Reviews of Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago (Museum)

Inna Rudneva

Went to this amazing place today! My second time here but last time I went was 5years ago. This place never ceases to amaze me! All the hands on experiments that help you learn how things work! With the storm exhibit I love the wave one! It really shows how waves work and tsunamis occur. Super simple set up but so impressive! We also did the coal mine tour which was so cool! They take you through a real life experience on the day of a mine worker and the equipment they used and actually turn machines on for you. Super informative and fun enough to where kids and adults enjoy it all the same! The submarine tour was my personal favorite though with detailed story telling on how we acquired it and what went on inside of it and how everything works, accompanied with sound effects and the real life setup! Absolutely impressive and fun! Love this place! Would recommend for anyone at any age!

John Mitchell

Reasonably priced given everything to do. We arrived at open. Stayed til close and did not get to see or do everything. All of the exhibits were thorough, informative and fun, and well-maintained. The kids (8, 9 and 10) had a blast. And getting there by bus was convenient and cheap. Highly recommend.

Isaiah Ledford

Great place for all ages so much stuff to do and is so big and so much stuff to do that it would take about couple weeks to have time to see and try everything

Chris Russell

Whether you have kids or not this place offers something for all ages. The exhibits and the special tours make for a much more enriched experience. Old Ben 17 Mine is a must. The U-505 Submarine tour is an absolutely must. Make sure to catch one of the features in the dome. I have been going to the Museum for years and it never gets old.

Kathryn Hill

Lots to see and do, but many of the interesting exhibits and programs require a fee in addition to the initial price of admission. One could easily double or triple the per person cost of the visit just for tickets. Also, the volume of the films is so low that it is very difficult to hear, especially when large groups of people (e.g., kids on field trips) are running around. Since this is obviously a kid-friendly destination, they should ensure that all visitors are able to see and hear the programs.

Nickolas Whidden

This place is so big it is hard to grasp. We planned for couple of hours and my family spent nearly the entire day. There are many cool things to experience. This and aquarium were easily top favorites for the family. Circle this. It is cab or train ride south of the rest of the museum but worth the time and effort.

Miles V

I always love this place, but the attractions really need to be updated. Some of the things they are showing are over 30 years old. Don't get me wrong, it's great for field trips and summer camps, but taking your family is a once in 20 year deal. Please update this place to give me a reason to continue to come here.

Robert Negri

Fantastic museum!! Plan on spending the entire day here to see EVERYTHING! Really easy access in and out of the parking garage as well.

Dan Skvie

Awesome exhibits. A lot of interesting things. I would give 5 stars but I got a little annoyed with extra tickets for most of the exhibits inside. You buy ticket to get in and then you need to buy another ticket if you want see one thing then another and another ..... Soon you will need to buy tickets to use stairs there.

Remo DeSantis

Definitely worth checking out. We spent about five hours there without buying any additional ticketed experiences. On-site parking, very nice food court, lots of selections to choose from, fair pricing. Make sure you have a solid 5-6 hours to spend there. This is not a place you can make it through in an hour or two.

Cell 1

Visited with high expectations and unfortunately personally I found the museum lacking in certain areas which I felt disappointed with and did not expect. In the main I am unsure what the museum was wanting to be or what it's vision for education is. Fantastic placement of exhibits and high quality objects - but lack substance - why are they here? What part did they play in America's rise? In Chicago's rise? Awesome U Boat on display but to go inside you will need to pay extra. The burlington train is on display but you need to come at the right time to see inside. Beautiful examples of streamline design tucked away in dusty cupboards don't do justice to a golden era. The museum building is one of the icons of the Chicago exhibition so again unclear why little to no reference appears to be made of this and less than a handful of objects in situe appear to reflect that glorious moment in Chicago history and its rise as a major city of industry. Nice replica of Stephensons Rocket.

corey nunley

Beat museum in the city most interactive and unique. Great for kids family dates or if your board. A little bit out of the way though

Joshua Williams

I didn't even want to go here, but I'm so glad we did. By far the most fun thing we did in Chicago. My wife and I had a blast, and so did our niece. Finding Wonder Woman in the scale model if the city was definitely a highlight. This is not something to miss if you're touristing in Chicago.

Kevin Perry

Upon one visit to see my Aunt and Uncle, I was invited to this place. Don't remember much about it but remember i was in awe of the exhibits, tours and architecture. Was a memorable visit would recommend for families and kids of all ages.

Paul Gallas

I first came here when I was a kid. After 40 years, the sentiment of it all was wonderful even though it changed greatly. The U505 exhibit was amazing as usual. But, the problem I'm having is that museums are taking an amusement park approach to exhibits. This is a museum, not 6 flags and when I visit a museum, I expect to be able to explore its entirety and not feel excluded from exhibits because they're priced beyond what I can pay for. The U505 tour is $20 per person. For 5 of us that's out of reach. The mine exhibit, another $12 each. Another $12 to ride the aircraft simulators. Over 5 attractions require addition costs. This turns a museum into a county fair and doesn't warrant an educational experience.

Alexis Shaw

This place is so cool!!!! We got to do the "Wired Wear" exhibit which was VERY cool! We were most excited, though for the Fairy Castle. I have always wanted to see it in person and it was sooooo amazing!!!

Elizabeth Williams

Love this place. Visited today and we were on the fence about taking the coal mine tour. So glad we did, we had Chris as our guide and he was knowledgeable with adding humor too. We were very impressed with this tour. Wish it was included with the entrance fee, but it's not that expensive. This was my boyfriend's first trip here and first time to Chicago too. We will be back!

