The Field Museum in Chicago is a fascinating realm that allows you to peer deep into our planet’s enormous nature, with exhibits such as dinosaurs, mummies, meteorites, ancient Egyptian artifacts, etc.
Some of the most famous exhibits at the Field Museum include Sue, the largest, most complete, and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex fossil ever discovered.
Other popular exhibits include the Grainger Hall of Gems, which showcases a variety of rare and beautiful gems and minerals, and the Ancient Americas exhibit, which explores the cultures and civilizations of the indigenous peoples of North and South America.
The Field Museum also conducts scientific research and has several ongoing projects, including studies on birds, insects, and plants.
Field Museum of Natural History is a perfect outing for kids and adults, and with its startling collection, it is a legitimate voyage across time to natural history wonders.
This article covers everything you must know about booking tickets to the Field Museum in Chicago.
Table of contents
- What to Expect
- Where to book tickets
- How do online tickets work
- Chicago Field Museum Ticket Prices
- Chicago Field Museum Tickets
- Field Museum discounts
- How to reach Field Museum
- Chicago Field Museum timings
- Best time to visit the Field Museum
- How long does Field Museum take
- What to see at the Field Museum
- Field Museum free days
- Field Museum floor map
- Food @ Field Museum
- Field Museum history
What to Expect
Admire the enormous skeleton of Sue, the largest and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex ever found, which towers over Stanley Field Hall.
From the birth of stars to the vastness of space, touch upon a deep space experience with meteorite exhibits and interactive displays.
Peer into the massive hidden world of oceans as you learn about marine ecosystems with life-sized replicas of deep-sea creatures.
See exquisitely constructed dioramas that take you back in time to encounter ancient civilizations, and be in awe of the stunning gem and mineral exhibits that underline Earth’s hidden treasures.
Engage your senses in the immersive Underground Adventure, where you understand what it’s like being shrunk to the size of a bug as you explore the world beneath your feet.
At the ‘Unearthed’ exhibition, unravel the secrets of lost civilizations and witness artifacts that tell stories of human ingenuity and cultural diversity.
Bring out the scientist in you at the Discovery Lab, where hands-on experiments and interactive displays make learning a truly engaging experience.
Delve into immersive 3D movie experiences, see Egyptian Mummies, and examine deeply significant anthropological exhibits.
Admire more than 600 priceless jewels and 150 exquisite pieces of antique jewelry as you gaze at the brilliant collection of the Grainger Hall of Gems.
Where to book tickets
Tickets for the Chicago Field Museum are available online and at the attraction.
Online ticket prices tend to be cheaper than tickets at the attraction.
When you buy online, you can avoid the long queues at the ticket counters.
Because some attractions sell a limited number of tickets, booking early helps avoid last-minute disappointments.
How do online tickets work
Visit the booking page for Field Museum of Natural History Chicago, select your travel date and the number of tickets, and make the booking.
Once you complete the booking process, the tickets will be mailed to you.
You do not need to carry printouts.
Show the e-ticket on your smartphone at the entrance and walk in.
Please carry a valid ID.
Chicago Field Museum Ticket Prices
Adult tickets for Field Museum of Natural History: General Admission for people above 18 years of age cost US$27.
Students between four and 17 years old can enter for a price of US$24.
Infants under the age of four can enter for free.
Chicago Field Museum Tickets
Tickets to this tour allow you to customize your visit to the Chicago Fields Museum according to your budget and interests.
The general admission ticket gives you access to 35 of the museum’s permanent public exhibitions.
The early access VIP tour gives you access to the museum galleries 1 hour before they open to the public while a museum guide leads your tour.
The Discovery pass museum entry ticket pass gives you general admission to the museum, plus a 3D movie show or one of three special exhibitions.
The All-Access Pass Museum Entry Ticket pass gives you general admission to the museum, plus a 3D movie and all 3 special exhibitions.
The museum is fully accessible to wheelchairs.
Only the VIP tour will be led by a museum tour guide.
Ticket Prices
General Admission Ticket
Adult Ticket (19+ years): US$27
Child Ticket (5-18 years): US$24
Infants under 4 do not need a ticket.
Discover Pass Museum Entry ticket:
Adult Ticket (19+ years): US$34
Child Ticket (5-18 years): US$30
Infants under 4 do not need a ticket.
All-Access Pass Museum Entry Ticket:
Adult Ticket (19+ years): US$40
Child Ticket (5-18 years): US$35
Infants under 4 do not need a ticket.
VIP Ticket:
General Ticket (5+ years): US$73
Infants under 4 do not need a ticket.
Field Museum discounts
There are many ways to get a discount at the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago.
Kids discount
Kids four years and below get a 100% discount on their tickets. They can enter the Museum for free.
Students discount
Students 5 to 17 can display their valid Student ID card and avail of a $3 discount on the General Admission ticket.
