Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

10/12/2021

What's so special about these specimens? They're just a sample of the specimens that were donated to our institution following the Great Chicago Fire. Like many other Chicago businesses and institutions, the Chicago Academy of Sciences building was destroyed during the fire. This included the natural history collections, exhibits, and archives. Thanks to the generosity of institutions like Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and The Academy of Natural Sciences we were able to rebuild and expand. Learn the whole story by checking out our latest episode of Curious By Nature: https://bit.ly/3ljaIlZ

10/09/2021

Know before you go! Due to the Bank of America Chicago Marathon taking place in front of the Museum, the Nature Museum will open at 12pm on Sunday, October 10. Please refer to transitchicago.com for CTA schedules and updates.

Know before you go! Due to the Bank of America Chicago Marathon taking place in front of the Museum, the Nature Museum will open at 12pm on Sunday, October 10. Please refer to transitchicago.com for CTA schedules and updates.

10/07/2021

The Great Chicago Fire | Curious By Nature

This Friday marks the 150th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire. This extensive fire hit homes, businesses, and even the fireproof Chicago Academy of Sciences building! Marjorie's exploring some common questions about the Great Chicago Fire, how it started, how it impacted Chicago, and how it impacted our institution in this special Great Chicago Fire episode of Curious By Nature!

10/06/2021

Saturday with the Snakes

Our annual celebration of snakes is back! Join us Saturday, October 30, for Saturday with the Snakes. Grab your Halloween costume and we'll sssee you there!

Celebrate the sensational snakes of Illinois with the Nature Museum!

10/05/2021

Without a Trace, presents a selection of works by photojournalist Zbigniew Bzdak and the Chicago Tribune. Bzdak's photography showcases Chicago at the beginning of shelter-in-place, highlighting recognizable landmarks with few or no people in sight. You can explore this powerful exhibit in person at the Nature Museum.

Without a Trace, presents a selection of works by photojournalist Zbigniew Bzdak and the Chicago Tribune. Bzdak's photography showcases Chicago at the beginning of shelter-in-place, highlighting recognizable landmarks with few or no people in sight. You can explore this powerful exhibit in person at the Nature Museum.

10/03/2021

Story Time returns this Tuesday! Join us every day at 11am to hear our team members read some of our favorite stories. Don't forget, you can find up-to-date information on our daily programs schedule over on our website. https://bit.ly/2WLvLDV

Story Time returns this Tuesday! Join us every day at 11am to hear our team members read some of our favorite stories. Don't forget, you can find up-to-date information on our daily programs schedule over on our website. https://bit.ly/2WLvLDV

09/30/2021

President & CEO Deb Lahey announces retirement - Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

Our president & CEO Deb Lahey recently announced she will be retiring at the end of June 2022. Over the last 12 years, she has led us to become the 6th most visited museum in Chicago and so much more. Check out our blog post to learn more about Deb's incredible impact.

Chicago Academy of Sciences / Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum president and CEO, Deborah Lahey, is planning to retire on June 30, 2022. Deb has led the Museum since 2010. If […]

09/29/2021

Get ready to take flight with some radical raptors! Join our friends from Wings and Talons for a special look at some amazing birds of prey! https://bit.ly/3hPt8IS

Get ready to take flight with some radical raptors! Join our friends from Wings and Talons for a special look at some amazing birds of prey! https://bit.ly/3hPt8IS

09/27/2021

Why Are There So Many Butterflies in Chicago Right Now?

Did you catch our associate curator of entomology, Allen Lawrance, on Chicago Today last week? He joined Cortney and Matthew to talk all about butterflies! https://bit.ly/3kI0knJ

We invited Associate Curator of Entomology Allen Lawrence from the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum to explain why butterflies have taken over the city.

09/25/2021

Black swallowtail spotlight - Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

Black swallowtail caterpillars are likely to be out and about even as the weather gets colder. That's okay! Learn more about their life cycle, and other cool facts, in this blog post

Black swallowtail butterflies (Papilio polyxenes) are an extraordinarily beautiful and common butterfly that, with the right plants, many people can observe in their own backyards.

09/23/2021

Frogs & Toads: What's the Difference? | Curious By Nature

We're "todally" excited to be talking about the similartities and differences between frogs and toads into today's Curious By Nature!

09/21/2021

Wings and Talons: A Night in the Life of a Raptor

The birds are back in town! Join us Saturday, October 9, to meet some beautiful birds of prey!