Sarah Page

This is hands down the best museum I've ever been to. We have a family membership and always have such a fun time.

Andrea

This museum was very nice enjoyed it greatly. The 505 was something I had not expected and the extra $18 was worth it to get to go inside as it is something I will never get to do again. Many of the exhibits were interesting and educational . Only down side was the price of parking.

Jrod K

Visited the museum on September 20th at an After hours event! The crowds were low and nearly all the experiences were open to visit. The Submarine U505 exhibit blew me away. Just hearing about it doesn't do the exhibit justice until you walk into the underground sub bunker and see it for yourself! It was a fantastic time and it's an amazing Museum for kids and adults alike. There are uncountable interactive activities and food options as well.. you could easily spend a day or two exploring. Pricewise it isn't the cheapest but well worth the experience.

Amy Kent

Amazing experience. You definitely get your money's worth. If you're looking for something to do going or old the museum is for sure a go to!

Kristin Edwards

It was so much fun! There are so many interesting and educational things to see and do. Would be an amazing place to visit with the kiddos!

Jahn Davis

A ton of cool exhibits right now. Might be a bit to get in but it's totally worth the price of admission. Loved visiting it!

Cheri Bjork

Love this museum! It would take days to see it all, so plan your visit. Special displays are always great. Children love the coal mine, rocket stuff and trains. Planes and full-size dinosaurs included!

Brandy Greco

I have been to this museum three times over the past few years, and I am always amazed at how many things I still haven't seen. It is a large museum, but worth a day spent wandering through it. Kids enjoy it, and adults do too. The U-boat exhibit is probably one of the best exhibits I have gone through in a long time. We will be back!

ladlocablue

The museum is huge! Be prepared to spend the whole day there to get your money's worth. We did the add-on experiences such as the submarine tour and coal mine experience. I truly enjoyed the Wired to Wear exhibit which was also an add-on.

Linda Szabo

Wish we had more time. Great museum. Great for kids. Lots of interaction. The submarine was great, but tickets were sold out. The train exhibit was wonderful. Lots to see and do.

Alvin Rasmussen

Was recommended this museum for the German Submarine U-505 and was not disappointed. The submarine tour was well worth it as you got to go inside and see what it was like for the German submariners and imagine how it felt to be on there when it was captured. The rest of the museum is really interesting as well. The whisper room had some great acoustics and the trains and planes really kept us interested. A great place for adults and kids alike. Highly recommend for any families or travellers to Chicago.

Guru Nandha Raja

An incredibly cool place which is worth it just to do the Uboat tour and see the actual Apollo tour. Admission is included in the Chicago City Pass and so is one show at the dome theatre but the Uboat tour is extra. The dome theatre is awesome but get there early to sit in the center because it can be really nausea inducing to sit at the edges.

Soo Hae Nam

Wide and amazing. Really good place to play for children and some of them for adults. Food court, foods are not salty at all

Steve Kallal

Great fun for the family. It's big so expect to be walking a lot. Take the time to watch some demonstrations to rest your feet and give the kids some rest. You can take lunch in with you if you want to save some money. Very cool place for sure.

Charles Reed

Fun place to experience some brain power and history while on a weekend jaunt. Chicago has so many fun places to visit and each time I go (once a month) there is something new. Thank you MSI!

Emilio Camacho

Multiple interesting exhibitions to enjoy, it took us around 6 hours to go through all of them including one 3D movie but we were on the slower pace, the hurricane exhibition have many interactive areas that are really fun to explore (not just for kids), make sure to go through the mirror room for some cool pictures.

Stephen Miller

It had been 60 years since I visited this museum. I was not disappointed. What a wonderful place, so many exhibits; and so many of them are hands on. I am a self-professed science nerd. I loved this place. I've always been a big fan of Nicolas Tesla. The museum has a large Tesla coil. Totally stoked to watch it fire. My wife and I paid only the standard entrance fee, so we didn't go to any of the "special" exhibits. Still spent a happy four hours there. If you find yourself in Chicago and you like science, and you have a few hours to kill; this is the place to go. Don't miss it.

John Fitterer

If you haven't been here lately definitely visit again. We loved the updated U-505 exhibit

Jasmine Gallardo

I love bringing the kids here! There's so much to for me to learn with new exhibits all the time but also the classic exhibits from when I was a child, that's so fun to share with my children. My son loves the model city and could spend hours there. I love looking at the baby chicks come to life (literally). Even my toddler gets to have fun and learn with the children play area. Great for sunny or rainy days!

n l

I enjoyed myself here immensely. Great place to take kids and plenty of stuff to keep adults interested as well. I believe what I enjoyed the most was the mirror maze. The most interesting exhibit however was the u-boat.

Ryan Maluchnik

I love coming here every few years to see the exhibits. The cost can be a little deterring, so I don’t go much more than that. This being said, there is plenty to do and is very family-friendly. The staff is polite and patient, and the facility is clean and up to date. Expect a day of both learning and good times.

Christine Lund-Molfese

The best science and technology museum in the Midwest by far! We traveled from Southwest Missouri to come and are looking forward to our next visit. There is enough at the museum to entertain all ages, and we definitely wish we had another day to see everything here! Thanks, MSI!

Marianna Watts

Disappointed how they charged extra for the most interesting exhibits They also RUSHED us through the submarine exhibit. If we pay extra then we should be able to take our time to enjoy it. Has the potential to be an amazing museum with all the items to look at.

