Shedd Aquarium Vs Field Museum Comparison

By Stuart Bak

You like animals, right? Of course you do! What kind of monster doesn’t go all gooey at the sight of cute kitties, playful pups and adorable aardvarks? Well, good news: Chicago has animals in spades. We’re talking Lincoln Park and Brookfield zoos, dedicated dog parks, cat cafés and, more specifically, critters both alive and dead at, respectively, the mighty Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum of Natural History. These Museum Campus giants are two of Chicago’s biggest, best and most popular attractions, but how do they compare against one other? We got to know their resident critters (and other key exhibits) to find out...

Shedd Aquarium Vs Field Museum: A Short History

First opened way back in 1930, this vast, purpose-built aquarium was for many years the largest indoor facility of its kind in the world. Almost a century later, it remains one of the biggest and most-visited aquariums in the States, welcoming over two million visitors every year. The aquarium, bankrolled by retail magnate and philanthropist John G.Shedd back in the 1920s, doubled in size in the late 20th and early 21st centuries with the addition of the vast Abbott Oceanarium and Wild Reef. As of today, it holds around 32,000 animals across 1,500 species including fish, marine mammals, amphibians, birds, snakes and insects. In 1987, it was declared a National Historic Landmark. Quirky fact: Shedd Aquarium was home to an enigmatic lungfish named Granddad who arrived at the facility for the 1933-34 Chicago World’s Fair and remained there until his death in 2017, claiming the title of longest-living fish in a zoological environment. Whether he was born with the name Granddad or had the moniker bestowed in his twilight years is unconfirmed.

Image of Animal, Sea Life, Fish, Reptile, Turtle,

The Shedd Aquarium was actually built as a companion attraction to its older sibling the Field Museum, a natural history museum conceived around exhibits acquired from the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and opened in 1894. The museum was largely funded by entrepreneur and department store magnate Marshall Field, John G. Shedd’s mentor. It was, and remains, one of the biggest and best natural history museums on the planet, drawing in around two million visitors annually to a collection of some 40 million specimens and artifacts that includes – deep breath – animal dioramas, dinosaur skeletons, meteorite fragments, Ancient Egyptian mummies and a vast library. Quirky fact: the phrase ‘the customer is always right’ is attributed to OG museum benefactor Marshall Field.

Shedd Aquarium: What to See and Do

You’ll want to dedicate at least a half day to exploring this massive aquarium, with its multiple showcases of aquatic habitats from around the globe in zones including the Caribbean Reef, the Oceanarium and Amazon Rising. Daily shows and presentations allow you to learn more about the many thousands of critters here; you can even book behind the scenes tours and close encounters with some of the animals. Must-see highlights include...

The Abbott Oceanarium

Not just any old oceanarium, the Abbott is the planet’s biggest. This fabulous coastal ecosystem contains three million gallons of water and is home to majestic marine mammals including beluga whales, Pacific white-sided dolphins, sea lions and sea otters. The lower level allows you to observe these graceful animals in their natural habitat.

Amazon Rising

Step inside this flooded forest exhibit to get up close and personal with some of the most exotic, colorful and downright dangerous creatures in the Americas. We’re talking red-bellied piranhas, emerald green boas, dwarf caimans and electric blue poison dart frogs.

Caribbean Reef

Take a peep into the huge rotunda-style tank, inside which cownose rays hang out with endangered green sea turtles, bonnethead sharks cruise up to the glass to peer right back at you, and schools of colorful tropical fish including angelfish, butterflyfish and parrotfish paint rainbows in the water.

Polar Play Zone

Penguin suits, a mini submarine and an icy-cold touch pool make the Polar Play Zone great fun for kids. There are also (real) penguins, friendly belugas, cute sea otters and otherworldly moon jellies to keep everyone entertained. Yes, even the least-easily-impressed teen.

