Field Museum of Natural History
Tickets, SUE the T. rex & Visitor Guide to Chicago's Natural History Museum
⏱ 3-4 hours👤 All ages$$
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Skip the line · mobile tickets accepted at the door
The Field Museum traces its origins to the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition and moved into its current neoclassical home on the lakefront in 1921. It anchors the Museum Campus alongside Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium, with the downtown skyline rising behind it.
Its most famous resident is SUE, a Tyrannosaurus rex discovered in South Dakota in 1990 — one of the largest and most complete T. rex skeletons ever found, now displayed in its own gallery. Greeting visitors in the main Stanley Field Hall is Máximo, a cast of a Patagotitan, one of the largest dinosaurs known, so long its neck stretches toward the second floor.
The rest of the museum rewards a wandering visit: "Inside Ancient Egypt" descends through a recreated tomb past genuine mummies; the Hall of Gems, the Grainger Hall of Gems, the dramatic taxidermy dioramas, the "Evolving Planet" walk through deep time, and extensive cultural halls covering the Americas, Africa, and the Pacific. It's one of the best museums in the country for families, but deep enough to absorb adults for hours. Special exhibitions are often ticketed separately from general admission.
What to Expect
Format
Self-paced. General admission covers the main halls; all-access passes add special exhibitions and the 3D theater. Maps and an app help with navigation.
Best Time
Weekday mornings, especially outside school-trip season. Right at opening you'll have SUE and the Egyptian exhibit nearly to yourself.
Duration
3-4 hours for a solid visit; a full day if you go deep or add exhibitions.
Tips
Decide between basic and all-access admission based on whether the current special exhibition appeals — the main halls alone are plenty for many visitors. See SUE and "Inside Ancient Egypt" early before crowds build. The Museum Campus location pairs naturally with Shedd or Adler, but doing all three in one day is a lot.
⚡ Quick Picks
Best For
Families and anyone who loved natural history museums as a kid — the dinosaurs alone justify the trip.
Families
One of the best family museums in the country. SUE, Máximo, the Egyptian tomb, and the taxidermy halls keep all ages engaged.
Couples
Quieter than you'd expect on a weekday morning; the Egyptian and gem halls are surprisingly romantic.
Pair With
Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium are walking distance on the same Museum Campus. Pick one to pair rather than attempting all three.
Time Needed
Half a day.
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Get Tickets →Frequently Asked Questions
Who is SUE?
SUE is one of the largest, most complete, and best-preserved Tyrannosaurus rex skeletons ever discovered, found in South Dakota in 1990 and now displayed in a dedicated gallery at the Field Museum.
What's the giant dinosaur in the main hall?
That's Máximo, a cast of a Patagotitan — a titanosaur and one of the largest animals ever to walk the earth. It greets visitors in Stanley Field Hall.
Is it good for kids?
Exceptionally — it's one of the top family museums in the U.S. Dinosaurs, the walk-through Egyptian tomb, gems, and dramatic animal dioramas appeal across ages.
Do I need the all-access pass?
Only if the current special exhibition or 3D film appeals to you. The main halls, including SUE and ancient Egypt, are part of general admission.
Can I combine it with the other Museum Campus attractions?
Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium are a short walk away. Combining two in a day works; all three is ambitious, especially with kids.
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Shedd Aquarium
One of the largest indoor aquariums in the world, on the lakefront Museum Campus — beluga whales and dolphins in the Oceanarium, a Caribbean reef, sharks, and one of the best skyline views in the city from its front steps.
Adler Planetarium
The first planetarium in the Western Hemisphere, on a lakefront peninsula at the tip of the Museum Campus — immersive dome shows, deep space-history collections, and arguably the single best skyline view in Chicago.
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
The largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere, in Hyde Park's grand 1893 World's Fair building — home to a real captured German U-boat, a walk-through coal mine, and hundreds of hands-on exhibits.