02/14/2020
Still looking for the perfect Valentine's Day card? Our critters have come to your rescue! 💗
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
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The Museum provides award-winning exhibitions and programs to 70,000 students annually and trains and provides resources for more than 2,000 Chicago teachers. The Nature Museum is one of the city’s best examples of eco-friendly building technology, including a green roof, solar panels, natural light sources and native landscaping. The Academy and its Museum are engaged in important conservation and research work, such as its Butterfly Restoration Project. Admission Adults: $9 Students: $7 Seniors: $7 Children: $6 (Age 3 and under are free!) Thursdays are suggested donation days. Our members always get in FREE!
Mission: To create a positive relationship between people and nature through collaborations, education, research and collections, exhibitions, and public forums to grow our region’s urban connection to the world of nature and science.
02/14/2020
Dido Longwing by Volunteer Sarah Beckett
It's pretty easy being green when you're this beautiful. Meet the gorgeous dido longwing. Keep an eye out for this beauty during your next visit to the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven! 📸: Volunteer Sarah Beckett
02/12/2020
We're recruiting for our spring Chicago Conservation Corps training session! Join us at one of our upcoming orientations to learn more about this incredible program and how you can make a difference in your community. naturemuseum.org/c3
02/09/2020
Feeding Time By Ashley Hosmer
Soaked and sprouted lentils make a great snack for our uromastyx! Meet him and the rest of our modern-day dragons in Dragons Alive! 📸: Animal caretaker Ashley Hosmer
02/08/2020
The chance to connect with cool critters. That's just one of the reasons campers (and caregivers) love our Summer Camp! Register your camper for a summer of fun and discovery: https://bit.ly/2ScX30i
02/05/2020
Meet the newest addition to our Look-In Lab—a northern red-bellied cooter named Fiona! Once she's acclimated to her new space, she'll be able to participate in our educational programming. Welcome to the family, Fiona!
02/02/2020
Happy #SuperbOwl Sunday! We got to meet this beautiful screech owl when Wings and Talons joined us over the holidays, and we'll be welcoming them back for spring break! Stay tuned for more info.
02/01/2020
We're so excited! 🦎Dragons Alive: The Science and Culture of Reptiles is now open! Join us today to meet the frilled dragon and more modern-day dragons. Thanks to Presenting Sponsor Micole Foundation https://bit.ly/2uDEiuL
01/30/2020
Members, be sure to join us this Sunday for our Dragons Alive! Member Celebration. Explore the museum with before-hours access, tour our new exhibit, and more! RSVP: https://bit.ly/2uDEiuL
01/28/2020
Did you know that bearded dragons use their spiny scales to scare off predators? Discover more amazing dragon facts when Dragons Alive! The Science and Culture of Reptiles opens this Saturday! naturemuseum.org/dragons
01/24/2020
Button Quail in Judy Istock Butterfly Haven
Our button quail might be the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven's best-kept secret. These adorable roly-poly birds often hide out under the low vegetation in the Butterfly Haven. Keep an eye out for them during your next visit!
01/24/2020
Dragons await you in Dragons Alive! Featuring 10 species of reptiles from around the world, visitors can stare deep into the eyes of the bearded dragon, wonder at the beauty of the jeweled lacerta, and more! Opening February 1. https://bit.ly/2uDEiuL
01/23/2020
Summer Camp registration is now open! Register your camper for a summer of outdoor play, nature, and discovery. Plus, register by February 23 to automatically save $20 per session! naturemuseumcamp.org
01/19/2020
Looking for a fun way to spend tomorrow? Join us at the Nature Museum to enjoy our First Flight Butterfly Release, Animal Feeding, Critter Connection, and more! It's all free with admission.
01/18/2020
We're all smiles! We're getting ready to welcome the tokay gecko and nine other modern-day dragons as part of our new exhibit, Dragons Alive! The Science and Culture of Reptiles. Opening Saturday, February 1. naturemuseum.org/dragons
01/17/2020
We celebrated our 163rd birthday today with our founder Robert Kennicott and The Grove National Historic Landmark. We're thrilled we got to introduce Robert to Kennicott the box turtle and have him take part in our Butterfly Release!
01/14/2020
Atlas Moth Stretches Its Wings
Meet the atlas moth! Their coloration and the translucent eyespots ("windows") on their wings definitely make them stand out in the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven. Keep an "eye" out for them during your next visit!