Field Museum: What to See and Do

So, if you’ve spend half a day at the Shedd Aquarium, surely the logical thing to do is pop next door and spend the other half at the Field Museum, am I right? That said, the sheer variety of things to look at here means no visit can ever really be long enough. There’s 4.6 billion years of history in the massive collection – that’s even older than some US presidents! We’re talking ancient meteorite fossils, a menagerie of stuffed animals (some of them quite famous!), Ancient Egyptian mummies and the largest, most complete T Rex skeleton ever discovered. Must-see highlights include...

Inside Ancient Egypt

Learn about how the Ancient Egyptians lived – and died – in this utterly fascinating exhibit. Step inside an authentic burial chamber and try to stifle a shiver as you come face to mummified face with the preserved remains of 23 humans and 30 animals. Floor-to-ceiling heiroglyphs, scenes from the Nile River Valley and a shrine to the cat-goddess Bastet add to the chilly atmosphere.

The Dynamic Dino Duo

Probably the most Instagrammed pieces in the entire collection, Sue the T Rex and her even larger companion Máximo, an aptly named titanosaur, are absolute must-sees on any visit. You’ll find Sue terrorizing visitors in The Griffin Halls of Evolving Planet and her somewhat more placid plant-eating pal towering over the Stanley Field Hall, where he stands at a whopping 28 feet tall and 122 feet long. That’s even longer than your average blue whale, fact fans!

Animal Antics

The Field Museum boasts some of the most realistic animal dioramas on the planet, with many considered to be artistic masterpieces. Check out Carl Akeley’s celebrated Four Seasons diorama, a large-scale exhibit depicting wild white-tailed deer across the seasons of the year. You can also meet the fearsome man-eating lions of Tsavo and a polar bear protecting her cubs.

Fast facts: Shedd Aquarium

Tickets

An All-Inclusive attraction pass from Go City includes general admission and saves you money when visiting multiple attractions in Chicago. Buy a 1, 2, 3 or 5-day pass to access as many attractions as you like in that time period, including the Field Museum, Adler Planetarium and Museum of Contemporary Art. You can book tickets for general admission as well as experiences including shark-feeding and sea otter encounters via the Shedd Aquarium website.

Opening Hours

Generally open daily from 9AM to 5PM daily, with some seasonal variation. Check the calendar on the Shedd Aquarium website for the most up-to-date information.

Getting There

Both the Shedd Aquarium and Field Museum are in Chicago’s Museum Campus. Get there via Chicago’s Lakefront Trail and park up your bike in dedicated racks at the East and West entrances. Buses 130 and 146 also service the museum and paid parking is available at several locations on campus.

Image of Building, Cityscape, Urban, City, Outdoors,

Fast facts: Field Museum

Tickets

You can buy tickets with add-ons including a 3D movie plus access to ticketed exhibitions direct from the Field Museum website. Alternatively, an attraction pass from Go City includes general admission plus one ticketed exhibition at the Field Museum, as well saving you money when visiting multiple attractions such as the Skydeck Chicago and the Museum of Science and Industry.

Opening Hours

Open daily from 9AM to 5PM, with last admission at 4PM. Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

Save on attractions in Chicago

Save on admission to Chicago attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.

