A treasure trove of Chicago’s must-see museums, all in one breathtaking setting. Chicago’s Museum Campus South is one of the city’s most vibrant cultural areas, home to museums that delve into everything from ancient artifacts to cutting-edge science.
Chicago's Museum Campus South
Museum Campus South is located mainly in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood, which means you’ll be surrounded by beautiful parks, historic landmarks, and the University of Chicago’s striking campus.
Pick one spot to explore or spend a weekend exploring all that Museum Campus South has to offer.
Griffin Museum of Science & Industry
The Griffin Museum of Science & Industry takes scientific concepts and turns them into hands-on exhibits that are fun for all ages. Housed in the former Palace of Fine Arts (the only surviving building from the 1893 World’s Fair), it’s the largest museum of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. You can climb aboard a captured WWII submarine, plunge into a coal mine, take a tour of the digestive system, stand inside a 40-foot tornado, and immerse yourself in an endless list of amazing exhibits.
DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center
Explore the achievements and experiences of African Americans through more than 15,000 artworks and artifacts. The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center is named for Jean Baptiste Point DuSable, considered the first resident of what’s now the City of Chicago. Make sure to download the museum’s app before you go — it includes an augmented reality experience, like a hologram tour guide. Afterward, save time to walk around the gorgeous grounds of Washington Park that surround the museum.
Obama Presidential Center
The newest addition to Museum Campus South, the Obama Presidential Center is a historic addition to the city’s South Side. The center’s multi-story museum presents the story of President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, tracing their path from Chicago to the White House through dynamic exhibits and artifacts.
Visitors will also be able to explore the sprawling grounds, attend community events, and visit the observation deck with unique views of the city, park, and lakefront. It’s a moving and meaningful landmark for America’s first Black president and First Lady.
Explore more: Head north on the lakefront to Chicago’s Museum Campus, home to the Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Adler Planetarium.
More museums and cultural institutions in Hyde Park
Frederick C. Robie House
If you love Frank Lloyd Wright, you won’t want to miss Hyde Park’s Robie House. Not only did Wright describe it as “a cornerstone of modern architecture,” but the house has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take a guided tour of this history-making home, designed with the Midwestern prairie as inspiration, and see Wright’s signature Prairie school interiors and exteriors come to life.
Smart Museum of Art
Discover bold artwork and thought-provoking exhibits on your visit to the University of Chicago’s Smart Museum of Art. This intimate museum is filled with world-class art, including modern masterpieces, millennia-old Chinese artworks, European painting, and provocative contemporary works. Best of all, the museum is always free and open to the public.
The Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures
Come face to face with a statue of King Tut, see Persian plates shattered by Alexander the Great’s invading armies, walk through a palace courtyard from ancient Mesopotamia. You’ll see all this and more in The Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures‘ vast collection of artifacts from ancient Egypt, Nubia, Persia, Syria, Anatolia, and Megiddo. Plus, the museum is on the grounds of the University of Chicago, a Gothic Revival showstopper.
Renaissance Society
This soaring space is as unique as the exhibits you’ll see there. The University of Chicago’s Renaissance Society focuses on all things contemporary. But instead of collecting art, this free museum is dedicated to providing artists with the time, space, and resources they need to create ambitious, risk-taking experiences and exhibitions.
Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts
Experience the cutting-edge of today’s art scene. The Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts on the University of Chicago campus focuses on the ambitious new work of all artists, including students and emerging talent. Their packed events calendar includes thought-provoking exhibits, performances by local musicians, lectures, workshops, screenings, and more. Most events are open to the public, and they’re usually free to attend.
