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Field Trip Ideas by County Will County PLEASE NOTE: This field trip guide was created and designed by Illinois H.O.U.S.E and wording was only changed to reflect the most recent information on the location as well as phone numbers and website addresses where appropriate. Neither Three Rivers Public Library District nor Illinois H.O.U.S.E. is responsible for events that happen during your family's field trip. Please make sure to contact the location before setting out for the most recent information. All links were active as of 8-10-05. Des Plaines Fish and Wildlife Area - 24621 N. River Rd., Wilmington, IL 60481, 815/423-5326. Call for hours of operation. Groups of 25 or more are required to obtain advance permission to use the facility. At least one adult per 15 minors is required. Picnicking, fishing, camping, and more. Note: The campground is currently closed and boat ramps are under construction. Gladys Fox Museum - 231 Ninth Street, Lockport, IL 60441, 815/838-1183. Owned by the Lockport Park District. Oldest masonry church building in Illinois; area history exhibits. Open Mon-Fri 1pm-4pm or by appointment. Herbert Trackman Planetarium - at Joliet Junior College, 1216 Houbolt Avenue, Joliet, IL, 815/280-6682. Special programming can be arranged for grade school and high school groups, as well as civic organizations. Fall Schedule begins on September 8. Tuesday shows are for all audiences and begin at 7:30pm. Thursday shows are geared for children and begin at 6:30pm. Upcoming shows include: Larry, Cat in Space, MarsQuest, Our Place in Space, Solar System Spectacular, Solar System Stake Out, Wonders of the Night and Story of the Star. Call for complete information and visit site for program schedule. Illinois & Michigan Canal Museum - 803 S. State Street, Lockport, IL, 815/838-5080. Daily 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Free admission.Illinois State Museums: Lockport Gallery - 201 West 10th Street, Lockport, IL 60441, 815/838-7400. Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Call for admissions info. The gallery is home to changing exhibits of works by past and present Illinois artists in a variety of media. Current and upcoming exhibits include "Art in the Abstract" and "A Family Farm Album: The Photographs of Frank Sadorus." - Will County Forest Preserve District at 501 E 135th Street, Romeoville, IL. Hours Tues-Sat 10am-4pm, Sunday Noon-4pm. Celebrate Earth Day in April, the Island Rendezvous in June, and Fall Fest and the Kid's Fishing Derby in September. See site for details.Joliet Area Historical Society Museum - 17 E. VanBuren St., Joliet, IL, 8155/722-7003. Hours: Tues-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun Noon-5pm. Open some Monday school holidays. Admission: $5 Adults, $4 Seniors (60+), $4 Students with school id, $3 Youth (4-17), under 3 and members free. Reduced admission for groups of 15 or more. Check out the calendar for special children's events. Currently: Until August 31 "The 100th Anniversary of the Scott Special" Special Railroad Exhibit. Until September 13: "Historic Bridges of Illinois".Lemont Area Historical Society Museum - 306 Lemont St., Lemont, IL, 708/2755-2972 Hours: Tues, Thurs, Fri 10am-2pm, Sat 10am-1pm, Sun 1pm-4pm. - 503 W. Lockport St., Plainfield, IL, 815/436-0370 Hours: Tues-Fri 12pm-5pm, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 12pm-3pm. Features the work of Salvador Dali and Louis Icart as well as graphic art from the 19th and 20th Centuries. (Some parental guidance is suggested).Pilcher Park Nature Center - Gougar Road near Route 30 and I-80, Joliet, IL, 815/741-7277. Daily (June-August)9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m and Daily(Sept-May) 9am-3pm. Hiking, natural history exhibits, 12 different field trip programs, as well as a variety of educational programs and classes, including maple syrup demonstrations (with a pancake breakfast) during the month of March, and lots more. Call for admissions info as this varies on the class/program/etc. - 431 N. Chicago St., Joliet, IL, 815/727-1926. Ethnic history displays.Will County Historical Society Pioneer Settlement - 100 W. Ninth St., Lockport, IL 604441 815-838-5080Channahon State Park - Channahon, IL. Phone - 815/467-4271 (call or see web site for directions) - Boating, picnicking, hiking, and more outdoor activities. Call for hours and admission info. Gebhard Woods State Park and William G Stratton State Park - 401 Ottawa Street, Morris, IL 60450. Phone - 815/942-9669 - Camping, hiking, canoeing, and more. Call for hours and admission info. Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area and Heidecke Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area - 5010 N. Jugtown Road, Morris, IL 60450. Phone - 815/942-2899 - Hiking, picnicking, nature trails. Call or see web site for hours and admission. Groups of 25 or more are required to make reservations in advance. Mazonia/Braidwood State Fish and Wildlife Area - Illinois Route 53 and Huston Road, Braceville, IL 60407. Phone - 815/237-0063. Braidwood Lake is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays except for Monday holidays. Morris Theater Guild Playhouse - 507 Liberty Street, Morris, IL. Phone - 815/942-1966. Crafty Corner Cutz - 25 E. Jackson St., Oswego, IL 60543, Phone - 630/554-6572 Little White School House Museum - E. Jackson Street, Oswego, IL 60543, Phone - 630/554-2999 Hours: Museum: Weds 10am-2pm, Thurs and Fri 1pm-5pm, Sat. 9am-4pm, Sun. Noon to 4pm. Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area - 13608 Fox Rd, Yorkville, IL, Phone - 630/553-6680 - Fishing, boating, hiking, and other outdoor activities. Call ahead for hours and admission info. Buffalo Rock State Park - Buffalo Rock Road, Ottawa, IL 61350, 815/433-2220. Call for admission info and hours of operation. Picnicking, hiking, buffalo viewing, and other outdoor activities. Hume-Carnegie Museum - 901 Washington Street, Mendota, IL, 815/539-3373. Saturday & Sunday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. or by appointment. $2/adult; $1/child/student through high school. Local history; exhibits about the Indian Wars, Wild Bill Hickok, and more. Illini State Park - 2600 East 2350th Road, Marseilles, IL 61341, 815/795-2448. Call for admission info and hours of admission. Groups of 25 or more must register in advance. Minimum of one adult per every 15 minors. Picnicking, hiking, camping, boating, fishing, more. LaSalle Lake - 2660 East 2350th Road, Marseilles, IL 61341, 815/357-1608. April 1 through September 30, open 7 days/week 6 a.m. to dusk; March 15 through 31 and October 1 to two weeks before "Central Zone waterfowl season", closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, but open Wednesday through Sunday 6 a.m. to dusk. Groups of 25 or more must register in advance. Minimum of one adult per 15 minors. Hiking, fishing, picnicking, and more. Marseilles State Fish and Wildlife Area - part of Illini State Park (same phone number) and LaSalle Lake (same address). Matthiessen State Park - Utica/Oglesby, IL, 815/667-4868. Call for directions, admission info and hours of operation. Hiking, picnicking, archery range, and more. Ottawa Scouting Museum - 1100 Canal Street, Ottawa, IL 61350, 815/431-9353. Thursday through Monday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed holidays. $3/adult; $2/child; group rates available - call. History of Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Camp Fire. Starved Rock State Park - south of Utica, IL on Route 178, 815/667-4726. Daily 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Call for admission info. See web site for special programs and activities. Hiking, picnicking, camping, more. Union Depot Railroad Museum - 783 Main Street, Mendota, IL, 815/538-3800. Memorial Day through Labor Day: Wednesday through Sunday noon to 5 p.m.; Labor Day to Memorial Day: Saturday and Sunday noon to 5 p.m.; other hours by appointment. $2/adult; $1/child/student through high school. HO railroad layout of Mendota in 1930s-1940s; old-time telegraph office, and more. Air Classics Museum of Aviation - Aurora Airport - Veterans Memorial Parkway, 43W636 US 30, Sugar Grove, IL 60554, 630/466-0888. Friday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday noon to 4 p.m.; Guided tours for groups are available but reservations much be made at least one week ahead. Call for admission information. Dedicated to aviation history; many hands-on activities. Aurora Regional Fire Museum- Corner of New York and Broadway in downtown Aurora, 630-892-1572. Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays 1-4pm. Admission: $3.50 Adults/$2.50 Seniors or Firefighters/$2 Children 12 and under. Discounts for groups. Current exhibits: Buckets, Bells and Booster Tanks and Firefighters. Blackberry Historical Farm-Village - 100 S. Barnes Rd, Aurora, IL 60506, 630/892-1550. Open through Labor Day: Mon-Fri 9:30am-3:30pm. Sat/Sun/Holidays 11am-5pm. From Labor Day until October 9 open Friday-Sunday. Open Columbus Day Oct 10 from 9:30am-3:30pm. Open Sat and Sun from October 10 to October 30. Then closed for season. For residents: $4.25/adult, $3.75/child/senior. For non-residents: $7/adult; $6/child/senior. Under 2, free. Individual Season Pass for residents: $20 (before 5/1)/$25 (after 5/1). Individual Season Pass for non-residents: $25 (before 5/1)/$30 (after 5/1) Five museum buildings, including a Farm Museum and Early Streets Museum. Period craft demonstrations; haywagon rides; and more. Fox River Trolley Museum--361 S LaFox Street, South Elgin, IL 60177. 