How to Make the Most of Your Visit: Best Exhibits at the Field Museum in Chicago

The Field Museum stands as one of Chicago’s crown jewels, holding court on the Museum Campus since its founding after the 1893 World’s Fair.

What started as a collection of exhibits from the Fair has grown into one of the world’s premier natural history museums, housing over 40 million artifacts and specimens.

chicago’s Field Museum Quick Facts

• Location Type: Natural History Museum on Chicago’s Museum Campus
• Best Time to Visit: Weekday mornings, especially before 10:30 AM
• Average Time Needed: 3-4 hours (though we did 90% in 3 hours)
• Price Range: Varies by pass type (Basic Discovery Pass to All-Access Pass)
• Hours of Operation: 9 AM – 5 PM daily
• Accessibility: Fully wheelchair accessible

What makes the Field Museum in Chicago special isn’t just its massive collection – it’s how the exhibits tell stories that connect us to our world’s history. From SUE, the largest and most complete T-Rex skeleton ever found, to one of the most comprehensive Ancient Egyptian collections in North America, every corner of this museum has something remarkable to discover.

I’ve been to Chicago three or four times now, and I couldn’t believe what I had been missing out on. For those wondering what’s inside, I’m sharing the complete guide to The Field Museum in Chicago.

Getting There & Tickets

There are a few different ways to get to the Field Museum.

Transportation

• Public Transit: Take the CTA to Roosevelt Station (Red, Green, or Orange lines). Its just a couple blocks form there
• Driving: Parking available at Soldier Field North Garage ($25/day)
• Walking: Easy access from downtown Chicago via the lakefront path
• Water Taxi: There is also a water taxi stop that drops off guest at the Museum campus.
• Ride Share: As always there is ride share opportunities available too.

Ticket Options

Along with standard tickets, you can also get some add on’s. You only need the basic admission in my opinion as there are plenty to see and do. But if you have extra time, and like to have some more hands-on exhibits, the All-Access pass is great. You can also get some special discounts too. 

• Discovery Pass: Basic admission, can buy add on exhibit passes
• All-Access Pass: Includes special exhibits and 3D movies
• Chicago CityPASS: Great value if visiting other attractions like Shedd Aquarium
• Special Discounts:
  • EBT/WIC cardholders: $3 per person basic admission
  • ASTC Travel Passport Program members: Free basic admission
  • Illinois Teachers: Free with ID
  • Active Military: Free for up to 6 family members

Must-See Exhibits at the Field Museum

Evolving Planet

This exhibit is much more than just dinosaurs – it’s a journey through Earth’s extinction events. While SUE is the star at the end, the path there takes you through various mass extinctions, helping visitors understand that the dinosaurs’ famous ending was just one of many dramatic changes our planet has experienced. The scale and detail of this exhibit was impressive.

SUE the T-Rex

The crown jewel of the museum isn’t just any dinosaur – SUE is the largest and most complete T-Rex ever discovered. What makes SUE particularly fascinating is the visible evidence of their harsh life – their skull shows marks of infections and battles, while their ribs bear healed fractures.

Don’t miss the narrated light show that highlights different parts of SUE’s skeleton, bringing their story to life.

Pro Tip: If you love dinosaurs, make sure to see the 3D movie all about how they dig up dinosaurs and find them.

Ancient Egypt

Spanning two floors, this is one of the museum’s most impressive collections. Start on the second level, where you’ll enter a recreated tomb with original wall sections preserved behind glass.

The exhibit flows down to the ground floor, showcasing an incredible array of mummies, scrolls, and artifacts. The sheer size and completeness of this collection makes it one of the most comprehensive Egyptian exhibits I’ve seen.

We wondered in at the ground level and had to backtrack. Not a big deal.

Even more crazy was just how many extinction events the world had gone through. Most people just focus on the meteor that took out the dinosaurs.

Hidden Gems

Bird Hall

While less crowded than other areas, this hall holds some remarkable specimens, including the rare Great Auk. There are only 28 complete skeletons of this extinct bird in existence, making this a special find.

My son was especially excited to see this as he had just learned about them school.

There were tons of other exhibits too. I found the Owls to be absolutely fascinating.

When you are in there, pay attention to the walls. They have faux windows with birds flying by making you feel like you are in nature.

Working Laboratories

One of the unique aspects of the Field Museum is its role as an active research institution. Visitors can watch paleontologists at work through glass walls, offering a glimpse into real scientific research.

Mammals of Africa

This section features the infamous man-eating Lions of Tsavo, made famous by the movie “Ghost and the Darkness.” These lions, responsible for numerous deaths during the construction of a railroad.

I was shocked to see them and assumed they were probably claimed by someone else completely.

Tips for Making the Most of Your Visit

Timing Strategy

Visit between opening and 10:30 AM to avoid school groups, or after 2 PM. If you arrive during peak hours (10:30 AM – 2 PM), don’t worry – school groups typically move through quickly. We managed to see 75% of the museum between 12-3 PM, coming from the Shedd Aquarium

Navigation Tips

• Start at the top floor and work down to avoid crowds
• Take a strategic break with a 3D movie if you’re feeling overwhelmed or exhausted
• There are plenty of seating areas throughout the exhibits for rest stops
• Everything centers around the main corridor. Just keep wandering through the exhibits.

Shopping

The museum features two distinct stores:

• Main Store: General museum merchandise and varied selection
• Evolving Planet Store: Focused on dinosaurs and SUE-related items

Practical Information

• Food: Full-service Field Bistro and casual Explorer Cafe available
• Photography: Allowed in most areas (no flash in certain exhibits)
• Storage: Coat check and lockers available
• Nearby Attractions: Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium within walking distance

Conclusion

The Field Museum is an amazing journey through natural history. I could have spend so much more time exploring every crevasse of it. It is at the same if not higher quality than the Smithsonian’s Natural History Museum in Washinton DC.

Whether you’re spending a full day exploring every exhibit or focusing on specific areas during a shorter visit, the museum’s blend of world-class specimens, interactive displays, and educational content makes it a must-visit Chicago destination.

While famous exhibits like SUE and Ancient Egypt are certainly worth your time, don’t overlook the lesser-known areas.

The museum’s location on the Museum Campus makes it easy to combine with visits to the Shedd Aquarium or Adler Planetarium, though based on our experience, you might want to spread these out over multiple days to fully appreciate each institution.