Continue reading

The Chicago skyline from the shores of Lake Michigan

Blog

Chicago in January

Winter doesn’t stop Chicagoans getting out and about, and even outdoor events continue to enliven and entertain those living in the city. Anyone looking to experience the festive season with reduced crowds and cheaper accommodation costs might also look to Chicago in January rather than in December, since many seasonal attractions extend their stay into the first month of the year. There are plenty of permanent attractions to enjoy too, from the Art Institute of Chicago to Shedd Aquarium. Here’s our guide to the windy city’s top January sights. Weather in Chicago in January It’s fair to say you don’t travel to Chicago in January for the weather! There’s no hiding the fact that it gets very cold in Chicago in January, with average temperatures of just 30°F. With windchill – this is the windy city after all – and with cloud free nights, temperatures can fall as low as 12°F. However, as those other defenders of cold climates – the Norwegians – say, there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. Woolen items will be your best friends, whether that’s thermal underwear and base layers or thick knitted sweaters, beanies, scarfs and gloves. A little over 1.5 inches of rain and snow means you’ll want to add a waterproof jacket or umbrella to your packing list, whilst weatherproof shoes or boots comfortable enough to walk in all day are also going to give you a major win over the weather. Cling on to the Christmas spirit January is known to be one of the most depressing times of year, but you can help keep the blues at bay by stretching the Christmas frivolities beyond the New Year’s Eve fireworks above the rides of Navy Pier and into the first week of January. The city’s official Christmas tree, a Blue Spruce topping out at 50 feet high, remains lit in Millennium Park from 6AM until 11PM daily until January 9. So close you can get the two in the same photograph, Millennium Park is also the location of one of Chicago’s newest landmarks – Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate sculpture. The Museum of Science and Industry’s annual Christmas Around the World exhibition is another attraction which continues into January. A further reason to pay a visit to this phenomenal museum, this seasonal exhibition contains around 50 Christmas trees, each decorated to symbolize festive celebrations around the world. Entrance is included as part of a standard ticket. Explore the four corners of the world It may be missing the crabs of Christmas Island, but Shedd Aquarium should still be high on the list of things to do in Chicago in January for anyone with an interest in our marine habitats. A stone’s throw from Lake Michigan, its location couldn’t be better. Being entirely enclosed, it doesn’t really matter what the weather might be doing either. In addition to uncovering life below the surface of the Great Lakes, the aquarium does an excellent job at revealing the wonders in all the world’s oceans. Taking a 360° tour of a Caribbean reef populated by turtles and sharks, and Pacific waters with beluga whales, dolphins and sea otters are just a few of a long list of highlights. As neighbors go, few could be better than the Field Museum. Covering pretty much everything Shedd Aquarium doesn’t, its grand halls hold an apparently endless stream of natural marvels, from the most complete T-Rex skeleton ever discovered – called Sue – to artefacts from the ancient Americas. For a modern look at the world, head to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA). Sandwiched between Lake Shore Park and Historic Water Tower, its immense collection is focused on the years from 1945 to the present day. Its asymmetric staircase and views across Lake Michigan are worthy of inclusion in its collection. Don’t ignore the parks and gardens Green spaces aren’t necessarily at their best in the winter months. However, Lincoln Park Conservatory is just one spot with year-round color. This gem of the Victorian age comprises four different halls. The Palm House contains a fiddle-leaf rubber fig put in place in 1891, whilst the Orchid Room boasts hundreds of these tropical blooms. The cooler houses are also bright with the red leaves of Mexican poinsettias as part of the winter show – ending a week into January. Back in Millennium Park, the bare trees provide a backdrop to McCormick Tribune Ice Rink, which has skaters gliding across its surface right through to the spring. Situated on the plaza of the same name, it’s one of America’s biggest inner city rinks, but still dwarfed by the area covered by the skating ribbon which meanders through Maggie Daley Park and is twice the size. Humboldt Park has a much more residential feel, located amid the neat grid of streets to the west of the trendy Wicker Park neighborhood. At its heart lie a series of lagoons, though its paths are better trod for the architectural and sculptural landmarks dotting the park. These include the Bavarian-style stables and receptory building, acting as the visitor center and Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture, as well as two bronze bison at the east entrance of the Formal Gardens. Head to the heights Birthplace of the steel-framed skyscraper, Chicago is known for its high-rise central districts. One of the best ways of getting a bird’s eye view is from the Skydeck observation station on the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower. From almost 1400 feet up, most of the city’s landmarks can be spotted from its windows – and parts of Illinois’ neighboring states too. Outdoing even this is The Ledge, a group of three glass boxes which overhang the sides of the tower. Make sure you’ve got a head for heights before stepping onto their glass floors! From ground level there’s still plenty to see though, with many of Chicago’s best-known buildings recognizable from movies including Home Alone, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Saving in Chicago in January Far from being shut down for the winter, Chicagoans seem to bask in the snowy scenes their city sees. And because of the range of winter and seasonal attractions in Chicago in January, you could say the month is actually one of the best times of the year to visit. Whenever you choose to take your vacation in Chicago, be sure to do it with Go City. Month after month and year after year we’ve provided visitors to cities around the world with incredible savings on admission to top attractions.

