Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

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Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum For over 160 years, we have connected the people of Chicago to nature and science.

For over 167 years, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum of the Chicago Academy of Sciences has been connecting Chicagoans to nature and science. As a leader in the field of scientific research, education and community programming, the Nature Museum aims to inspire nature champions by creating a positive relationship between people and nature through collaboration, education, research and collections, exhibitions and public forums.

๐ŸŽƒ We're ready to have a fang-tastic time next Saturday with and everyone at Spooktacular!Weโ€™ll be handing out goodies ...
10/16/2026

๐ŸŽƒ We're ready to have a fang-tastic time next Saturday with and everyone at Spooktacular!

Weโ€™ll be handing out goodies during Spooktacular on Lincoln Avenue! Swing by next Saturday, Oct 24 from 1:00 โ€“ 4:00 p.m. and fill your baskets with candy and other goodies! ๐Ÿฌ Head to lincolnparkchamber.com/spooktacular for more details!

Then don't forget to join us Sunday, Oct 25, at the Nature Museum for BOO-seum Bash! It'll be a weekend full of Halloween fun!

๐ŸŽจ Are you a local artisan? Do you specialize in making handmade, sustainably-sourced goods? Apply to be a part of our S...
10/13/2026

๐ŸŽจ Are you a local artisan? Do you specialize in making handmade, sustainably-sourced goods? Apply to be a part of our Sustainable Holiday Makers' Market on Saturday, November 28!

From fast fashion and excessive packaging creating waste, to the fuel consumption of delivery trucks from online retailers and even driving from boutique store to boutique store, the holidays cause a spike in negative environmental impacts. We would like to offer our guests an opportunity to lessen these impacts.

If you are interested in having a booth at the event, your products must:

๐Ÿ’š Be from a business that is local to the Chicagoland area.
๐Ÿ’š Be handmade.
๐Ÿ’š Be made of natural, upcycled, and/or recycled materials.
๐Ÿ’š Be sustainably sourced.
๐Ÿ’š Use minimal packaging or the packaging must be fully recyclable or biodegradable.

Ready to apply? Head to the link to fill out our application form! https://bit.ly/4pQeaE5

๐Ÿฆ‹ Explore the connection between monarch butterflies and Dรญa de los Mu***os during these upcoming programs!๐Ÿงก Dรญa de los ...
10/11/2026

๐Ÿฆ‹ Explore the connection between monarch butterflies and Dรญa de los Mu***os during these upcoming programs!

๐Ÿงก Dรญa de los Mu***os Shadowbox Workshop - 11/1 - Create your own piece using sustainably sourced specimens, including a monarch butterfly, native milkweed and Mexican marigolds from Patchwork Farms, tiny skulls, dried flowers, and dried milkweed. Led by RIP Repurposed for visitors 18+. https://bit.ly/4AOt82N

๐Ÿงก Monarch Migration Nature Walks - Saturdays & Sundays now through 11/1 - Join us for 1pm nature walks to learn more about monarchs, their fall migration, and how they are connected to Dรญa de los Mu***os. https://bit.ly/4yM6Dtr

๐Ÿงก Dรญa de los Mu***os Celebration - 11/1 - Celebrate the official day of Dรญa de los Mu***os with an interpretation of the ofrenda, story time, and youth monarch programming! https://bit.ly/4rSrwAV

๐Ÿƒ Good luck to everyone taking to the streets and running the Bank of America Chicago Marathon this weekend! โค๏ธ We're pr...
10/08/2026

๐Ÿƒ Good luck to everyone taking to the streets and running the Bank of America Chicago Marathon this weekend!

โค๏ธ We're proud to be an official charity partner of the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, and we're excited to be cheering on the nature champions running as part of Team Nature Museum! Through your commitment and hard work, you've helped us raise crucial funds to support our educational outreach, conservation work, public programming, and so much more!

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Please note: Since the marathon course will run down Cannon Drive, directly in front of the Nature Museum, the building will be closed all day on Sunday, October 11. We look forward to seeing everyone when we reopen at 10am on Monday, October 12.

We recently went digging through the archives and found something pretty wonderful -- baby pictures of Patsy the alligat...
10/01/2026

We recently went digging through the archives and found something pretty wonderful -- baby pictures of Patsy the alligator snapping turtle! Scroll through to see 5-year-old Patsy in 2012! ๐Ÿข

Believe it or not, Patsy has been a Nature Museum resident for 15 years! ๐Ÿคฏ Our friends at the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County donated her in June 2011. She's been an incredible animal ambassador ever since, and has helped visitors of all ages learn about this special state-endangered species.

