EXHIBITS
Spark your imagination and indulge your curiosity in the Museum's engaging exhibits. From the beloved Coal Mine to the latest temporary exhibit, you'll be exposed to bold science and interactive learning experiences in an eye-opening, awe-inspiring environment.
SCIENCE STORMS
Science Storms reveals the science behind seven natural phenomena—lightning, fire, tornados, avalanches, tsunamis, sunlight and
atoms in motion.
Investigate the basic scientific principles behind nature's power as you try more than 50 amazing experiments that take two floors and 26,000 square feet to contain … barely. It’s a perfect storm of physics, chemistry and curiosity.
U-505 SUBMARINE
On June 4, 1944, a German submarine known as U-505 was prowling off the coast of West Africa on a hunt for American and Allied ships, when depth charges from the USS Chatelain blasted the dreaded U-boat out of hiding.
It was the end of a violent run for U-505, which had terrorized the Atlantic Ocean as part of a massive U-boat campaign that almost altered the outcome of World War II.
The Museum of Science and Industry invites you to step inside the real U-505—the only German submarine in the United States, and, now, a national memorial to the 55,000 American sailors who gave their lives on the high seas in WWI and WWII.
FAST FORWARD...
INVENTING THE FUTURE
Fast Forward is an immersive multimedia exploration of how our future lives are being shaped today. This exhibit spotlights some of today’s visionaries working toward a limitless, sustainable future.
Test-drive some of these innovations yourself. Add your own visual ideas to interactive displays. Live Internet news feeds about invention and technology show you the future of innovation as it takes shape, minute by minute.
Pushing the boundaries of what we can imagine, the ideas and innovators in Fast Forward may even spark your own “what if.”
EARTH REVEALED
Get an up-close and near “real-time” view of our planet Earth in the new Museum of Science and Industry permanent exhibit Earth Revealed. The technology transforms the sphere into a dynamic, revolving globe that demonstrates the Earth as a living system.
Among the topics explored through the sphere are Earth's climate, weather, currents, and geophysics; land use patterns; the human impact on the planet; and Earth as a habitat for life.
See Earth’s atmosphere, the flow of our ocean currents, changing cloud cover and the geophysical forces that shape the planet. Walk around the blue orb and view the effects of the Earth’s warming temperatures—including the development of deadly storms.
HENRY CROWN SPACE CENTER
From rockets, to shuttles, to satellites, rovers and probes, the Henry Crown Space Center covers it all as it takes you on a new journey to the “final frontier.”
This recently renovated exhibit space offers an expanded and more interactive exploration of the space program, from the early years of the Space Race to what our future in space will hold.
Favorite artifacts like the Apollo 8 spacecraft and the Apollo 11 training mock-up remain, while amazing new artifacts, like a model for an inflatable Moon base, illustrate the upcoming technologies and realities of human space exploration.
TRANSPORTATION GALLERY
Explore all the most fascinating aspects of how humankind has flown, soared, chugged and sped throughout the years.
Climb aboard the engine of the Empire State Express 999, the first machine to break the 100 mph barrier; walk through a real United 727, hanging from the Museum’s balcony; take in the Spirit of America, the car that drove more than 530 miles per hour in 1965; or simply gaze in awe of the historic aircraft that fly above you.
Explore nine decades of Disney history and artifacts in Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives.
See drawings, props, costumes and artwork from classic and contemporary Disney animation, theme park attractions, TV shows and live action films. You’ll also visit the world behind the magic through recreations of a working animator’s desk and Walt Disney's own Burbank office.
Then you can try your hand at creating movie magic of your own: recording sound effects, exploring Disney's revolutionary multiplane film camera, or learning to draw some of your favorite Disney characters.
NUMBERS IN NATURE:
A MIRROR MAZE
From the delicate nested spirals of a sunflower’s seeds, to the ridges of a majestic mountain range, to the layout of the universe, mathematical patterns abound in the natural world. Numbers in Nature: A Mirror Maze is a new permanent exhibit that will expose and explain the patterns that surround us.
Complete your journey through Numbers in Nature in a gallery of interactive digital displays and stations, where you can discover even more patterns and ratios in nature—including those found in your own body and in centuries of music, art and architecture. You'll never look at the world the same way again.
CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD AND HOLIDAY OF LIGHTS
The Museum of Science and Industry’s 73rd annual Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light features more than 50 trees and displays, beautifully decorated by volunteers from Chicago’s ethnic communities to reflect their diverse culture and holiday traditions.
Guests can stroll through the dazzling forest of trees, enjoy intermittent falling “snow” every half hour and savor the performances of various dance and choral groups on the Holiday Stage.
This year’s Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light features a Disney theme, highlighting temporary exhibit Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives, presented by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club.
New for the holiday season, see costumes from Disney films such as The Santa Clause and Maleficent, learn about the making of the animated film Frozen, and even sketch beloved new characters from some of your favorite Disney movies!