01/11/2020
Closing tomorrow! Spread your wings as a butterfly, bee, or bat one last time in Amazing Pollinators. Thank you to Presenting Sponsor Rose Pest Solutions Chicago for supporting this exhibit.
01/09/2020
Our thoughts are with the child who was bitten this afternoon by what is believed to be a coyote in Lincoln Park. We wish him a swift recovery.
01/02/2020
Pancake Slides In
Slide into the new year with us (and Pancake)! Join us tomorrow for our Mammals & More Animal Show, Pop-Up Hot Chocolate Bar, and our daily programs. Don't forget, Illinois residents can enjoy free admission during Suggested Donation Thursdays.
12/29/2019
Every year, more than 50,000 students visit the Nature Museum. Your gift helps ease the burden on teachers and schools, connecting more students to science through hands-on lessons, guided tours, and moments of wonder. naturemuseum.org/donate
12/25/2019
Snowy Cannon
Happy holidays from all of us at the Nature Museum! We're closed today, but we will re-open tomorrow morning at 9am. Check out our list of programs: https://bit.ly/2LkMm9d
12/20/2019
Looking for the perfect gift for your loved ones? Give them the gift of wonder. Purchase a Nature Museum gift membership today. https://bit.ly/2P2D6ri
12/17/2019
Did you know that a Kids Museum Passport is good for free on-site Nature Museum admission for two adults and two children? They can be checked out at Chicago Public Library branches. https://bit.ly/384txAM
12/14/2019
African Moon Moth by Sarah Beckett
This is the beautiful African moon moth. In the wild (and in the Butterfly Haven) this unique coloration helps it blend into foliage. See if you can spot one during your next visit. Thanks to volunteer Sarah Beckett for sharing this beauty with us!
12/12/2019
I spy an owl butterfly that has made a special connection with a visitor! Thanks to Alexi Archer-Petersen for sharing this amazing moment with us. 🦋
12/11/2019
Chicago winters can be tough on us all, including on turtles. A gift of $100 can help us keep our Blanding’s turtles warm over the winter, as we support their healthy recovery across the region. naturemuseum.org/donate
12/08/2019
It's the return of Steve the sloth! Meet Steve and the rest of his pals at our Mammals & More Live Animal Show on January 2. Tickets: https://bit.ly/2qN9dmL
12/06/2019
Jabberwocky Marionettes Puppet Show
Join us December 28 for out-of-this-world fun! Our friends Jabberwocky Marionettes will be back to put on an amazing show featuring a cast of amphibian, reptile, insect, and bird puppets. Details: https://bit.ly/35EK1xo
12/05/2019
When the chrysalis is just as beautiful as the butterfly... These are rice paper butterfly chrysalises. If you're lucky, you may spot some hanging in our Butterfly Haven Lab during your next visit. 🦋
12/02/2019
Cyber Monday Sale
Today only! Snap up a two-year membership for the price of a one-year. Give your loved ones the gift of wonder this holiday season! Offer available online only: https://bit.ly/2P2D6ri
11/29/2019
Today only! Take advantage of our special in-house Black Friday membership sale. Enjoy 50% of all memberships! Stop by the Nature Museum today to save. Please note: This discount is not available online.
11/28/2019
We'll be closed tomorrow, but be sure to join us on Friday for family fun! Enjoy a special First Flight Butterfly Release, participate in fall crafts, sip on hot cider, and more. Details here: naturemuseum.org/holidays
11/24/2019
Did you know that we're a part of Museums for All? We offer a discounted admission fee of $1 to individuals and families presenting an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Card and a valid form of ID. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/2Jenmze
11/23/2019
Ending Monday: Don't miss your chance to save $10 on our daily camp rate! Our Early Bird discount ends Monday, so register your camper for winter break fun now.❄️ naturemuseumcamp.org
11/19/2019
Pancake Enjoys a Snack
Have you seen Pancake the spiny softshell turtle eat? In the wild, he'd use his long nose to search for worms buried in mud. Right now, he's searching for food pellets. Check out our daily 1pm Animal Feedings for the chance to see him chow down.
11/13/2019
One-Spotted Prepona Butterfly
When you decide to let your true colors show... This is the one-spotted prepona butterfly showing off its flash coloration. Believe it or not, the flash of blue helps startle predators! Thanks to volunteer Sarah Beckett for sharing this clip.
11/11/2019
To honor those who have served our country, we offer free admission year-round to retired service members, as well as active-duty service members. Learn more here: https://buff.ly/2NZ8mHo
11/09/2019
Are morpho butterfly wings covered in scales? Yes! Amy Perlmutter's Wings Transformed showcases incredible close-ups of wings, like these morpho wings. Explore it for yourself during your next Nature Museum visit.