Kuldip Shah

Some museum exhibits were good but others lacked more details. It looked like they were trying to put so many things together but some could have been more details. Food court was good. The venue is clean and well maintained. Good staff. My favourites are space and world war 2 exhibits. The review of 3 is because of an extra cost for paid exhibits. Some didn't justify the cost. $10 for virtual reality was not worth at all.

Daniel Le Jeune

What an awesome museum. Although the price is a bit steep, you can easily spend three hours here. You've got everything, from genetics to airplanes to tornadoes. Thoroughly recommended.

Mike Johnson

Great museum. Lots of exhibits, many of which are very kid friendly. My personal favorite was the captured U-boat 505 from WWII. The transportation section has great old cars and planes. Worth the price, if you plan ahead you can order your tickets on line at a discounted price.

Robert Moulton

Excellent job of preserving U-505 which is without a doubt the star of the museum. That's not to say the rest of the museum isn't good just not good enough to make me drive 1350 miles one way. So why only two stars ? For such an important piece of history and one that is an extra fee to have a guided tour you'd think they could find tour guides that might show enthusiasm for the privilege of being a tour guide of such a amazing boat. I really can't say enough about how unimpressed I was with her.(you'd have thought she was giving a tour of the inside of a 2009 Chrysler mini van!) Can't the museum find any WWII enthusiasts...? If you can't than simply go self guided with a tape recording .

Cory Dastous

Such an awesome place to visit, so we came back two weeks later. Fun experience for both the adults and the kids. Something to interest everyone for sure. Some of the ticketed events are really cool as well.

Jon Ames

Wished the museum inside matched it's grand exterior. Great place to take hype active children. Major issue spending so much for entrance then being required to spend more for each of the good exhibits inside. Hard-pressed to consider a return trip. This used to be a must see now it's just a don't bother

melissa P

One of my favorite places to take the kids. Such a great family place and you can spend a full day there no matter what age your kids are. They have free exhibits such as the mirror maze which is a lot of fun as well as the Tesla coil. They have an area for younger children to play in as well. I truly enjoy the u 505 exhibit. If you pay extra you can actually go on board the submarine. That is just a small amount of what there is to do

Jessica Bockman

The museum is of course incredible, but i wanted to stop to praise the brain food court!!! Best food court I’ve ever seen! Healthy options, homemade options, yummy desserts, huge variety, well organized, clean. Thoroughly Impressed!!!

JODI W

This was great. But especially for kids. They would love it. We arrived at 2.30pm and got discounted tickets. Which was good.

Phil Carnell

Kids had a total blast. Adults had a blast too. We checked out the Wired to Wear exhibit which ended up being more interesting than I expected. My 8 year old flew the fighter jet simulator which was a lot of fun for $8. They really liked the 727 and submarine areas as well. There were so many interactive areas that we were always engaged in learning about something. Strangely enough they seemed to have the most fun playing on a trolley near the corner of the train area. Go figure.

Orange Xeno

Great place to take your family and watch, read, or listen from "how weather works, technology evolution (past to current and future)" The inside is very stunning and lovely exhibits. I enjoyed my visit. Great opinions of food and drinks if you want to take a break and fuel up.

Zo Wesson

It is one of the finest museums in the country with a myriad of exhibits to dazzle the mind and inspire creativity. I've gone there as a child, taken my children and without a doubt one day my grandchildren.

Shota Inoue

You can find innovation history and latest science. Additional ticket is required for entering U-boat, however it might be valuable to visit. Rolling stocks of California Zephyr is so beautiful. If you are interested in airplane, amount of air fighters during WW2 will attract you.

Jas G

Had an amazing time with my wife! It's a fun museum for all ages. Took the coal mine tour which was very entertaining and informative. Felt like we were in a Disney ride. The whole museum is interactive and hands on.

Paulina Lewis

By far my favorite spot of my vacation. Interactive, interesting exhibits abound. The staff were great with juggling questions from both adults and kids and always answered in an age appropriate way. We went to the wearable tech exhibit and both loved it! I'd definitely recommend getting a CityPass if you plan on doing multiple museums/attractions. We got much more bang for our buck that way with entrance into ticketed exhibits and shows.

April Sacks

Always a good place for kids cause they can touch everything. Went on Free day and was happy they still has some free attractions. The tornado was the coolest...per my grandson. He also loved the train and plane. Great afternoon.

Ignacio Alvarez

Many years ago I would take my children here and not expend any money because it was free. Children from the neighborhood came to this place every day and play and by osmosis learn something and be safe. Recently I comeback and the place was not recognizable any more even a bottle of water will cost you $4.00. I have no idea how the average family can afford to bring their children's here. The exibits are very nice, the price to come and see them, not that great!

Andrew Keith

This is a great place for kids to go and learn about all sorts of thing. You can also go to the shop and get food. I’ve had fun every year we’ve went. I hope you will have fun to.

pablo tetzpa

This is an awesome place to visit. The staff is super chill. And, why would you not want to see why tornados form, while you figure out that all your insides matter

Lori Sharum

One of the best museums in Chicago and th United States. We love MSI as there is so much to see, do and learn. One of the favorites for our family is the U-505....amazing piece of history and to learn Chicago's own World War II hero captured the German U-boat! Captain Daniel Gallery has a remarkable story that everyone should learn about.

