Places to visit in Chicago?

[Jerry Ross]

Hello ,
I am going to be in Chicago over the Thanksgiving weekend with my wife. Are there any good Museums to visit while we are there? I want to see C.W. related things. I have been to Camp Douglas/Oaklawn Cem.

Thanks

[MarkTK36thIL]

Re: Places to visit in Chicago?

The Chicago Historical Society has a pretty good exhibit to see. Riley Ewen knows the Evanston Historical Society better than anyone I know, so he'd be able to tell you more about that. His username is Theeknapsack

[Charles Heath]

Re: Places to visit in Chicago?

Jerry,

While not Civil War, the Museum of Science and Industry has a few things you won't find anywhere else.

[MarkTK36thIL]

Re: Places to visit in Chicago?

Jerry,

While not Civil War, the Museum of Science and Industry has a few things you won't find anywhere else.

Don't forget to look up or you'll miss the Stuka and Spitfire hanging from the ceiling.

Field Museum has the Lions of Tsavo; anyone remember The Ghosts and the Darkness?

[RJSamp]

Re: Places to visit in Chicago?

Hello ,
I am going to be in Chicago over the Thanksgiving weekend with my wife. Are there any good Museums to visit while we are there? I want to see C.W. related things. I have been to Camp Douglas/Oaklawn Cem.

Thanks

some places closed over the weekend....... but the Lincoln Library on the 4th Floor of the Fine Arts Building (S. Michigan Avenue) is excellent....also the Chicago Historical Society Museum up on the north side is superb.....always call ahead.

If you get out to Wheaton/Glen Ellyn/NaperPIT area give me a shout and I'll buy you all a hot toddy: 630 561 3249.

[Marc]

Re: Places to visit in Chicago?

Jerry,

While not Civil War, the Museum of Science and Industry has a few things you won't find anywhere else.

Also not Civil War, but I think the German U-Baot all refurbished recently is at the Science Museum. If I ever get to Chicago it is one of my planned stops.

[Rmhisteach]

Re: Places to visit in Chicago?

Jerry,

For future reference. They are dediciating a midwest civil war Muesuem this spring in Kenosha Wisc, which is not far from Chi- town. If you make other trips it looks to be a good mueseum with some input from local living historians.

RM

[tenfed1861]

Re: Places to visit in Chicago?

I believe Loyola University has a great religious art museum.That might be a place to check out.

[Gary of CA]

Re: Places to visit in Chicago?

Pritzker Military Library. You may be sorry you went as you'd probably wouldn't want to leave.

[Jerry Ross]

Re: Places to visit in Chicago?

Fellas,
Thanks for all the replies. I will give all of this a look through and call before going. Some the off topic ones sound neat, the Lions of Tsavo,U-boat, There is even a T Rex to look at and according to some sources there were people who were starting to piece together some dinosaurs in the 1850's in England.

Thanks again

[Jerry Ross]

Re: Places to visit in Chicago?

Hey fellas ,
Thanks for the heads up on places to visit .I did not see much in the way C.W. items.

The Field Museum was awesome with way too much to see in one day.Great place to see Indian clothing and artifacts. The taxidermy animals and dinosaurs were everywhere.

The Chicago History Museum only had a handful of items about Lincoln. There was not even one gun, uniform or kepi to be found there. The timeline on the wall did not even mention the Civil War.

The Science and Industry Museum had many neat things. The best was the WWII items to include air planes and the Greman U-boat! That was well worth the look.

I did not make it to the Historical Society Museum. Hopefully next time .

Other than a let down at the history museum I plan on going back. My wife loved the shopping and the plays .

[theknapsack]

Re: Places to visit in Chicago?

Jerry,
Sorry I missed this thread until today. I'm a little behind on my computer time. The Chicago Historical Society is the Chicago History Museum.
The Civil War part of the Museum is kind of hard to find but if you had found it you would have found a cell door from Libby Prison, the table the Surrender at Appomattox was signed on, the table the Emancipation Proclamation was signed on, and Lincoln's deathbed, not to mention several other interesting items (an original Sack Coat which I believe was reproduced by Sack Coats Unlimited for some time, several rifles, an original howitzer). As far as the Lincoln items go I believe some of them have been moved to the Lincoln Museum in Springfield. That may very well be the new location of the hats they had, their copy of the Gettysburg address, Lincoln's House Divided Speech, etc. although I do not remember seeing any of those items when I visited the Museum last April (the Lincoln Museum was more like a theme park to me). I have only been to the CHM recently to do research on the 89th Illinois Infantry, so I did not visit the Civil War room, so I can't say whether or not it is closed down for renovation or preservation at the moment, although I can make a call if you would like me to.

[Jerry Ross]

Re: Places to visit in Chicago?

Riley,
I thought I had looked the place over real hard .I found several empty rooms.I asked if there were any C.W. exhibits and they said that was it. My wife even mentioned the table but we did not see it(she doesn't even much care about this stuff). We saw some modern art exhibit,train,a slammed low rider Monte Carlo.

Oh well I plan to go back when the taste of Chicago happens. Do you know when that happens ?

Thanks