Join our unique friends at Wings and Talons for a special look at some amazing birds of prey!

09/19/2021

Fall Family Yoga

We're excited to welcome back our friends Buddha Belly Kids Yoga for our fall series of Family Yoga! This class provides a medium for families to unplug and bond in the most playful of ways. Children and their grown-ups will interact through moving, breathing, and connecting. This class kicks off October 2 and is designed for children ages 2-8 years; however, all ages are most welcome! Reserve your family's spot today! https://bit.ly/3Eoq1Bz

Join us for an energizing family-friendly yoga class!

09/16/2021

Butterfly Haven Yoga

It's back! We're excited to announce the return of Butterfly Haven Yoga! Starting this Saturday, you can join us for this weekly, rejuvenating yoga class in the midst of the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven's fluttering butterflies. Save your spot today! https://bit.ly/3ndANEp

Join us for a rejuvenating class in the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven.

09/14/2021

How photogenic is this adorable Blanding's turtle hatchling?! We recently welcomed 120 of these cuties into the Blanding's Lab. If you haven't already, now is the perfect time to drop by the Nature Museum to see them in person! We're now open 7 days a week, from 10am to 4pm. We look forward to seeing you very soon!

How photogenic is this adorable Blanding's turtle hatchling?! We recently welcomed 120 of these cuties into the Blanding's Lab. If you haven't already, now is the perfect time to drop by the Nature Museum to see them in person! We're now open 7 days a week, from 10am to 4pm. We look forward to seeing you very soon!

09/13/2021

A Battle Between a Great City and a Great Lake

How is our changing climate impacting our everyday lives? Chicago Conservation Corps Leader Cheryl Watson recently shared her own experiences with the New York Times.

The climate crisis haunts Chicago’s future as a warming world pushes Lake Michigan toward new extremes — higher highs, lower lows, greater uncertainty.

09/10/2021

Nature Walk: Searching for Animal Evidence with Nicole | Curious By Nature

Join Nicole and explore the wonderful nature around Chicago. Today we're taking a nature walk and looking for evidence of animal behavior in trees, around plants, and on the ground!

09/09/2021

Monarch butterfly migration makes its way to Chicago

The monarchs are on the move! Dr. Doug recently told our friends at Fox 32 Chicago all about this incredible journey. Be sure to join us on Sunday to learn more about monarchs and see Dr. Doug and Allen tag some before they continue their trip to Mexico. Get the details on Flutter into Fall here: naturemuseum.org/flutter

Dr. Doug Taron from the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum talks about the migratory habits of the monarch butterflies and where Chicagoans can expect to see them.

09/07/2021

We're now open 7 days a week! Get the details, and begin planning your visit, here: https://bit.ly/2WE7U9c

We're now open 7 days a week! Get the details, and begin planning your visit, here: https://bit.ly/2WE7U9c

09/07/2021

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum updated their business hours.

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum updated their business hours.

09/04/2021

The Chemistry of Fireflies + Make Your Own Firefly | Curious By Nature

Join Marjorie as she teaches us how fireflies glow, and then learn how to make your own firefly at home!

09/04/2021

Why Do Fireflies Glow? | Curious By Nature

Join Allen as he dishes amazing facts about fireflies – how they glow, why they glow, where their name comes from, and more!

09/02/2021

The annual 3,000-mile monarch migration is heading toward Chicago: ‘It’s like a Disney movie, except better.’

According to our chief curator, Doug Taron, the fall monarch migration will likely reach Chicago next week! Learn more about this amazing spectacle by checking out his interview with the Chicago Tribune.

The monarch population has been in decline for the past 20 years, spurring conservation efforts by both scientists and everyday people, who grow milkweed in gardens, fields and parkways.

08/31/2021

Member Celebration for Weather to Climate: Our Changing World

Nature Museum members, be sure to join us on Sunday, September 12! Bring the whole family to this members-only event to explore our new exhibit: Weather to Climate and enjoy a morning of exclusive before-hours Museum-wide access. RSVP via the link!

Bring the whole family to this members-only event to explore our new exhibit: Weather to Climate!