On Discovery Pass, they get a $4 discount, while on the All-Access Pass, they get a $5 reduction.
*Seniors aged 65 years and above also get similar ticket deductions, which can be availed at the venue.
Special Discounts
Visitors get a discount at the Chicago Field Museum if they qualify for any of the below-given conditions.
They can avail of these rebates only at the attraction’s ticket counters.
Chicago Residents: Visitors within Chicago city limits can save $5 or more per ticket if they show proof of residence.
Active Military Personnel: The basic admission to the Museum is complimentary if you are currently active military personnel. That’s a 100% discount for men and women in uniform.
Illinois Teachers: On producing a valid ID card, teachers from the State of Illinois (teaching any class) receive a free basic entry ticket.
Go Chicago Card
Save up to 45% on admission to 26 Chicago-area attractions (including the Field Museum) with a single ticket.
How to reach Field Museum
The Field Museum is in the middle of Chicago’s Museum Campus.
The Museum Campus houses the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and Adler Planetarium, three of Chicago’s most popular attractions.
Address: 1400 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605, USA. Get Directions
Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has convenient public transport options, the best way to reach the Field Museum.
By CTA Train
You can get onto the Red, Orange, or Green line train and get down at Roosevelt Station.
From the Roosevelt station, Field Museum is a 15-minute walk (see map below).
If you want to avoid walking, wait for Bus No. 146, which will take you straight to the Field Museum.
Bus No. 130 can also take you to the Museum.
You can use this CTA Bus Tracker to find out arrival times.
By Metra
Metra Electric District Station at Museum Campus/11th Street is the closest Metra stop to the Field Museum.
From the Station, the Museum is just .65 km (0.4 miles), and you can walk the distance in less than 10 minutes.
Field Museum parking
Driving to the Museum is the best option when traveling with family.
Just fire Google Maps and start driving.
SpotHero app can help you find several car parking options near the Field Museum Campus.
For paid parking spots, look no further than –
Soldier Field North Garage
Soldier Field North garage stays open from 5 am to 5 pm daily.
After the closing time, you can take your car out, but no overnight parking is allowed.
East Museum Lot
As the name suggests, this parking lot is on the Eastern side and opens at 9 am.
You can bring in your car till 3 pm, after which you can only take out your vehicle. No overnight parking is allowed.
Chicago Field Museum timings
Field Museum of Natural History opens at 9 am and closes at 5 pm every day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day, when it remains closed.
The last entry is at 4 pm – one hour before the Museum closes.
Field Museum’s weekend timings are the same as weekday timings.
Best time to visit the Field Museum
It is best to visit the Field Museum in Chicago when it opens at 9 am.
When you start early, you avoid the crowd and catch the museum staff conducting free guided tours when they are most energetic.
Since the ‘Ancient Egypt’ exhibit gets the maximum crowd, exploring it as soon as you enter, the Museum is better.
If you are not a local, try avoiding the free days as the Museum is exceptionally crowded.
How long does Field Museum take
With the sheer number of exhibits on display, you will need at least 4 to 5 hours to explore the Chicago Field Museum to your satisfaction.
If you are in a hurry, you can stick to the highlights and finish your tour in 90 minutes.
Tip: If you plan on a long Museum tour, visiting the restaurant in between helps recharge your energies.
What to see at the Field Museum
The Field Museum is massive.
Its exhibition space occupies over 480,000 square feet on the Ground, Main, and Upper levels.
This Natural History Museum has 30 Million specimens.
However, less than 1% of the exhibits are displayed, and the rest are in storage.
Even then, for a first-time visitor exploring the Museum can be overwhelming.
Here is our list of the must-see at the Field Museum of Natural History.
Griffin Halls of Evolving Planets
In Griffin Halls, you learn about each organism that has ever walked on Earth.
See a variety of fossils, animated videos, etc., to learn about evolution from scratch.
Experience the educational journey from a single-celled organism to human.
In this section, you will see the fossil skeleton of Tyrannosaurus rex called Sue, Megatherium, a giant ground sloth, the Tully Monster, and Lucy, a 3.2-million-year-old hominid.
Field Museum Maximo
Maximo the Titanosaur is the biggest dinosaur discovered by scientists till now.
Field Museum Titanosaur reaches 122 feet, all the way across Stanley Field Hall. At his head, he stands 28 feet tall.
Check out the below-given pic to get a sense of how huge Maximo is –
Maximo is known to have lived more than 100 million years ago in present-day Argentina.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
In this section, you get to have a closer look at nature, but through a lens.
The exhibition showcases 100+ of the world’s best nature photographs.
Underground Adventure
You will shrink to the size of a penny once you enter this exhibit.
Once you are tiny, meet the creepy, crawling creatures dwelling inside the Earth.
Make new friends with mole cricket, wolf spider, and many more, and learn about their lifestyle.