Julia Burke

I just got back from a week in Chicago and I choose to spend a day in the MSI and I am so glad I did. Although the entrance fee was a bit pricey I believe it was worth it. I was lucky enough to be able to see the new exhibit called Body World, if you are in Chicago or live in Chicago and have the slightest interest in how your body works I highly recommend this exhibit, it took me about 2.5 hours to get through it...awesome!!!!There are also many other cool exhibits there, the Train Story which is amazing..I love trains and anything to do with the history of transportation so it was incredible they had a model of the most of the north of the USA and you could see trains moving in and out of the city to the coast...wow!There were many biology and physics exhibits...overall they were pretty basic, however I am a Science major...so I am a bit biased :)Anyways, if you do go to Chicago I think this is a must especially if you have the chance to visit Body Worlds!

Doug Smith

Such a fun place! Lots of hands on stuff for kids (and us big kids!) to do and learn. If I lived in Chicago I would be a member for sure!

John St

Some really great exhibits and good for kids. Unfortunately, there is kind of a tourist trap vibe- only 1 of 5 special attractions is included with city pass, and many attractions are timed entry as well as extra. Still lots to learn here and the submarine exhibit is absolutely amazing.

Will Hagerty

This was a great museum with a really fun and interesting exhibits. You can spend a couple hours or a couple days here depending on what is interesting to you. Their hands on exhibits were really fun, and the interactive activities like the Tesla coil are pretty exciting to. We use the city go past, and we felt like we probably could have gotten our money's worth just auto the museum.

Debra Wiedemann

Definitely one of the best museums I have been to! Easy navigation through the exhibit areas! The Fairy Castle is just amazing - you could spend an hour just looking at this! The food was reasonable and the facility is very well maintained! We will definitely come back someday!

Lauren Carruth

Such an amazing museum... Perfect for little ones who want to touch and experience everything! Huge place that is a great visit as-is, but also offer lots of additional exhibits and activities if interested (for additional cost). Keep an eye out for the pop-up activities throughout - My kid loved making and taking home some slime from one of them!

Jaime Delia

I’ve been visiting this place since I was a child. I love it and never have any complaints. The old times exhibit is my favorite!

Lenka Donovalová

We love it. Good for kids and adults too. We've been there many times and kids still want to go again.

Omar Ihmoud

A great place to visit. Recommended for all ages! It is huge! And will take you more than one visit to quickly explore the exhibits! And maybe days to actually look into them! If you are nearby (100 miles) or less, get the membership that will allow you access and parking!

Justin Tate

Was a great experience for all ages. Military rates were awesome. Trying to park and find entrance was interesting. We spent the entire day there and if we paid for the extras we would have been there longer.

Robert Van Natta

Phenomenal facility brimming with excellent exhibits. This museum is TOP NOTCH for anyone visiting the city of Chicago. Don't miss out!

LaReyna Griffin

The wired to wear exhibit was amazing - great to see pieces from people around the world. Also the mirror exhibit (free) was wonderful - trippy and def for the older child. Overall a solid 2.5-3 hour visit and could still see more.

Samuel Waggoner

I asked my grandson where he would like to go anywhere in the world and without hesitation he said, “Chicago” and “The Museum of Science and Industry”. So here we are. We lined up several special tours including the WOW Tour which took us behind the scenes. Benjamin flew the flight simulator, saw baby chicks being hatched, blew the mine whistle, saw how tornados are formed, walked through the airplane, a steam powered engine (train), an electric train, saw the small train layout, tried on wearable electronics and saw displays of future electronically integrated clothing. There were many things to see. You could spend a whole day easily. This was one of the highlights of our Chicago trip. It is a must do if you come to Chicago.

Geoff Grant

Parking for Members is free and by scanning your Membership Card. All exhibits are user friendly, except where the water is with the baseball size plastic balls is for registering access. Get ready to get help - very user unfriendly. Good food and ice cream. Prices are a little high to support the museum. Kid side stations are worth it as the demonstrations are chemically easy to understand even by adults.

Mackenzie Carpe

Best museum we did in Chicago! So many cool experiences and hands on fun for kids. Well worth the price. The museum absorbs crowds really well too, so it didn't seem packed.

Orlando Rashid

If you like science, excellent experience for kids and adults. There is so much to see! We spent over 4 hours in there and didn’t get to see everything before they closed. You can spend the whole day there. So plan to go early.

Heriberto Soto

Entertaining and educational - oh, for the kids too! Seriously, had so much fun at this place with my kids. If you’re from out of town traveling with kids - this place is a must!

Flare_Evan

Last Time I Was Here It Was May 2019 But I Had A Great Experience. It Was My Field Trip And My Favorite Was The Glacier When You Touched It. Take This One On A 12 Year Old And You'll Have Alot If Fun

Stuart PIles

I have been going to the Museum of Science and Industry for over 65 years. It is one of the finest places to visit in Chicago. From downtown, to the lake front, to the parks and theaters, this is an adventure that must not be missed. There are so many things to see at the Museum of Science and Industry from a coal mine to one of the greatest model railroads to a farm exhibit. There is even a street from the early 1900s with a movie theater that shows silent films. So many things to see. If you have never been to this museum, please take some time to visit it. You will not be disappointed

David Word

The museum was awesome. Went with my son for a day trip. He had a blast. There was a lot of things to keep his interest. A must see if visiting Chicago area.