08/29/2021

We're getting ready to Flutter into Fall! Join us on Sunday, September 12, for the chance to see our scientists tag monarch butterflies ahead of their migration to Michoacán, Mexico. In addition to tagging, we'll have a special story time, special First Flight Butterfly Releases, guided plants walks, and more! Illinois residents can enjoy free admission to the museum and all of our Flutter into Fall activities, or support this fun family event with a donation of $10/household. Get all the details on our site: https://bit.ly/2WmDh81

We're getting ready to Flutter into Fall! Join us on Sunday, September 12, for the chance to see our scientists tag monarch butterflies ahead of their migration to Michoacán, Mexico. In addition to tagging, we'll have a special story time, special First Flight Butterfly Releases, guided plants walks, and more! Illinois residents can enjoy free admission to the museum and all of our Flutter into Fall activities, or support this fun family event with a donation of $10/household. Get all the details on our site: https://bit.ly/2WmDh81

08/27/2021

Why Fireflies Glow

Curious By Nature is back! Whether you call them fireflies or lightning bugs, we're talking all about these amazing insects in our two-part special! Check out part 1, featuring entomologist Allen, here: https://bit.ly/3mCzYFc

08/25/2021

Our Summer Suggested Donation Days are in full swing! Illinois residents can join us tomorrow (Thursday, August 26) and enjoy free admission, or support us with a $10 suggested household donation. We hope to see you then!

Our Summer Suggested Donation Days are in full swing! Illinois residents can join us tomorrow (Thursday, August 26) and enjoy free admission, or support us with a $10 suggested household donation. We hope to see you then!

08/23/2021

Congratulations to the Blanding's turtle class of 2021! Last week, living collections team members Lily, Ashley, and Andres and Forest Preserve District of DuPage County ecologist Dan Thompson released 81 head-started turtles into the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. While it's goodbye for now, it's not goodbye forever! Before release, each turtle is given a unique microchip (like we do with our pets!) and shell notch sequence so we can easily identify them in the future! Good luck, little ones! 🐢

08/22/2021

Smooth Greensnakes in the Field

Go behind-the-scenes with Dr. Allison! Check out this short video of a smooth greensnake soft release shot and narrated by Dr. Allison.

08/20/2021

Chicago Conservation Corps - Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

Learn about Chicago's unique, urban environmental challenges from community and environmental leaders, find opportunities for change, and lead a sustainability service project in your community with support and resources from us! Get involved by registering for our Chicago Conservation Corps orientations next week. Thank you to Wintrust for supporting this program.

You care. Do something. We’ll help. The Chicago Conservation Corps (C3) empowers Chicagoans to complete neighborhood sustainability and environmental projects that impact and engage communities across the city. Join Us […]

08/19/2021

How it started...and how it's going! 😍 It's safe to say that rice paper butterflies are just as beautiful in their chrysalis stage as they are in their adult stage. See how many you can spot on your next Nature Museum visit. You can join us at 12pm and 2pm for our daily First Flight Butterfly Releases!

How it started...and how it's going! 😍 It's safe to say that rice paper butterflies are just as beautiful in their chrysalis stage as they are in their adult stage. See how many you can spot on your next Nature Museum visit. You can join us at 12pm and 2pm for our daily First Flight Butterfly Releases!

08/18/2021

Tomorrow is another Suggested Donation Day for Illinois residents! Get the details, and see our full summer schedule, on our site. bit.ly/2SQZw4R

Tomorrow is another Suggested Donation Day for Illinois residents! Get the details, and see our full summer schedule, on our site. bit.ly/2SQZw4R

08/15/2021

Smooth Greensnake Time-lapse

Check out this amazing smooth greensnake hatching time-lapse that Dr. Allison filmed! 🐍 Although they are called smooth greensnakes, the hatchlings are actually closer in color to a dull brownish green. Why? They begin hatching in late July/early August which is when a lot of vegetation is starting to dry and turn brown, so if they were as bright green as the adults they would stand out quite a bit more in their already vulnerable state. They're very special because very few species of snakes change color from hatchlings to adults.

08/13/2021

Conversing Cockroaches

What are these two talking about? Find out this Sunday at Bugapalooza! Join us for the chance to meet cool bugs, make crafts, and watch an amazing puppet show by our friends Jabberwocky Marionettes! Grab your tickets now: https://bit.ly/372ytHe

08/10/2021

Tell us your favorite treat without telling us your favorite treat: Gorgeous the turtle edition. 📸: Nature Museum team members Marjorie and Ashley

Tell us your favorite treat without telling us your favorite treat: Gorgeous the turtle edition. 📸: Nature Museum team members Marjorie and Ashley