- Font Size:
- Default font size
- Larger font size
BY CARRIE STEINWEG
Times Correspondent | Friday, January 16, 2004 | (No comments posted.)
If you're not a fan of arctic temperatures, but you want to get out of the house during these chilly months, the region has plenty of indoor attractions, both big and small. Most people are familiar with the bigger venues in Chicago -- the Field Museum, the Adler Planetarium, the Museum of Science and Industry, Shedd Aquarium, Navy Pier, the Art Institute of Chicago. However, there are many places of interest on the smaller side that are worthy of a visit. It won't be warming up anytime soon, so why not check out some of these lesser-known treasures of the region?
* The Museum of Holography, 1134 W. Washington Blvd., Chicago. (312) 226-1007. www.holographiccenter.com.
The high-tech art form of holography has a museum all its own. Founded in 1976, the Museum of Holography is the oldest of its kind in the world and contains 10,000 square feet of exhibit space where visitors can view amazing 3-D images, including a hologram of Michael Jordan wielding a basketball, a miner panning for gold and a crawling tarantula.
* Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art, 220 Cottage Hill, Elmhurst, Ill. (630) 833-1616. www.lizzadromuseum.org.
Many people would have to look up the word lapidary to find out what kind of objects are on display at the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art. The museum houses the collection of Joseph Lizzadro, of gems created as far back as about 600 B.C. You'll find examples of jade, quartz, coral and ivory in the 42-year-old museum that was designed to resemble a large, rectangular jewelry case, as well as some modern hands-on exhibits.
* The Glessner House Museum, 1800 S. Prairie Ave., Chicago. (312) 326-1480 or www.glessnerhouse.org. Clark House Museum, 1827 S. Indiana Ave., Chicago. (312) 745-0040.
The historic Glessner home, built in 1887, was owned by John Glessner, the vice president of the International Harvester Co., and offers a look at upper-class life of the time.
"It's a great place to learn about Chicago history and architecture and decorative arts, all in one place," said Clare Schaecher, education coordinator. Daily tours are given of the Glessner House and the nearby Clarke House Museum, the oldest home in Chicago, a Greek Revival-style home built in 1836.
* Ernest Hemingway Museum, 200 N. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, Ill., and Ernest Hemingway Birthplace, 339 N. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park. (708) 848-2222.
It was in the Chicago suburb of Oak Park that Ernest Hemingway was born in 1899 and where he spent his childhood. The restored Queen Anne house where he was born has been redecorated with period furnishings, and is located just two blocks north of the Ernest Hemingway Museum, which focuses on the career of the Nobel Prize winner and the works he produced later in his life.
* Exploration Station, Kennedy Drive and Perry Street, Bourbonnais, Ill. (815) 935-5665. www.btpd.org.
If you have kids that are complaining of boredom on these dreary winter days, the Exploration Station in Bourbonnais is a great place to take them to burn off some energy and occupy those curious minds. Kids can play pilot in part of an actual plane, splash around at the water table or sit on a full-size tractor. And they're sure to enjoy the glow-in-the-dark space exhibit. The highlight of the museum is a two-story medieval castle, complete with royal costumes to dress up in.
"Most of the exhibits can be enjoyed by kids as young as 12 months and up to about 8 or 9 years old," said Chris Stutz, of the Bourbonnais Township Park District. If you do feel like braving the cold, the museum is surrounded by a 170-acre park, which offers rentals for cross-country skiing.
* Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago. (773) 755-5100.
www.chias.org.
Missing some of the visions of nature during warmer days? At this museum, you can view a year-round exhibit of butterflies in the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven, a greenhouse with a 28-foot ceiling, featuring butterflies from seven different countries. Other permanent exhibits simulate natural environments, such as a flowing water wall. Opening Jan. 31, the exhibit "When Crocodiles Ruled" takes visitors back 60 million years to when giant crocodiles lived after the extinction of dinosaurs.
* Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago. (312) 280-2660. www.mcachicago.org.
Here guests will see some of the most unique and most thought-proving art of the past half-century. The "Kerry James Marshall: One True Thing, Meditations on Black Aesthetics" exhibit of paintings of African-American subjects continues through Sunday. Opening Jan. 24 is "Observation Plan" by Brazilian artist Jose Damasceno, who creates artwork from found objects, such as pencils and hammers. A continuing exhibit features artwork of some of Chicago's younger artists. Admission is free on Tuesday evenings from 5 to 8 p.m.
Back to story No comments posted.
- It wasn't clear, concise or focused on the topic in the story.
- It was a personal attack, vulgar, explicit or degrading, used actual or implied profanity or contained potentially libelous statements.
- It accused someone of being guilty of a crime.
- It promoted violence or illegal acts.
- It contained telephone numbers or street addresses, or e-mail addresses and links to Web sites other than nwi.com or government agencies.
In no way do these comments represent the views of The Times or Lee Enterprises.
Passionate views, pointed criticism and critical thinking are welcome. Name-calling, crude and profane language and personal abuse are not welcome.
Reader comments will not be edited - they will be approved or declined. They may be used in the print edition of the newspaper.
If you feel a posted comment has violated these guidelines, please email our New Media team the commenter's name, the comment and a link to the article.
For more information please read our Terms of Service.
Post a comment Once your comments are approved, they will appear here.
» More On The Go Stories