11/07/2019
T.I. Wright was an exhibit preparator from 1936-1961, and designed many of the Chicago Academy of Sciences exhibits. Learn more about his work recording our local urban ecology via Chicago Collections' new online exhibit: https://bit.ly/36CYOKr
11/06/2019
Butterfly selfies are the best selfies. Thanks to visitor Catherine Ledesma for sharing this fantastic photo. Be sure to share your Nature Museum shots with us! 🦋
11/02/2019
Want to meet a bearded dragon? Join us today and tomorrow, from 10am to 3pm, for your chance! Visitors of all ages can get up close to some rad reptiles as a part of our monthly Cold-Blooded Weekends. Plus, it's all free with admission.
10/31/2019
Happy Owl-oween! Your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. This butterfly boasts spooky eyespots on its wings that resemble owl eyes. That's why this beauty is known as the giant owl butterfly. Have you spotted them in the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven?
10/29/2019
Spend Halloween day with us and learn about some cool critters - beetles! Enjoy a buggy-themed story, then meet the beetles (and more!) during a super-sized bug encounter. IL residents can enjoy free admission during this Suggested Donation Thursday.
10/25/2019
Want to enjoy some fall colors inside? Stop by the Nature Museum this weekend to spot a variety of colorful free-flying butterflies in the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven, including the beautiful leopard lacewing.
Address
2430 North Cannon Drive
Chicago, IL
60614
The Nature Museum is accessible by CTA bus routes #76, #151 and #156. The closest Divvy Bike station is located in front of the Nature Museum on Cannon Drive.
General information
The Chicago Academy of Sciences was founded in 1857 as Chicago’s first museum, dedicated to the preservation and display of native specimens. Today the Academy’s collection, due to its age and type, places it among the most important in the world. In 1999, the Academy opened the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Lincoln Park. It has welcomed more than 1.5 million visitors and is a unique venue for the public, especially urban dwellers, to find new ways to reconnect with the natural world. The institution has been accredited by the American Alliance of Museums since 1978.
Opening Hours
| Monday | 09:00 - 17:00 |
| Tuesday | 09:00 - 17:00 |
| Wednesday | 09:00 - 17:00 |
| Thursday | 09:00 - 17:00 |
| Friday | 09:00 - 17:00 |
| Saturday | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Sunday | 10:00 - 17:00 |
Telephone
Website
Alerts
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Contact The Museum
Send a message to Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum:
Videos
Dido Longwing by Volunteer Sarah Beckett
It's pretty easy being green when you're this beautiful. Meet the gorgeous dido longwing. Keep an eye out for this beauty during your next visit to the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven! 📸: Volunteer Sarah Beckett
Feeding Time By Ashley Hosmer
Soaked and sprouted lentils make a great snack for our uromastyx! Meet him and the rest of our modern-day dragons in Dragons Alive! 📸: Animal caretaker Ashley Hosmer
Button Quail in Judy Istock Butterfly Haven
Our button quail might be the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven's best-kept secret. These adorable roly-poly birds often hide out under the low vegetation in the Butterfly Haven. Keep an eye out for them during your next visit!
Atlas Moth Stretches Its Wings
Meet the atlas moth! Their coloration and the translucent eyespots ("windows") on their wings definitely make them stand out in the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven. Keep an "eye" out for them during your next visit!
Pancake Slides In
Slide into the new year with us (and Pancake)! Join us tomorrow for our Mammals & More Animal Show, Pop-Up Hot Chocolate Bar, and our daily programs. Don't forget, Illinois residents can enjoy free admission during Suggested Donation Thursdays.
Snowy Cannon
Happy holidays from all of us at the Nature Museum! We're closed today, but we will re-open tomorrow morning at 9am. Check out our list of programs: https://bit.ly/2LkMm9d
African Moon Moth by Sarah Beckett
This is the beautiful African moon moth. In the wild (and in the Butterfly Haven) this unique coloration helps it blend into foliage. See if you can spot one during your next visit. Thanks to volunteer Sarah Beckett for sharing this beauty with us!