Dimitris Protsios

A place to remember. A great experience. Give yourself plenty of time because it has lots for everyone. Especially if you have children with you. The U-505 is a must see and take the guided tour too. So many interesting things from the past and many current stuff too. If you are an aviation enthusiast there is a nice flight simulator experience for you. Do not miss it when.you visit Chicago. A day at the museum can be nicely combined with a visit to Hyde Park after as it is in the same area.

Chris Ray

Great place to take the kids. Had a lot of fun there and kids learned a lot of things. The experiments they have and the way they set up exhibits are incredible. Happy to go again next time I'm in chicago.

wesleyalee

Excellent hands-on exhibits. Exhibits are kept current and timely. Parking, underground, is safe and clean. Community activities, walking and supervised exercise is available.

James Bulford

The museum itself is 5 stars, but had to give it 3 stars. Spent an extra $100 for the kids and I to do coal mine and wearable tech which totally wasn't worth it. The coal miner is interesting if you have any interest in the industry, but quickly becomes boring for kids. Wearable tech was mostly pointless. A couple of interactive exhibits. But otherwise a picture with a description or a piece of clothing that either doesn't or never did work. I can take a picture or hang a shirt up and say it makes you fly.... doesn't mean anything if you can't actually see it do anything.

Catherine Ashton

One of my favorite places in Chicago! Eclectic, fun, and historical for the whole family. Pro tip: park in the back (metered) and avoid paying an arm and a leg for parking underground.

Phoenix Fier

Just browsed the Wired to Wear exhibit for the first time. That was great! I wish it were longer. Then we did the patterns exhibit, which I've wanted to see for a while now. Going to admit that I did get lost in the mirror maze, but I didn't hit myself, at least, like I thought I might. The dead ends were really cool and informative. The Museum of Science and Industry never disappoints me.

Lieutenant nico NPD

Been going since I was a kid. Too bad it costs so much now. But displays are still great. Would go again if I had the money.

Daniel Eastham

I live in a city very proud of it's science museum. Patriotically, I was very proud of it too. Was. This place blows it out of the water. It's one of the most incredible places I have ever been too, with truly engrossing exhibits. Actually getting to go on a real U-Boat, in a whole wing designed to look like a submarine pen? Wow! Not to mention the weather simulators, the interactive displays on thermal dynamics and hundreds of other incredible things (a whole train?!)... Definitely a world-leading institute.

Dustin Tilton

Very nice museum. Interesting exhibits that both kids and adults can enjoy.

Josh Dunlop

You have to pay extra to see the things worth seeing. The U-boat tour is an absolute must, but after you watch the movie 'Das Boot'. You will have so much more appreciation for the sub after watching that. The Smart House tour is cool too. What technologies reduce our carbon and electric footprint? I liked the mine tour too. It takes you below ground to see what it is like to work in a coal mine, and should not be missed. There are a lot of old race cars, bicycles, and ship models as well as a space exhibit.

Beau Butterfield

Impressive and immersive to say the least. One of the largest museums of its type that I have seen. Easily could spend an entire day here exploring all of the interactive exhibits. Good for all ages and really has a lot to offer for different interests.

Jay Emmer

Loved all the fun activities and the science behind Pixar. My kids loved it and my wife and I enjoyed the a reactions and all the information.

Joshua Wagner

I love this museum, and so do my kids. It's gotten more expensive recently as you have to pay for more and more "experiences". The U-Boat tour is cool, but you're hurried through without much time to really get a good look, so that's a little disappointing (especially considering there is an extra fee to go inside). Still a great museum, as long as you're prepared for $60+ per person (which includes two "experiences")

Karthika Arumugam

Great place to visit for a family day out with kids. There are plenty of experimental structures that we can manipulate and kids get to participate in daily or weekly eexperiment sessions. Chicago residents with library card can get kids museum passport for free general admission

Cash Gardner Media

By far the best museum in Chicago. Always has fantastic exhibits, a great campus, and you can’t forget the train model of Chicago!

Bo Brickle

This museum was interesting and had a lot of interactive exhibits. I would not recommend the coal mine experience. It was not very informative, and the tour guide was very soft-spoken, and it was loud in the area. Other than that the rest of the exhibits were excellent.

Tristan Realubit

Awesome place. we have membership and go 7 -8 times a year, comes with free parking and entrance to members lounge for free coffee or hot chocolate. My kids love it, so much things for them to see, learn and keep busy.

Lauren McGrew

Had a great time here and wish we had more time to spend! Do yourself a favor and start on the second floor. We started on the first and it was a little lame, except for the U505 exhibit that was amazing! We also saw a film in the dome theater which was cool. We were able to get in pretty quickly with our GoCity passes. I really wish we could have seen the YOU! Exhibit because it looked really cool. You’ll probably want at least 3 hours to spend here.

Oma G

We all love the Museum of Science and Industry. Took my children several times a year while they were growing up. Now it is my grandchildren turn and my grandson could live there as there is so much to learn and see. Even the cafeteria offers great food at a reasonable price for a museum. Recommend it highly.

Meagan Conery

This meseum has been a favorite since I was a kid. Now I am bringing my own kids here and they always have a blast. We got a season pass so we can go at different times of the year. The Christmas trees are a must see.

Chad Crider

Way more here to do than we are capable of in our 2-hour school field trip. So many different areas and stations for kids to interact with science. It's amazing to watch them eagerly run from one area to the next saying I want to see this I want to see this.

David J Weinerman

Huge museum, and yet all well maintained. Spent 3 hours there and easily could have used another few hours.

