Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
Tickets, U-505 & Visitor Guide to Chicago's Great Science Museum
⏱ 3-5 hours👤 All ages$$
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The Museum of Science and Industry occupies the Palace of Fine Arts, the only major building from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition still standing, in Hyde Park on the South Side lakefront. Renamed the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry following a major gift, it's the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere and one of the most hands-on museums anywhere.
Its signature exhibit is U-505, a German U-boat captured by the U.S. Navy in 1944 — the only one of its kind in the country — housed in a dedicated underground gallery with a separate onboard tour available. The Coal Mine, one of the museum's oldest and most beloved exhibits, takes you "down" into a recreated working mine. Other highlights include the enormous Great Train Story model railroad tracing the route from Chicago to Seattle, the Henry Crown Space Center with a real spacecraft, the baby-chick hatchery, and a tornado you can walk around.
The museum is built for curiosity at every age and rewards a full visit. It sits a bit removed from the downtown core — roughly twenty minutes south of the Loop — so it works best as its own outing, often paired with a look around the historic Hyde Park neighborhood. Some experiences, like the U-505 onboard tour, the giant-screen theater, and special exhibitions, carry add-on fees beyond general admission.
What to Expect
Format
Self-paced and hands-on. General admission covers most exhibits; the U-505 onboard tour, giant-screen theater, and special exhibitions are add-ons.
Best Time
Weekday mornings outside school-trip season. The most popular timed experiences (U-505 onboard tour, coal mine) book up — reserve those early in your visit.
Duration
3-5 hours; it's enormous, and a full day is easy if you go deep.
Tips
It's about 20 minutes south of downtown in Hyde Park, so treat it as its own outing rather than a quick add-on. Reserve timed slots for the coal mine and U-505 onboard tour when you arrive. Driving is easiest; there's on-site parking. Budget energy — the building is huge and easy to underestimate.
⚡ Quick Picks
Best For
Families and the science-curious — the hands-on scale is unmatched in the city.
Families
An all-day family destination. The coal mine, U-505, the chick hatchery, and the model railroad are reliable hits across ages.
Couples
Less obvious as a date, but the U-505 submarine and space center are genuinely absorbing for the WWII- or space-curious.
Pair With
The historic Hyde Park neighborhood (and, for the curious, the University of Chicago campus nearby) makes a natural pairing since you're already on the South Side.
Time Needed
Most of a day.
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Get Tickets →Frequently Asked Questions
What is U-505?
A German U-boat captured by the U.S. Navy in 1944 — the only one of its kind in the United States. It's housed in a dedicated underground gallery, with a separate onboard tour available for an added fee.
Is it far from downtown?
It's in Hyde Park on the South Side, roughly 20 minutes south of the Loop. Plan it as its own outing rather than a quick stop.
Is it good for kids?
Very — it's one of the most hands-on museums anywhere. The coal mine, model railroad, chick hatchery, and interactive exhibits work across a wide age range.
Do I need to reserve specific exhibits?
The coal mine and the U-505 onboard tour are timed and can sell out. Reserve those early in your visit. The giant-screen theater and special exhibitions are also add-ons.
Why is it in such a grand old building?
It occupies the Palace of Fine Arts, the only major structure remaining from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition — a piece of Chicago history in its own right.
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Adler Planetarium
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