Jabberwocky Marionettes Puppet Show
Join us December 28 for out-of-this-world fun! Our friends Jabberwocky Marionettes will be back to put on an amazing show featuring a cast of amphibian, reptile, insect, and bird puppets. Details: https://bit.ly/35EK1xo
Cyber Monday Sale
Today only! Snap up a two-year membership for the price of a one-year. Give your loved ones the gift of wonder this holiday season! Offer available online only: https://bit.ly/2P2D6ri
Pancake Enjoys a Snack
Have you seen Pancake the spiny softshell turtle eat? In the wild, he'd use his long nose to search for worms buried in mud. Right now, he's searching for food pellets. Check out our daily 1pm Animal Feedings for the chance to see him chow down.
One-Spotted Prepona Butterfly
When you decide to let your true colors show... This is the one-spotted prepona butterfly showing off its flash coloration. Believe it or not, the flash of blue helps startle predators! Thanks to volunteer Sarah Beckett for sharing this clip.
Opal's Delectable Dinner
Would anyone like to join Opal for dinner? In addition to insects, box turtles eat a variety of fruits and veggies. Want to learn more about our animals' diets? Join us at the Nature Museum every day at 1pm for our Live Animal Feeding. Bon appétit!
#WithALitleHelp from Google
Hey Chicago! We teamed up with Google to bring you a free festival in Maggie Daley Park on September 27-29. There will be free food, live music, and a gigantic gumball machine with prizes from local partners like us -- including tickets to the Nature Museum and more! Learn more at g.co/wonderfulweekends #WonderfulWeekends #WithALittleHelp from Google
Monarch Feeding
Get ready for monarch madness! 🦋These beauties are on the move, and you can see their migration as it happens. Check out Journey North's migration maps to see when they'll be traveling, then share your sightings! https://buff.ly/303NxhE
Smooth Greensnakes Pipping & Hatching
What does it look like when a baby smooth greensnake emerges from its egg? A little like this! Thank you to animal caretaker Ashley Hosmer for capturing this amazing sssight! 🐍
Fooore!
Fore! It's your last chance to play a round of mini golf in Fore! The Planet. Be sure to stop by for one last game before it closes next Sunday!
The Leopard Lacewing Butterfly
Getting up close to one our of Judy Istock Butterfly Haven stars, the leopard lacewing butterfly.
Have you ever wondered what turtle shells are made of?
Have you ever wondered what you have in common with turtles? Here's a clue: 💅 Find the answer in this week's Weird and Wonderful video! #WonderWednesday
Meeting Milkweed Bugs with Allen as our Guide
Surprise! This milkweed plant was hiding a fun secret! Associate curator of entomology Allen explains.
Have you ever wondered how alligator snapping turtles hunt?
Have you ever seen how our alligator snapping turtle Patsy catches prey? One hint: the old bait and switch! Check out this week's Weird & Wonderful video to learn more, then join us at the Nature Museum to see Patsy in action! #WonderWednesday
Have you ever wondered how snakes smell?
How do snakes smell? Here's a clue: it’s not through their nostrils! Find out how in this Weird & Wonderful video. #WonderWednesday
Frog in One - Fore! The Planet
Frogs, flies, and...golf?! See how it all fits together, and play a round of putt putt, in Fore! The Planet. naturemuseum.org/exhibits
Have you ever wondered about a turtle's shell?
Can turtles take off their shells? Find out in this week’s Weird and Wonderful video! 🐢 #WonderWednesday
Red Admiral on Coneflower
Meet Chicago’s butterfly – the red admiral! These black and red beauties are more abundant in the city than even in the suburbs. Why? Chief curator Doug Taron explains that the city provides the right conditions for one of their host plants, pellitory. It’s the perfect environment for these butterflies to flourish!
Munching Monarchs
There are plenty of hungry caterpillars to be found in and the Nature Museum grounds...if you know where to look! When they hatch they're easy to miss, measuring in at only 2-6mm. But in the span of about 2 weeks they grow to 2,000 times their original mass!
Firefly
Whether you call them lightning bugs or fireflies, these bright beauties have been having a tremendous year in Chicago! Chief curator Doug Taron attributes their increased numbers in part to our wet spring and summer. Have you spotted them in your backyard or nearby park?
Have you ever wondered what a chrysalis is?
What is a chrysalis? Learn about the stage where a caterpillar changes into a butterfly in this week’s Weird and Wonderful video! 🦋 #WonderWednesday
Meeting Milkweed Longhorn Beetles
What are those tiny red insects in our Butterfly Garden? Associate curator of entomology Allen explains.
