Visiting the Wonderful Museums of Chicago

As one of the most important cities in the Midwestern United States, it is no wonder that so many people flock to Chicago to see the sights and get a feel for the contemporary culture of this fine city. When you book a room, ensure you are right in the heart of the central district of the city, so you can easily get out and explore.

The city was founded in 1803 as Fort Dearborn and officially became a town in 1833. It grew exponentially over the years and most of the railroads that were being built in the States had their hubs here. With plenty of unique nicknames - such as "The second city", "The windy city", "The city that works", and "The white city," among others - it offers visitors a rich breadth of culture within easy reach of the best hotels in Chicago.

The Art Institute

Located in Grant Park, just a short walk away from some of the best hotels in Chicago, the Art Institute of Chicago (AIG) is the second largest museum in the United States (after the Metropolitan Museum of Art). Founded as the Academy of Design, as part of the free art school and gallery in 1866, the AIG changed its name in 1882. The collection itself encompasses over 5,000 years and is generally considered to hold America's best collection of Western paintings. It contains over 260,000 works of art and some of the highlights you should see while in the AIG are the collection of Claude Monet's works, Wood's American Gothic, Cassatt's The Child's Bath, and Hopper's Nighthawks. In addition, there is a touch gallery for the visually impaired, a collection of furniture, and the Terra Collection. Be sure to visit the African American Art Collection and take note of the architecture of the building itself too. It may be a good plan to visit the AIG over a few days, as there is plenty to see and it is within easy access of many of the best hotels in Chicago.

The Field Museum of Natural History

Once you've enjoyed the fine arts and are ready for some history and culture, head to the Field Museum of Natural History. As part of the Museum Campus, the Field Museum of Natural History is an easy walk from many of the best hotels in Chicago. The museum is dedicated to the natural sciences, anthropology and artifacts and has over 24 million specimens.

Begun in 1893, the museum has permanent exhibitions of animal dioramas, The Grainger Hall of Gems, The Underground Adventure, Inside Ancient Egypt, The Evolving Planet, and plenty more. There are also three working laboratories in the museum and the exhibit that really draws the crowds - Sue the Tyrannosaurus Rex. Sue is the most complete and well-preserved T-Rex fossil ever found and she, along with everything else in the museum, is worth seeing while in the city.