When here, don’t miss the insects that dig holes and move Earth, the protective earwig mama, her babies, hard-working ants, etc.
Field Museum Mummies
This exhibition takes you to Peru and Egypt.
It includes 14 mummies, coffins, and mummified animals too.
In this section, you can learn about these mummies’ life, work, and religious beliefs.
Don’t miss the famed Egyptian ‘Gilded Lady,’ and the Peruvian mummy bundles.
Cyrus Tang Hall of China
A pair of stone lions welcome you to the collection, which narrates the story of China.
Learn about the political history of China and watch a shadow puppet performance of the epic journey to the West.
Do not miss out on the animated map of dynastic China’s shifting borders, the Qingming scroll, and the cargo recovered from a Chinese ship that sank in the Java Sea during the 12th or 13th century.
Inside ancient Egypt
Step into the dunes of ancient Egypt and learn about the daily life of the times.
Enter through a replica of Mastaba with two chamber rooms from the burial site of Egyptian Pharaoh Unis’s son, Unis-Ankh.
This exhibition is a doorway to the life of ancient Egyptians.
Do not miss out on the floor-to-ceiling hieroglyphs in the Mastaba of Unis-Ankh and the 4,000-year-old royal boat which belonged to Pharaoh Senwosret III.
Grainger Science Hub
This is one section where the Museum’s ‘do not touch’ policy doesn’t apply.
This section is perfect for kids and adults; here, you can get your hands on the specimens and learn how to use scientific research tools.
Since the exhibits on display here keep changing, every time you visit, you see something new.
Crown Family Playlab
This interactive and hands-on learning adventure is specially curated for kids from two to six.
Explore the World’s cultures through music and live inside a dinosaur’s nest.
The Playlab lets your child learn while they play around.
Grainger Hall of Gems
This hall has been a visitor favorite since it was inaugurated.
The collection includes 600 gemstones and 150 pieces of antique and contemporary jewelry from all over the World.
From 3,400 years old Egyptian garnet necklaces to modern-day designs, this exhibition is the gem of Field Museum, Chicago.
Do not miss Tiffany & Co.’s stunning Sun God Opal, the Chinese jade ornament carved 600 years ago, and the 97.45-carat imperial topaz, the largest topaz on display.
Field Museum free days
The Field Museum announces free days in advance, during which all Illinois residents can walk into the Museum for free.
As an Illinois resident, you can benefit from these free days throughout the year.
Just show your Illinois residency proof, like a driver’s license, State ID, or Chicago CityKey.
This free entry includes access to all general admission exhibitions, such as Evolving Planet, The Ancient Americas, and Inside Ancient Egypt.
To access other ticketed exhibits, you can buy discounted passes available at the venue (and can’t be purchased online in advance).
Field Museum floor map
Spread over various floors and halls, the Field Museum in Chicago can overwhelm most visitors.
A handy map helps get the maximum out of your visit.
Besides the exhibits, the map will also help you find visitor services such as restrooms, restaurants, souvenir stores, etc.
Upper Level’s floor plan
Main Level’s floor plan
Ground Level’s floor plan
You have three options – save this page for later use, download the pdf version from here, or collect the Field Museum of Natural History floor plan at the Information desk on the day of your visit.
Credit: All maps courtesy Field Museum
Food @ Field Museum
If you want to use your Field Museum entry tickets, take regular breaks to recharge yourself.
Field Museum’s ground level has a picnic-style eating area near the sea mammals.
If you have packed your lunch, you can retrieve it from your car and have it in this ground-level area.
Remember to get your hand stamped (and carry the Field Museum ticket for re-entry) before leaving to get your food.
Field Museum also has two restaurants – Field Bistro and Explorer Café – and a seasonal outdoor grill.
The Explorer Café (on the ground level) serves family-friendly foods in a casual ambiance.
Check out the Field Bistro (on the main level) if you want to catch up on a drink.
Besides beer and wine, this Field Bistro serves fares like Angus beef burgers, salads, soups, etc.
Field Museum history
The Field Museum is not just a presenter of history but a part of history itself.
Building a world-class museum emerged from World Columbia’s Exposition of 1893.
To give this idea life, the officials procured exhibits one after one.
Edward E. Ayer, the first president of the Field Museum, then contacted Mr. Marshall Field, a well-known entrepreneur, philanthropist, and owner of a chain of department stores.
With his generous contribution of 1 Million dollars, the Museum earned a permanent place in society.
Soon, many contributors came in with even bigger exhibits.
Today, after a century, the Field Museum of Natural History still grows daily.
Sources
# Fieldmuseum.org
# Britannica.com
# Tripadvisor.com
# Wikipedia.org
The travel specialists at TheBetterVacation.com use only high-quality sources while researching & writing their articles. We make every attempt to keep our content current, reliable and trustworthy.
Popular attractions in Chicago