Summer Nature Fest 2019
Live animals ✔️ Live music ✔️ Scientists at work ✔️ Chicago in the summer ✔️ Summer Nature Fest returns Thursday, July 18! Stop by and bask in the best of Chicago nature. summernaturefest.com
Happy 4th of July, everyone! When you see violets you probably don't think of fireworks... but did you know that their method of seed dispersal is, well, explosive? #NaturesFireworksShow
Have you ever wondered how frogs eat?
How do frogs eat? We answer this in Weird and Wonderful, a video series where we answer the weird questions you've always wondered about! 🐸 #WonderWednesday
Pancake Enjoys Breakfast
Have you had a chance to see Pancake the spiny softshell turtle eat? In the wild, he'd use his long nose to search for worms or snails buried in mud. Right now, he's searching for food pellets.
Golden Birdwing Sipping Nectar
Associate curator of entomology Allen captured this beautiful golden birdwing (Triodes rhadamantus) enjoying some sweet nectar for breakfast.
Sneaky Smooth Greensnake
When you're trying to be sneaky, but you trip up and hope no one noticed... This adorable smooth greensnake moment was captured by Allison, our curator of herpetology, last summer. Learn more about our work with these threatened snakes by checking out naturemuseum.org/conservation
The Mother-of-Pearl Butterfly
Check out the gorgeous iridescent colors of the common mother-of-pearl butterfly (Protogoniomorpha parhassus). Thanks to associate curator of entomology Allen Lawrance for capturing it perfectly!
Exploring with Opal
So much to explore and so little time! Drop by The Animal House to see Opal the opossum and Corazón the Philippine sailfin dragon before they leave on June 2! Thanks again to our friends at Wildlife Discovery Center for letting them be our special Animal House guests.
Thomas D. Mangelsen on Wildlife Art
We asked wildlife photographer Thomas D. Mangelsen why it's so important to highlight wildlife through art. Thomas D. Mangelsen – A Life in the Wild is on display at the Nature Museum through Sunday, June 2.
Snacking with a Sulcatta
We can't wait to grab a bite with our turtle and tortoise pals during this Sunday's Tea with the Turtles! Thank you to Dr Jason Crean, Consultant for providing us with many of our special guests. And thank you to everyone who bought tickets and made this a sold-out event!
Green Frog Tadpole Swimming By
Just out for a swim! Curator of herpetology Allison Sacerdote-Velat spotted this green frog tadpole while out doing fieldwork.
Sharing Some Snacks with Opal
Oh, don't mind us. We're enjoying a late breakfast with Opal the opossum. Have you stopped by The Animal House to see her? 📸 by Celeste Troon, curator and director of living collections
Shortcuts
Category
Our Story
For 160 years, the Chicago Academy of Sciences / Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum has worked to connect the citizens of Chicago to nature and science through immersive exhibits, family events, and in-depth education programs. Founded in 1857 to give scientists and nature aficionados a place to study and share the specimens they collected, the Chicago Academy of Sciences developed a national and international reputation for its leadership in conservation, its collection and citizen science. Dubbed the first Museum in the West, the Academy's collection has expanded to 390,000 artifacts and specimens, making it the definitive collection of our region's natural history and a valuable resource for researchers. Ongoing research, restoration, and conservation initiatives directly benefit local ecology. Admission Adults: $9 Students: $7 Seniors: $7 Children: $6 (Age 3 and under are free!) Thursdays are suggested donation days for Illinois residents. Our members always get in FREE!
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Comments
Went to #naturemuseum n conservatory with my sister Rachel n my Auntie Marie!
Love them so much! Thnx fr the beautiful day ladies!!
The dragons alive exhibit was very sad. One extremely large lizard was in a small cage asleep because there was nothing else to do. Another iguana was trying to climb the glass walls. I came for the butterflies and failed to read closely about the other exhibits and wish I did not support a place with this sad exhibit.
I enjoyed the beautiful butterfly exhibition.
Caught these beauties hanging out in the tank.
Lovely butterflies
Do you all do any type of pumpkin composting ? Trying to figure out if there is anywhere in the city to take all of my pumpkins to keep them out of landfills. Thanks!
I'd really appreciate it if you could help me identify this insect I took my kids outside today and we are walking around the house in the south suburbs and noticed we didn't see many spiders but we saw lots of interesting beetles.
Is this a stink bug just saw it on my security cam. Are they starting to move inside. This is southwest suburbs.
Thank you for coming to educated us about animals.
My sister in Corpus Christi saw this insect and was wondering what it is
Any help will be appreciated
Is this a caddis fly?