Museum of Science and Industry

The Museum of Science and Industry is the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere, and it is not just a marketing claim — the building is genuinely so massive that families who try to see everything in one day end up exhausted and frustrated. The smart approach is to think of MSI as a place you visit multiple times, picking a few highlights each trip. Located in Hyde Park on Chicago's South Side, about 20 minutes from downtown, the museum occupies the former Palace of Fine Arts from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.

The U-505 submarine is the museum's most extraordinary exhibit and arguably the most remarkable artifact in any American museum. This is a real German U-boat captured during World War II by the U. S.

Navy — one of only six surviving German submarines and the only one in the United States. The submarine sits in an underground exhibit hall, and the sheer size of it is startling when you walk into the room. The general admission includes viewing the submarine from outside, but the separately ticketed guided tour takes you inside the actual submarine.

Walking through the cramped interior, seeing the torpedo tubes, the crew quarters barely bigger than coffins, and the engine room, makes the reality of submarine warfare viscerally clear. This experience is best for kids ages 8 and up who can handle the tight spaces and the serious content.

The Coal Mine is the museum's other signature ticketed experience and has been thrilling families since 1933. A simulated elevator drops you underground into a recreated coal mine with genuine mining equipment, dark tunnels, and audio effects that make the experience surprisingly immersive. It is essentially a dark ride through a working coal mine simulation.

Kids ages 5 and up generally love it, though very young or easily frightened children might find the darkness unsettling.

Science Storms is the must-see gallery for families of all ages. This massive space contains full-scale demonstrations of natural phenomena: a 40-foot indoor tornado, a Tesla coil that shoots real lightning, a tsunami wave tank, and avalanche and fire demonstrations. Most of these are interactive — kids can control the tornado's speed, trigger the Tesla coil, and adjust wave patterns.

The scale of these installations is what separates MSI from other science museums. These are not tabletop demonstrations — they are room-sized forces of nature that genuinely impress.

The Great Train Story is a 3,500-square-foot model railroad layout depicting a journey from Chicago to Seattle. The attention to detail is extraordinary — tiny figures, working signals, detailed landscapes, and dozens of trains running simultaneously. Kids who love trains can stand here for 30 minutes without moving.

Adults who think they are too old for model trains find themselves just as captivated.

For younger children, the Idea Factory is a dedicated play and learning space designed for kids 10 and under with water play, building activities, and sensory exploration. It provides a contained, age-appropriate break from the larger museum.

The building itself is worth noting — it is the last remaining structure from the 1893 World's Fair, a massive classical building set in Jackson Park next to a reflecting pool. The grounds are pleasant for a walk before or after your visit.

Getting to MSI from downtown Chicago takes about 20-30 minutes by car or Metra commuter train. The Metra Electric line stops at the 55th-56th-57th Street station, a 5-minute walk from the museum. Parking on-site costs $22-$25. The museum is in Hyde Park, home to the University of Chicago, and the neighborhood has good independent restaurants and bookshops worth exploring.