Notebaert Nature Museum Chicago

The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum of Chicago is a popular destination for local residents and visitors alike. This museum was built into an embankment that was once part of the ancient shoreline of Lake Michigan. It prides itself on being “an environmental museum for the twenty-first century”. Most of the exhibits here are “hands-on” and have definitely been set up with kids in mind, though adults will enjoy the experience, too. The building resembles a sand dune. Walkways on the roof provide visitors with birds and other urban wildlife, as well as local flora. The most popular exhibit is the Butterfly Haven, where twenty-five different species of Midwestern butterflies and moths can be seen in the various stages of their life cycles. The Extreme Green House is a fun play area where kids can learn the importance of being environmentally friendly. The River Works is a mini-river where children can splash around.