The Field Museum

Written by Julie Greiner

The Field Museum is located near the center of the hub of Chicago. The museum in presently located in the Chicago Park District near downtown. It is part of of a lakefront Museum Campus that includes the John G. Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium.

On September 16, 1893 the Columbian Museum of Chicago was founded with the purpose of accumulating and dissemination of knowledge and the preservation and exhibition of objects illustrating art, archaeology, science and history. In 1905 the museum was renamed to honor its first major benefactor, Marshall Field. The Field Museum was originally founded to house biological and anthropolical collections assembled for the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893. This exhibit has grown to more than 20 million specimens. Sue-T-Rex at Field Museum in Chicago The museum's natural history library consists of more than 250,000 volumes.

Sue Tyrannosaurus Rex

In may of 2000, the Field Museum opened its exhibit of Sue, the most complete and best preserved Tyrannosaurus rex fossil ever discovered. Sue is a permanent exhibit at the Museum. Sue is displayed on the second-floor balcony. There are touchable casts that visitors can touch. There are videos depicting the inside of Sue's head and the arrival to the museum from when she was first discovered. It is not known if she is a she or a him or what station in life she once took. However, when you walk around her enormous skeleton you will understand that Sue is the real thing. Sue has proven the Museum's commitment to authenticity. Sue's major sponsors are McDonalds and Corporation and Walt Disney World Resort.

The Boon Collection

The Field Museum is most proud of its Boone Collection. Visitors may view an extensive display of valuable East Asian art and artifacts. The collection consists of paintings from Japan, China and Korea.

Chicago's Most Popular Campus

The Field Museum, the John G. Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium attract more visitors annually than any other comparable site in Chicago. Professional symposia and lectures are structured in the fields of systematic biology and anthropology. Since its founding the Field Museum has been an international leader in evolutionary biology and paleontology. The exhibits are geared for the enjoyment of students and adults alike and Skeleton of Sue-T-Rex at Field Museum in Chicago

Skeleton of Sue-T-Rex at Field Museum in Chicago

there is no additional admittance fee to see Sue.The Field Museum is located at 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60605. For more information on tours and exhibits call: 312-922-9410.