Major Hayden

Oh my, this place is BIG. You may scoff at the entry fee, but you really do get your money's worth. If you pick an extra exhibit to add on, take your kids through the coal mine experience. I learned a lot and my kids loved it. There is a great bus stop right outside.

Anton Topilskii

I believe this is the simply the best museum in Chicago. I really liked the hurricane installation, the wave generator and lightning demonstration. The collection of automobiles is quite impressive as well. The museum is really huge and it is completely possible to spend the entire day here.

Chui Ming Tang

A huge museum with many interactive displays. For the experience exhibits you will need to pick up timed tickets before you enter so I would plan around that first. A lot of the cool exhibits cost extra so plan ahead and research which ones you want to do. We came here one hour before closing which is definitely not enough time. We were mainly able to check out the mirror maze which was fun and short. Because we came at the last hour, tickets were half price which was a nice surprise (I didn’t see this on the website).

Bayan Almohaimeed

I enjoyed my time at the museum. They have a huge collection of scientific experiments. You can touch and try most of them. It gave me a chance to learn and have fun at the same time. I got to try the flight simulator at the planes section, it was awesome! I liked they way they presented and organized the science projects.

Hanna N.

I feel like we could spend three days here. So much amazing things to see. My children were constantly mesmerized by each new place we discovered. So much beauty to see here. Worth every single penny!

Serena Round

My husband and I had a blast last summer and we can't wait to visit this summer again. There's so much to do here. Make sure you go there with extra time to enjoy the many exhibitions you can attend. We attended the mega dome movie theater amd watched a movie about planet earth. You'll love it. This place is huge so you will need a map and staff help for directions.

Tamie Fernandez

Great museum! Too much to see and do in just one day. If going with a group research and ask pointy questions before you buy the food vouchers. We will not purchase them again unless they make some changes. The choices were too limited and you could not use the $ spent for it toward anything else which was quite frustrating. I personally don't drink soda and would have come out spending less without the voucher.

Wyatt Determan

Awesome place, my only complaint was that many of the exhibits charged an extra fee. Which would really add up quick! Missed the main exhibit, which looked really cool because it was $12 more.

Anthony A

My most favorite museum in Chicago. Make sure to try the special exhibits. When I went the Fab Lab is a must do for any family! The 3D printing experience was fun and definitely would spark the imagination and creativity for anyone of any age. The U-boat exhibit was a little pricey, so we skipped that one.

Thebardgaming

I had tons of fun at the museum. I loved the model train set and the flight simulator was amazing. I got to have a full day with my mom, which is a thing that is getting rarer and rerer for me. So it was very fun overall. If you want to go, you simply must do the submarine tour and the coal mine tour. You will enjoy it a ton.

Patricia Carnevalli de Miranda

I LOVE THIS PLACE. The most interactive museum I've been to. The kids didn't want to leave even when they were closing it's doors. It's expensive BUT totally worth it. And there's always events happening for all ages. And the highlight is Tesla's coil exhibition.

Brooke Todd

Had a pretty fun time. Lot of cool things to learn and see. Kids loved the Idea Factory and all of the tornado stuff. Spent from 9:30 - about 3pm here. Food was SUPER expensive.

Darren Wacker

World Class museum. Loved my time there. Well worth a visit. Fascinating!!

Andrea Celleri

This museum is huge! There is a lot to see and you can easily spend the entire day there. It is very child friendly and has very diverse exhibits. Personally, I enjoyed the submarine, space and genetic exhibits.

Hannah Smith

The building is huge but not much content. You have to pay extra for additional exhibits Lots of exhibits don't work, such as the exhibit with machine with drops bouncing the magnet didn't seem to work. Seemed to be missing a magnet. This one, amongst others also required a lot of force to actually move it, such as the one with the stress lines being moved with a magnet and rotated. The droplet experiment didn't make a noticeable difference to the fire, which meant that people just ignored it. The exhibit with the periodic table and the magnet picking up the elements didn't work either. So many ignorant people and exhibits that don't force you to actually engage or learn the science behind it. One man to his teenage daughter 'Oh look, you can make your own colours on the wall'. No, that's not what the experiment is about, it's about how different coloured lights change the appearance of objects. There were lots of children pressing buttons without reading anything. Such as the hot air balloon experiment with a 10 year old child repeatedly pressing the release button which wasn't active, without her and her parent reading that the temperature needs to be in the correct zone before it is active. So many of the exhibits and interactive elements don't actually force you to learn the science behind it and are more trial and error, thus useless. This was clear in the firework interactive experiment which was a list of ingredients that you had to drag into a bowl for a colour. You had to click and open it to read what it is used for and where it comes from. There weren't any non combustible elements which tricked you and forced you to actually read and learn which materials are necessary for the firework. Some dubious facts. Bicycles were originally ridden indoors for sport in huge velodromes before they became commonplace. 'Before bicycles became commonplace, they were ridden indoors for sport. Huge areas, or velodromes, were built to ride these new and still dangerous bicycles'. Really? I'm pretty sure that they were common before velodromes were built, even if they were built for sport. It also closes at 4pm. Really early. There is not really anything specific to Chicago.

DMadd519

The M of S and I is so fun! Great for children of all ages. Would recommend for a rainy day.

Monique Ford

It was a nice place where you can have a good day with the family. Have fun and learn a little too. I recommend the submarine tour it was amazing.