We love you, Patsy! ๐Ÿ’š

Emotional support water bottle looking a little empty?Stop by the Museum Store during your next visit and pic up some of...
09/28/2026

Emotional support water bottle looking a little empty?

Stop by the Museum Store during your next visit and pic up some of our latest sticker designs. Choose from Blanding's turtles, swallowtails, coneflowers, and more!

Don't forget, members can save 10-20% on Museum Store purchases!

Feel that chill in the air? That means our seasonal programs and events are just around the corner! Check out our offeri...
09/24/2026

Feel that chill in the air? That means our seasonal programs and events are just around the corner! Check out our offerings for all ages below!

๐ŸŽƒ Pumpkin Painting Party - 10/10 - Welcome in the fall with the whole family! Draw inspiration from the critters around the museum, or paint from your heart, and decorate a pumpkin that you can take home! https://bit.ly/4dSYI5B

๐Ÿฆ‚ Scorpion or Tarantula Pinning Workshop - 10/24 - Join .repurposed for this unique pinning workshop! Youโ€™ll be able to choose between a scorpion or a tarantula, and then take home your pinned piece at the end of the workshop! https://bit.ly/4hqmKrn

๐ŸŒฒ Tree Tenders Day Off Camp - 10/12 - Why do leaves change their colors? How do trees talk to each other under the ground? Campers ages 4-8 can join us for this special tree-focused Day Off Camp! https://bit.ly/3KUEv3Y

๐Ÿงก Day of the Dead Kickoff Celebration - 10/4 - Join us on October 4 starting at 10am to kickoff the lead up to Day of the Dead (November 1). Enjoy crafts, learn about traditions for Dรญa de los Mu***os. https://bit.ly/4yM6Dtr

๐Ÿฆ‹ Monarch Migration Nature Walks - Saturdays & Sundays 10/4-11/1 - Join us for 1pm nature walks to learn more about monarchs, their fall migration, and how they are connected to Dรญa de los Mu***os. https://bit.ly/4yM6Dtr

๐ŸŽƒ ๐“ฃ๐“ป๐“ฒ๐“ฌ๐“ด ๐“ธ๐“ป ๐“ฃ๐“ป๐“ฎ๐“ช๐“ฝ! Grab your costume and join us on Oct 25 for BOO-seum Bash and a morning of animal encounters, crafts, ...
09/18/2026

๐ŸŽƒ ๐“ฃ๐“ป๐“ฒ๐“ฌ๐“ด ๐“ธ๐“ป ๐“ฃ๐“ป๐“ฎ๐“ช๐“ฝ! Grab your costume and join us on Oct 25 for BOO-seum Bash and a morning of animal encounters, crafts, and Halloween fun!

๐Ÿฆ‡ Step into the BRAND NEW Dark Room and discover how animals adapt to the darkness!
๐Ÿ Slither up with the museum's spectacular snakes!
๐Ÿชฒ Get curious with some crawly bugs!
๐Ÿ’ญ Test your memory with our friends from UIC's FLAME Lab!
๐Ÿ›๏ธ Dissect an owl pellet, dig into the boneyard of our 169-year-old collections, and more!
๐Ÿ•˜ New this year - early access for members starting at 9am!

Head to the link to grab your group's tickets: https://bit.ly/4AwWLpt

๐Ÿฆ‹ What do you call a group of butterflies? A kaleidoscope! โœจ If you were on the Nature Museum grounds earlier today, yo...
09/17/2026

๐Ÿฆ‹ What do you call a group of butterflies? A kaleidoscope! โœจ

If you were on the Nature Museum grounds earlier today, you may have had the chance to observe a kaleidoscope of monarch butterflies fluttering amongst the flowers of our prairie, savanna, and Woody Wickham Butterfly Garden! It's a long journey to Michoacรกn, and we're so lucky that these monarchs chose our grounds to take a much-needed rest!

Today is our aquatic turtle check-up day at the Nature Museum! ๐Ÿข A huge Patsy-sized thank you to Dr. Cynthia and Susie f...
09/17/2026

Today is our aquatic turtle check-up day at the Nature Museum! ๐Ÿข

A huge Patsy-sized thank you to Dr. Cynthia and Susie from Animal House of Chicago for visiting the museum to see August, October, Pancake, Alonzo, Floyd, Happy, Gumbo, Fiona, Bob, and Patsy! We appreciate all you do to keep our turtle friends healthy! ๐Ÿ’š

Address

2430 North Cannon Drive
Chicago, IL
60614

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

(773) 755-5100

Website

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