often crowded, and we were relieved we’d left Henry back in the capable hands of our babysitter. Taking the littlest littles to the Museum of Science and Industry might not be the best plan. Our 5-year-old was pretty tired after spending five hours walking around there.

Overall, I recommend the Museum of Science and Industry wholeheartedly. A great day trip!

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