Caleb P

Fantastic. There's so much to do and see you could easily spend a few days here exploring and seeing everything depending on how thorough you are. I highly recommend getting the extra tickets to do all the extras it's well worth it. Just be warned though, this museum is massive and at times can seem quite overwhelming. Great place to bring the kids, or just your wife.

David Finseth

One of the best interactive museums in the city. Great for all ages to get your science on.

Sara Amin

This is a nice and interactive museum! There are multiple floors, if you are going to read and try every single interaction, then you probably need more than 6 hours!! The bathrooms aren’t super clean. I also got to dissect a cow eye!!

Karl Schantz

The Chicago Museum of Science and Industry is absolutely a great time for kids of all ages! There are plenty of wonderful interactive exhibits and activities for everyone in this huge, beautiful, old Museum which dates back to the Chicago World's Fair. It is relatively affordable. Parking is expensive ($22 for the day), but that is to be expected near downtown Chicago.

Kamryn Eichenlaub

There is so much to see here! The exhibits are super fun and interesting and there are many hands-on exhibits. Went here with my Senior class and everyone had an amazing time. Would gladly come back again to experience everything I missed!

Aaron Piper

It's a great experience. However there are clearly a few well dated exhibits. I can understand the monumental amount of funds and work required to change the things in the museum but I do believe there are a few that could be revamped or changed. One big area is the old time main street. There is nothing even really there other than an ice cream store and a old time moving picture theater. The items that were newer were clearly the star attractions, especially the interactive ones. It was still fun.

G C

Took my family (2 teen kids) for the first time for July fourth. It was a hot day but inside it was very clean, cool and well maintained. Food court is awesome, bit on the expensive side but thats the case with most tourist places anyway. Museum is great, with lots of visuals and great explanations. You can literally spend whole day and still won’t be able to finish everything. Must visit if you’re new to Chicago

Ashish Agarwal

This is so much fun place. We were there since morning from the time of opening till the museum closed, but still we were not able to complete everything. There are lots of things to explore and learn. Kids would have fun.

Sherri Pope

Amazing. My daughter and I grew up going there and now my daughter works there!! I'm so proud of her.

Scott A Lagger

Great museum. Love the Great Train Story. The Submarine is a must see. The walk down memory lane on old Main Street is really cool.

Ben Townsend

Great fun for our 8 and 4 year olds. We should have planned for about four hours to really enjoy the entire museum. Regrettably, we did not because we didn't think the 4 year old would be engaged for that long. We were wrong. We could have stayed there all day and the kids would have been content....I don't think I would have been though. 4 hours is enough.

Megan Hutchinson

Great new exhibits. We love coming here with the family pass. Save lots of money. We will be back many times through the fall and winter to get out and learn!

Finley Burch

Coming from Seattle, I was amazed by the sheer size of the museum. There are plenty of exhibits to see and interact with, as well as guided experiences that require special ticket purchases. I got to experience the coal mine tour, which included demonstrations of real mining equipment. I would highly recommend that experience in particular.

Mykel Lammert

Onve of the best experiences I've had at a museum. They had amazing exhibits, the kids loved it, and it was very reasonably priced at the time. Prices change periodically & make sure you car pool if you are going with anyone because parking downtown is always expensive. Amazing experience though, many good memories.

Dominic Zhu

Very nice museum with the nice water Idea Factory. I really like that U505 that they put in one exhibit with activities surrounding it. I want to come back whenever I can.

Joanne Deangelo

We decided to stop by last minute and it was a blast! They do offer a military discount so don’t forget to bring your military ID as well. The best thing I could recommend is to take an Uber because it’s very hard to find close parking or parking that’s cheap. You could always get discounts and passes during the year for free admission as well. I love going throughout the year because they have different exhibits that they show and displayed. Very interactive and a fun place for the family or even a field trip.

Leaf Fael

Absolutely amazing! Take your time and plan a whole day here! Read about the location before coming, it has a cool history! Tennis shoes are a must. The gift shop has unique options! The museum uses stairwells to teach concepts...not an inch is wasted here! The cafe has really good food options too. Parking $22. ASTC reciprocal partner.

Ian Holland

I have never left a review for anything before this. I feel I have to express my disappointment however with this museum for 2 reasons. Firstly, I have never seen a museum with so much interior space and so few actual exhibits. There’s lots of replicated interactive stuff for kids but very little of actual historical interest. Secondly, is the cost. $38 to get in then another $18 to look inside the sub, another $20 for the mine, and $12 for the space shuttle experience. A packet of crisps from the vending machine is $3 and a bottle of water another $3. I find these costs to get the full experience very expensive, I’m just glad I didn’t have to try and do it with my family.

Bob Goodson

Our second visit, this time with the grandsons. This place is phenomenal! Our faves were the Fab Lab and the U505 exhibit. All staff were friendly and very patient with our talkative grandsons. Our only suggestion for improvement is the museum store. The store could use more t-shirts for kids and a model of the U505. An incredible day and highly recommended!

1970rpm

We visited the Museum of Science and Industry while on our vacation and miss being closer to here like we used to be when living in Indiana. However, we always enjoy the exhibits, both old and new. I have many memories of a school trip here from 1988 while in high school. I think the German UBoat exhibit is probably our favorite. Both of our kids did the flight simulator and really enjoyed the experience. The Charlie Chaplin silent movies were a hoot to stop and watch as well. Enjoyed some delicious ice cream at Finnegan's on our way out. Took in the Hidden Pacific at the big dome theater - film length seems to be quite shorter now.