847-697-4676. Hours vary by season, call or visit site. One ride: $3.50 Adult/$2.00 Children/Senior. All day ticket $7.00. Old time trolley that takes you on a 4 mile trip along the banks of the Fox River and the Blackhawk Forest Preserve. Special events throughout the year. Garfield Farm and Inn Museum - 3N016 Garfield Road, LaFox, IL 60147, 630/584-8485. June through September, Sunday and Wednesday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Other hours by appointment year-round. Call for admission prices. A number of special events occur throughout the year, including hands-on learning opportunities, such as basket-weaving, fireplace cooking, etc., recalling farm life in the first half of the nineteenth century. Upcoming events (see site for details): Harvest Days, Prairie Walk, Heirloom Garden Show, and Candlelight Reception. SciTech Interactive Science Center - 18 West Benton Street, Aurora, IL 60506, 6630/859-3434. Memorial Day-Labor Day Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun Noon-5pm. Open until 8pm on Friday during Downtown Alive. Validated parking at the Stolp Garage (bring ticket into Scitech for validation) - do NOT park in the library parking lot under any circumstance. $7/Adult; $6/seniors; Group rates available - call for info. Exhibits include "The Virtual Reality Room" and "Midwest Wild Weather". Lots of hands-on activities. Discount ticket available on site through September 11, 2005. Special exhibit May 25-September 11: Bats: Masters of the Night. Billy Graham Center Museum at Wheaton College - 500 College Avenue, Wheaton, IL 60187, 630/752-5909. Call for hours and guided group tours. Admission free. Focus is on the influence of evangelism on American society since its early history. Cantigny Park - 1 South 151 Winfield Road, Wheaton, Illinois 60187, 630/668-5161 (General Information). Hours of operation vary by month, so call ahead or visit the site, closed in month of January. Admission: $7/car; $40/Midsize (capacity 18 to 35);$70/bus (capacity greater than 35); $4/car after 4 p.m.(5p.m. during the summer). Grounds include two golf courses; the First Division ("The Big Red One") Museum housing World Wars I and II exhibits; and the McCormick Museum, 15 acres of formal gardens, as well as youth links to introduce young people to golf. See website for special events/concerts. Chicago Festival Ballet - studio has two locations: 1239 S. Naper Blvd. Naperville, IL 60540, 630/527-1052; and 3039 Theodore St. Joliet, IL 60431, 815/577-7011. Lessons in classical ballet; annual performances of the Nutcracker held at the Rialto Theater in Joliet, McAnnich Arts Center at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, and the Frauenthal Theater in Muskegon, MI. DuPage Children's Museum –301 N Washington St., Naperville, IL 60540, Information: 630/637-8000. Public hours: Mondays 9am-1pm (except for selected school holidays when museum is open later) Tuesday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Open until 8pm on Thursdays., Sunday noon to 5 p.m. $7/person (1 to 59), $6 Seniors. Members free for 1 year. Exhibits include AirWorks, Construction House, Ramps and Rollers, and many more fun hands-on activities. See site for group rates (no groups on Mondays), special discounts. DuPage Heritage Gallery - 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187. Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission free. Gallery focus is on DuPage County citizens of note throughout the county's history. Elmhurst Art Museum - 150 Cottage Hill Avenue, Elmhurst, IL p; 60126, 630/834-0202. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Wednesday 1pm-8pm; Friday, Sunday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. $4/adult; $3 senior; $2/students with ID; Free/child under 12. Tuesday is free day. Holdings include one of only three existing houses designed and built by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. Current exhibits: Rhonda Gates: Weather Systems, Peter Stanfield: Myself, Among Other Things, Rebecca Shore: Geometric Play. Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra - PO Box 345, Elmhurst, IL 60126, 630/941-0202. Various performances throughout the Elmhurst area during the year. See website or call for schedule and ticket information. Fullersburg Woods - Spring Road about 1/4 mile north of Ogden Avenue, Oak Brook, IL, 630/850-8110. Open daily from 1 hour after sunrise to 1 hour after sunset. Visitors Center open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Features an Environmental Theater, Living Marsh exhibit, Graue Mill (see below for details), several hiking trails, and more. Graue Mill and Museum - York and Spring Roads, Oak Brook, IL, 630/655-2090. Open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-4:30pm mid-April through mid-December. $3.50 adults, $3 seniors, $1.50 children. Call for more information, group rates. Special events throughout the season. Kline Creek Farm at Timber Ridge Forest Preserve - County Farm Road north of Geneva Road, Winfield, IL, 630/876-5900. Thursday through Monday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Focus is on realistically representing farm life of the 1890s. Sheep, cattle, rabbits, and chickens are kept. Farm house and summer kitchen exhibit domestic life of the time. Call for tour hours and arrangements for farm house and summer kitchen. Many seasonal activities throughout the year - call for details. Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art - 220 Cottage Hill, Elmhurst, IL 60126, 630/833-1616. Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. $3/adult; $2/senior; $1/student/teenager; free/child under 13. Friday is Free Day. Focus on stone carving and natural science. Video program for groups - reservation required. Call for details and dates. The Morton Arboretum - 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, IL 60532, 630/968-0074. Open daily 7am-7pm. Admission rates are: $5 Adult, $4 Seniors, $2 Children (3-12), Children 2 and under free. On Wednesdays, $3 Adult, $2 Senior, $1 Children (2 and under free). Starting Sept 1: $7 Adult, $5 Senior, $4 Children (3-12), Children 2 and under free. Wednesdays $4 Adult, $3 Senior, $2 Children. Currently: Until Aug 21: Live on the Hedge: Maze Garden. Weekends and Wednesdays: Guided Walks. Weekends Theatre Hikes: Little House on the Prairie, Toad of Toad Hall, Sleepy Hollow, check site for more information. Check site for other special events. Some events and services are at an additional cost. See web site or call for complete schedule and price information. Naper Settlement - 523 South Webster Street, Naperville, Illinois 60540, 630/420-6010. April through October: Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sunday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Admission $7/adult; $6/senior; $4.50/child 4-17. Groups of 20 or more should make advance reservations. See web site or call for special group programs available. Special Exhibit: People and Places: Matie Egermann's World Doll Collection. New Philharmonic - McAninch Arts Center - College of DuPage, 425 22nd Street, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137, 630/942-3005. Professional orchestra housed at the College of DuPage. Call 630/942-4000 for schedule and ticket information. Salt Creek Ballet Home Page - 98 E. Naperville Road, Westmont, IL 60559, 630/769-1199. Dance school studios in Westmont and Hinsdale. Performances throughout the area. See web site or call for schedule and ticket information. Wheaton Park District Cosley Zoo - 1356 Gary Avenue, Wheaton, IL 60187, 630/665-5534. Hours change seasonally, call or visit website. Admission is free to individuals and families (donations encouraged). However, for groups of 10 or more, reservations are required, as is a $1.00/person charge for groups originating outside Wheaton School District 200. One chaperone for every 10 children required. Some programs have an additional fee, see site for details. Features farm animals and native wildlife. Willowbrook Wildlife Center - 2S101 Park Boulevard, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 630/942-6200. Daily 9am-5pm summer, daily 9am-4pm winter. Wildlife rehabilitation and education center featuring educational programs and wildlife exhibits. Presentations include slide shows. Nature trail and habitats. Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum - 1300 South Lakeshore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, 312/922-7827. Summer schedule(until Labor Day): Weekdays 9:30am-6pm Weekends: 9:30am-6pm; Far Out Fridays: first Friday of every month, 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. (separate admission price - see web site or call). Groups of 15 or more subject to group rates and should call 312/294-0364 in advance for information. Admission rates vary by age and number of shows, call or visit website. Free general admission on Mondays and Tuesdays from September 12 to December 20(shows are an additional fee). Current shows include: Stars of the Pharohs, Timespace: The Infinite Adventure, Space in Your Face, Race to the Edge of the Universe , SonicVision and Wizard Science Live! Ars Viva - North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Boulevard, Skokie, IL, 847/677-8482 for season tickets or 847/673-6300 for individual concert tickets. Chamber orchestra specializing in classic music as well as selections written by living composers. See web site for current season offerings. The Art Institute of Chicago Museum - 111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60603, 312/443-3600. Monday-Wednesdays, Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Thursday 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas. Donations required all days but Tuesday, recommended $12/adult, $7/child/student/senior. Some exhibits have a fixed ticket fee. Group tours available - call 312/857-7104. Current family exhibitions: Faces, Places and Inner Spaces, Touch Gallery , and Fantasy, Facts and Furry Friends: Caldecott Medal and Honor Books 2001-2005 through October 30. Bronzeville Childrens Museum - Evergreen Plaza 95th Street and Western Avenue, GA1 - P.O. Box 42850, Evergreen Park Illinois 60805, 708/636-9504. Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. $3/adult, $2/child. African-American children's museum. Current exhibit: A Story of African-American Music.. Brookfield Zoo - First Avenue and 31st Street, Brookfield, IL, 708/485-0263. Daily at least 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with expanded hours at different times of the year and for special events. Admission: Adults $8, Children 3-11 $4, Seniors (65+) $4, Under 2 free. Parking is $8. Additional charges for Children's Zoo and Hamill Family Play Zoo, Dolphin Presentation, and tram rides. Upcoming events include: Hug a Bug in August (Aug 12-21), Fiesta para Todos(Sept 24-25), Deaf and Hard of Hearing Day (Oct 7), and Boo! At The Zoo (Oct 22-23 and Oct 29-30). Chicago Academy of Sciences - Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum - 2430 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614, 773/755-5100. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed New Years Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. $7/adult; $5/senior/student (13-22); $4/child(3-12). Some exhibits may have additional charge. Thursdays are free. Temporary and permanent exhibits include: Judy Istock Butterfly Haven, Extreme Green House, These Rare Lands, and Mega Mystery Animal Maze (May 27-Sept 5, additional fee). Chicago Architecture Foundation - Santa Fe Center, 224 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL, 312/922-TOURS and John Hancock Center, 875 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL, 312/751-1380. Arranges educational tours of Chicago architecture. Offerings include: Historic Skyscrapers, Modern Skyscrapers, Frank Lloyd Wright by Bus, Children's Loop Tour, Structure: The Secret of Skyscrapers, and more. The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design - 190 South Roselle Road, Schaumburg,IL 60193, 847/895-3950. International Sculpture Park- Robert O. Atcher Municipal Center, Schaumburg, IL. Downtown facility at 307 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60601 312/372-1083. Museum Admission $3/adult, $2/seniors/students. Architecture, industrial, product and graphic design, and urban planning are covered in their collections. Call for group reservations. Chicago Botanic Garden - 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, Illinois 600022, 847/835-5440. Admission is by car. $10/car, $5.75 per car for seniors on Tuesdays, $36 per commercial bus, $16 per commercial van. Prices do not include tax. Tram rides are additional. Prearranged school groups on buses park free. 8 a.m. to sunset daily except Christmas, though some of the facilities within the Garden close earlier. 23 gardens (including a Children's Garden) covering 385 acres, with over 250 species of birds and over 30 species of other wildlife, as well as over 1.6 million plants. Master Gardeners on staff for questions about gardening. Special Enabling Garden showcasing gardening methods and tools for people of all ages who are differently-able, including wheel-chair gardening. Junior Master Gardener program as well as other educational opportunities. Group tours available - call 847/835-6949. The Chicago Chamber Musicians including the Chicago String Quartet - 333 South State St., Chicago, IL 60604, 312/225-5226. Chamber Musicians' Sunday concerts are at Pick Staiger Concert Hall, Northwestern University Campus, 1977 South Campus Drive, Evanston; Monday concerts are at DePaul University Concert Hall, 800 West Belden Avenue, Chicago. Special discounts available for groups of 10 or more for Chamber Musician performances. String Quartet concerts are at the DePaul University Concert Hall. String Quartet single tickets are $18/regular, $15/senior, $6/student. Season tickets also available for both. See web site or call for schedule and the most current ticket info. Chicago Children's Museum - 700 East Grand Avenue at Navy Pier, Chicago, IL 60611, 312/527-1000. Monday through Saturday 10am-8pm Sunday 10am-7pm [Closed early on some nights, see site or call] Admission $7/person, $6/senior, under age 1 free; Thursday evenings from 5-8pm free for Kraft Free Family Night. Target First Mondays: Admission free to those under 15 on the first Monday of the month. Discount group (15 or more people) rates available with reservation by calling 312/464-7729 (one adult per 5 children required). Special Exhibit: The Amazing Castle (through Sept 5) Many other exhibitions and performances available. Closed September 6-9 for improvements. Chicago Historical Society - Clark Street at North Avenue (south end off Lincoln Park), Chicago, IL 60614, 312/642-4600. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday Noon to 8pm; Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays 9:30am-4pm Sunday noon to 5 p.m. $5/adults, $3/seniors & students 13-22, $1/children 6-12, under 6 free. No general admission charge on Mondays. Some galleries are closed due to ongoing renovations, check the site or call ahead for details. Current exhibitions include A Compassionate Eye: The Photographs of Declan Haun , Focus: An American Teenage Vision, The South Shore Posters, and Teen Chicago. Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras - Fine Arts Building, 410 South Michigan Aveenue, Suite 833, Chicago IL 60605, 312/939-2207. Many opportunities for young musicians - there are performing groups that include students as young as second grade. See web site or call for details on how to participate and on concert dates, locations and ticket prices. The Classical Symphony Orchestra and The Protégé Philharmonic - 218 South Wabash, Chicago, IL 60604, 312/341-1521. Call for ticket, schedule, and performance location information. Several concerts through the season are free admission. The Protégé Philharmonic is a youth orchestra for which auditions are held throughout the season. Call for details. Rehearsals are open to the public and held in The Performance Area, The Chicago Music Mart at the DePaul Center; call or see web site for schedule info. DuSable Museum of African American History - 740 East 56th Place, Chicago, IL 60637, 773/947-0600. Open Tues-Sat 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sun Noon-5p.m. Closed Mondays except school holidays, closed on some holidays, check website. $3/adult, $2/seniors/students, $1/children ages 6-13, under age 6 free. Admission on Sundays is free. Tours for groups of 8 or more advance reservations with the Education Department of the museum. Ongoing and upcoming exhibits include 100 Plus One: Celebrating America's Music Before Motown and Beyond, Creativity and Resistance: Maroon Cultures in the Americas , and Annie Malone: Black Beauty Culture Pioneer and Millionaire. See web site for more information on upcoming events and exhibits. Elgin Public Museum - 225 Grand Blvd., Elgin, IL 60120, 8447/ 741-6655. Hours: Until Labor Day Tuesday-Saturday Noon-4pm. $2 Adults, $1 Children (3-12), Children under 3 free. Focuses on natural history and anthropology. Group programs available, but do not appear to be included in the general admission price. Call for details. Field Museum - 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605, 312/922-9410. Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m, last admission at 4pm. Gold Pass includes choice of Underground Adventure, Dinosaur Dynasty, or Sue Discovery Dig $19/adult, $14/seniors/students with ID, $9 /children 4-11 Other price level passes are available. Free for members, discounts available for teachers and military personal. Discounted admission on Mondays and Tuesdays from September 19 to December 20. Some exhibits are additional. Permanent exhibits include: Sue, the tyranosaurus rex, Bird Habitats, and a Pawnee Earth Lodge. Temporary exhibits include: Design Innovations in Manufactured Housing (Through Jan 16, 2006), Dinosaur Dynasty: Discoveries from China (Through April 23, 2006), Sue: Dinosaur Discovery Dig (Through September 5, 2005) Jungles (Through Jan 1, 2006), Transforming Tradition: Pottery from Mata Ortiz (Through May 31, 2006)and Insects: 105 Years of Collecting. Upcoming: Pompeii: Stories from an Eruption (Oct 22, 2005-March 26, 2006). Some exhibits may require separate ticketing/admission. Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio - 951 Chicago Avenue, Oak Park, IL 708/848-1976. Tours available Weekdays 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.; Weekends 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Years. $9/adult, $7/seniors/children 7-18. Reservations required for groups of 10 or more. Tours with guide only. Garfield Park Conservatory - 300 N. Central Park Ave., Chicago, IL 606224, General Information: 312/746-5100; Classes and Programs: 773/638-1766. Open every day 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Thurs until 8pm Admission and parking are always free (suggested donation of $3 for some exhibits). Exhibits include Children's Garden, Sensory Garden, and Monet Garden. Tour guide service available with advance reservations. Upcoming special events: Art and Garden Show until November 5, Garfield Art Market (Aug 27-28), 5th Annual County Fair at the Garfield (Sept 17). Health World Children's Museum--1301 S Grove Ave, Barrington, IL 60010. 847-842-9100. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-3pm. Admission $6/person, under 2 free. "Health World is a not-for-profit children's health education museum and learning center; a center that offers children the "hands-on" opportunity to learn more about the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle. Health World promotes interactive learning through state-of-the-art structured programming, exhibits and discovery zones." Historic Pullman Foundation - 11141 S. Cottage Grove Avenue, Chicago, ILL 773/785-3828. Visitors Center at 112th and Cottage Grove includes exhibits and is home to the educational programs of the Foundation. Walking tours and group tours available. Call for details. Focus on transition from 19th to 20th century Chicago. Holocaust Memorial Foundation of Illinois - 4255 Main Street, Skokie, IL 60076, 847/677-4640. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Sunday noon to 4 p.m. Evening and Sunday morning hours by appointment. Programs include museum of historical exhibits and artifacts. Call for details and current hours. Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra - 377 Artists Walk, Park Forest, IL 60466, 7708/481-7774. Call for current performance schedule and ticket prices. International Museum of Surgical Science - 1524 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60610, 312/642-6502. Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $6/Adult; $3/senior/child;Tuesdays are free. Focus is on history of surgery around the world. Exhibits include Anatomy in the Gallery. Permanent collection includes surgical Microscopes and historical surgical tools. Jane Addams Hull-House Museum - University of Illinois at Chicago, 800 S. Halsted, Chicago, IL 60607, 312/413-5353. Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Closed Mondays, Saturdays and some holidays, check site for closings. Group tours available by advance reservation (1 adult per 10 children required). This is not a hands-on museum. Focus is on social progressivism, women's rights, labor issues, and the history of the Near West Side neighborhood. The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago - 70 E. Lake, Suite 1300, Chicago, IL 60601, 312/739-0120. Winter progam is American Masterworks in March, see site for dates and times. Call for ticket and performance location information. Group discounts may be available for some performances. Kohl Childrens Museum - 165 Green Bay Road, Wilmette, IL, 847/512-1300. Monday through Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays Noon to 5pm. The Kohl Children's Museum will be closing it's Wilmette location on September 4 and will open at it's new location in Glenview on October 20. Shortened hours on certain holidays, check website for information. $6/person, $5/senior except free for children under 1 year old. Many hands-on activities, including Chagall for Children, The Great Kohl Sailing Ship, Construction Zone, and Dominick's. Labor History Museum - 28 E. Jackson, Chicago, IL 60604, 312/663--4107. Hours by appointment. Focus is on labor history in Illinois. Tours include Haymarket and Stockyards/Republic Steel/Pullman. Lincoln Park Zoo- 2200 North Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 312-742-2000. Hours: Until November 1: Grounds open 9am-6pm, Buildings and farm 10am-5pm. Weekends and Holidays Memorial Day to Labor Day Grounds open 9am-7pm, Buildings and Farm 10am-6pm. Admission is free. Parking depends on length of stay, see site for details, starting at $12 for up to 3 hours. Charge for paddle boat rides, train rides, Virtual Safari, and Audio Tour. Animal exhibits include farm in the zoo, children's zoo, primate house, lion house and more. Now open: Pritzker Family Children's Zoo. Upcoming events (some may have additional charge): Jammin at the Zoo: Retro 80s (August 26), Second Sunday Stories (second Sunday of the month). Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago - 220 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL ; 60611, 312/280-2660. Tuesdays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Wednesday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Mondays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Days. Admission $10 General, $6 Students/Seniors. Free Children under 12 and Military Members. Teachers can get a free pass upon advance request. Free Tuesdays from 5pm to 8pm. Exhibits focus on visual and performance art since 1945. Current temporary exhibits include Dan Flavin: A Retrospective. Permanent collection includes works by H.C. Westerman, Bruce Nauman photographs, and Cindy Sherman. Not all exhibits are suitable for all audiences. Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum - 1852 W. 19th Street, Chicago, IL, 312/738--1503. Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm. Admission is free for exhibits, performances are ticketed. Houses both performing and visual arts. Call for most current performing arts schedule. Permanent visual arts collection includes Leopoldo Méndez prints, and a variety of paintings, drawings, sculptures representative of the Mexican tradition and contemporary Mexican art. Current exhibit: Chicano Visions: American Painters on the Verge (Cheech Marin's famed collection of Chicano artwork). The Museum of Broadcast Communication - at the Chicago Cultural Center, Michigan Avenue at Washington Street, Chicago, IL 60602, 312/629-6000. Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Closed on state and national holidays. Admission free. The Museum of Broadcast Communication will be closed to the public starting on December 30, 2003. The museum will reopen in its new home at State and Kinzie in 2006. However, they are offering online exhibits during this time. Museum of Science and Industry - 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive, Chicago,, IL 60637, 773/684-1414. Hours until September 5: Mon-Sat 9:30am-5:30pm, Sun 11am-5:30pm. $9/adult/child over 11, $7.50/seniors, $5/child age 3-11. Omnimax is an additional charge. Parking is an additional charge. Lego Mindstorms Workstation is additional charge. Some special events additional charge. Special rates for groups of over 20 with reservation at least 4 weeks in advance. Current exhibits include Robots Like Us, U-505 Submarine, Body Worlds (Until September 5. This exhibit is open daily 9:30am-9pm, see site or call for admission fees and tickets, admission is time ticketed) and Game On (Until September 5. This exhibit has a separate admission fee). Plenty of hands-on activities. The Next Theatre - 927 Noyes St., Evanston, IL 60201, 847/475-6763; For tickets, call 847/475-1875. Call for ticket and performance info for this live theater company. Oriental Institute - 1155 East 58th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, 773/702-9514 for General Info., 773/702-9520 - Museum Office. Tuesday, Thursday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesday 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.; Sunday noon to 6 p.m. Closed Mondays. Dedicated to the study of the ancient Near East. Suggested Donation: $5 Adults/$2 Children under 12. Please call Education Office ahead at 773-702-9507 if you plan to bring a group of more than 10 people. The Peace Museum - 100 North Central Park Ave, Chicago, IL 60624. 773-638-6450. Open Wednesday-Friday 10am-4pm, Sundays 11am-4pm. Other days by appointment. Dedicated to "foster[ing] peace through the arts." Call for admission prices. Shedd Aquarium - 1200 S. Lakeshore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, 312/939-2438. Hours daily 9am-6pm. Open Thursdays (June 16-September 1) until 10pm. All Access admission: $23/adult, $16/child (3-11)/senior. General admission is free on Mondays and Tuesdays from September 12 until February with admission to Wild Reef and the Oceanarium $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and children (3-11). Groups over 15 can make advance reservations by calling 312/692-3333. Tots on Tuesdays, special programs for children 3 to 5 years old. See website for details and other ongoing programs. Current exhibits include: Amazon Rising: Wild Reef; Caribbean Reef; and Fishes from around the world. Smart Museum of Art - 5550 S. Greenwood Ave., Chicago, IL 60637,, 773/702-0200. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 11am to 5 p.m. Gallery closed Mondays, cafe and museum shop open daily. Admission is free, though certain events held by the museum may have admission charges. Art objects from ancient times to Old Masters to Tiffany glassware to 20th century paintings. Many temporary exhibitions throughout the year. Spertus Museum - part of the Spertus Institute for Jewish Studies, 618 South Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60605, 312/922-9012. Sun-Weds 10am-5pm Thurs 10am-7pm, Fri 10am-3pm. Adults $5/$3 Students, Seniors, Children. Family Admission: $10. Free on Fridays. Current exhibits include Eternal Life, Exhibiting Jewish Life in America, Beyond the Counting of the Years, and My Kind of Town. Upcoming: Life in Shadows: Hidden Children and the Holocaust, Every Picture Tells a Story: Teaching Tolerance Through Picture Books. There are also online exhibits. The Spertus Institute is also home to the Zell Holocaust Memorial. Suburban Youth Symphony Orchestra, Suburban Youth Philharmonia, and Suburban Youth Strings - P.O. Box 1411, Homewood, IL 60430, 708/799-4826. Youth musicians of the South Suburban Chicago Area. Various performances through the year. Call for current schedule and ticket information. Swedish American Museum Center in Chicago - 5211 North Clark, Chicago, IL 773/728-8111. Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. through 4 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Focus is Swedish history since the Swedish mass immigration to the Chicago area. Offerings include tours, concerts, lectures and other activities. Children's Museum open Tuesday-Friday 1pm-4pm, Sat-Sun 11am-4pm. Admission (includes Children's Museum) $4 Adults/$3 students/seniors/children. $10 Family Rate. Children under one free. | ||||||
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