Matt Morstad

So much to see, we planned on spending 2 hours and spent closer to 5. Kids absolutely love this place and the WWII u-boat was the highlight for parents and kids. Super cool.

Omar Abhari

Loved this place and so did the kids. Some must try attractions include the Makers United workshop where kids get to build a small LED watch-like wristband. The coal mine tour was really cool, and the tour guide, Chris, was super, even with all the "miner" jokes :) The space center was great. He fab lab is really cool for kids (6+) especially the 3D printing workshop. Need at least two days to cover most exhibits and attractions. Oter honorable mentioms include the 505 submarine

A Federico RE

Excellent place to go with the family. If you really wanna enjoy it you must go as soon as it opens, as it has too much to see, coming here and not paying for the U-Boat your is a nonsense (18$) is the master piece of the place. You can definitely spend a whole day here without getting bored

Ray

We love this place! Joined as members and attended an open house tonight. The access and perks of this one evening were worth the price of membership. Everyone is always friendly and the exhibits are fun and interesting.

Michel Iliff

This museum was okay. I really wish there were more interactive exhibits, and you had to pay extra for some of the experiences which were all of the more "fun" ones. My 8 and 4 year olds were bored most of the time through it.

Cheryl Ridenour

A really interesting place for adults and children - ages 5 to 95. A wide variety of exhibits to interest everyone. You will even learn a thing or two - guaranteed. We also had lunch on campus and the food was good, a good variety and served in a clean setting. A must see for visitors. Could have spent more time there looking at everything. Beautiful building - and huge! What a gem for the city of Chicago!

Jovita Lazdinis

Amazing museum for the kids and adults!!! I'm sure we will be back again... Unfortunately we planned to spent where only one day but to see everything you would really need to two days!

Jesus Aldana

Of all the museums this is the one I liked the most. Couldn't visit it whole because it closes at 4pm besides arriving at 12 noon so please bear this in mind

frosty glageon

Some cool and interesting things but Several exhibits were not working properly and there is nowhere to sit in any of the exhibit areas with minor exceptions. So in the entire space center there's one bench which is not near any of the exhibits or movies that are playing... it's just by the bathrooms. In the whole U-boat display.... not a single place to sit. This was the case several times. It's extremely difficult for someone who has trouble walking or for someone like me, with plantar fasciitis, that needs to set once in a while so get off your feet. I don't want to take away from the rest of the family's experience though by having them worry about me being in a totally different part. Even in the main lobby areas there are no benches. That's just ridiculous.

Michael Mulholland

What a wonderful experience! The building is huge and absolutely beautiful. Plan on getting there early and staying for the whole day. Some of the exhibits require an extra ticket purchase. I would highly recommend buying the tickets to see the German U-Boat. Seeing this massive submarine is magnificent. The museum also offers a "coal mine" tour for an extra fee. I wouldn't recommend this exhibit unless you are interested in this topic

Bill Mintz

I have been enjoying this place since I was a small child. It continues to evolve and change. Great place. You could miss the wearable tech.

Spencer Jones

Kept a 4 and 7 year old interested and happy for more than three hours. And we could have stayed longer. As they get older they'll continue to love it and take in more of the details. We'll be back in a year or two.

김동윤

The must-visit place in Chicago. Even for a science illiterate person like me enjoyed very much the exhibition. Although some special exhibition required additional payment, if you visit this museum on a “free pass day”, I think the general expense is not that high. I am planning to have another visit at this place.

Master iOqY

A massive museum just a short drive or bus ride south of Chicago. Lots of space between exhibits so bring the kids to let off one steam. Seeing an intact U-boat, the only one ever captured by the Americans, is a sight to behold. Also lots of lunar exhibits, plus a couple of trains, old school electric vehicles from 100 yrs ago (imagine if the gasoline lobby didnt convince Congress that fossil fuels were the way to go), a 707, and interesting exhibits on natural events such as tornados. Food choices can be improved and some exhibits are starting to show its age and need to be refreshed. Gail entry using your Chicago pass and it's well worth the visit.

Anabel Pachano-Arismendi

Beautiful museum. Is divided in areas so you can stand in the middle of them and look at 4 different scenarios. It has a lot of interesting things where kids and adults can have fun and learn at the same time

Benjamin Werden

Such an awesome museum. Plenty of things to do and see. It's great for kids and adults. Many hands on exhibits. You must visit the weather room, complete with tornado and Tesla coil. Extremely educational and fun for all. Plan on it being an all day event. We spent most of the day but still didn't see all of it. Many things inside have an extra cost, but we didn't do any of them and still didn't see everything that didn't cost extra. Will definitely return again sometime. The u boat exhibit was probably one of my personal favorites!

Cianna B

The museum of science and industry was the best museum I've visited in Chicago. I used my city Go pass to enter and got admission to a movie of my choice. The exhibits are informative, interactive, and fun for all age. My favorites were the Henry Crown Space Center and numbers in nature exhibit.

Yadi Delgado

To start this is one of my favorites museums so much to see and learn. I love it. I go every year with my kids and I like taking people when they tell me they have never been here.

Isabelle Ku

Excellent. Spend an entire day there, it was so big and interesting. Lots of fascinating exhibits and demonstrations. Also lots of hands-on activities to demonstrate different physical and scientific phenomenon. I really liked the storm section, the railroad display of Seattle to Chicago, the fairy tale castle, and the submarine. It was also busy when we went. Not as crowded as the aquarium, but still plenty of people. The staff were also friendly and informative.