Ian Packham

Blog

360 CHICAGO vs SkyDeck Chicago: comparing the differences between the two observation decks

From panoramic views of unique skyscrapers to the Chicago River, SkyDeck Chicago and 360 CHICAGO both offer incredible views of the Windy City.

Nicole Muto

Blog

Things to do in Wicker Park, Chicago

Feeling hip? Chicago's Wicker Park is one of the coolest places in the city. If you're visiting Chi-Town from out-of-town or simply a local who doesn't know, why not find out why? Here's our guide to Wicker Park, which highlights some of the best things to do! Including: Exploring the outdoors Classic arcade fun Refreshing beverages Poignant performances Comedy clubs and more! Go exploring! Firstly, if you're new to the area, get out there and explore! There are plenty of green spaces that are worth your time. Wicker Park is a park named after Wicker Park the place. Once you've wrapped your head around that one, you'll find one of Chicago's coziest but classiest outdoor spaces. Pack a picnic basket and go enjoy the ambiance! Lots of events also occur throughout the year, like film screenings, markets, and live performances. Or, for a more urban escape, follow the abandoned 606 train tracks. The 606 has become a tourist destination in its own right, with a winding walk that will take you past some of the city's most recognizable landmarks. It's also full of creative street art for you to check out, and put on your socials if you crave the attention of others so incessantly. Alongside the fantastic views, there are a wealth of events on all year round, from bakesales to outdoor exercise classes. So, go explore. Right now! Play on, player Fancy trying your hand at some retro arcade video games, air hockey, and other '80s entertainment? Then check out Emporium at Wicker Park! Bring some friends along and get to grips with some classic arcade games. Then, when you've lost all your lives, hop on a pool table and play a few rounds, challenge them to a spot of foosball, or get clinking at one of the many pinball tables. Then, to wet your whistle, grab a refreshing craft beer from the bar, or maybe a bite to eat if you need to refuel. They even have live music on occasion, if you need some tunes to get your pinball fingers pumping. Emporium is awesome, and easily one of the best things to do in Wicker Park if you're visiting Chicago! Grab a drink After all that activity, you might want to just sit back, relax, and get a refreshing drink or two down your gullet. Well, Wicker Park has got you covered, with a wide variety of relaxed watering holes that'll help you take the edge off. One of Wicker Park's most popular is Phyllis Musical Inn, a saloon-style pub with countless beers on tap, live music, and a massive garden where you can soak up the rays when the weather's good. Or, if you want to stuff it down with brown, head to Whiskey Business. Besides a delightful and grandiose selection of whiskeys, they also serve a mean cocktail, local craft beers, and you can enjoy it all on their vibrant rooftop! Or, if you fancy something fancy and a little pricier, check out The Violet Hour. This stylish, sophisticated joint has a bevy of master craftsmen who can whip you up whatever you desire, all paired with delicious bites. Catch a secret show If you like your music raw, and your favorite acts unheard-of, then wade through the cool and pull up a pew at Hideout. This Wicker Park hang spot features local acts and up-and-coming artists from the world of alternative music. On any given week, expect to see post-punk one day and then acoustic indie the next. If you like your venues grungy, your music noisy, and your beer just the way it should be, head down to The Hideout and see if you discover your new favorite artist. Just don't expect they'll have any merch. That's for posers, bro. Have a laugh We all like the giggle. It's said that laughter is the best natural way to gain a six-pack. And you don't even have to do anything, just laugh. How awesome is that? If you want to work on your six-pack and laugh till your sides hurt, why not check out The Comedy Clubhouse? Widely thought of as the premier Chicago comedy club, it's one of the best things to do in Wicker Park. You'll find a slew of shows on there, from stand-up gigs to improv shows. Many comedians you find on cable comedy greats like Parks and Rec and The Office cut their teeth at this very club, so you have some idea of the quality you can expect when you visit. Pair all them funnies with some refreshing drinks and delicious pizza, and you've got yourself a night out right there. Dig in the crates This one's for the collectors. If you're a muso and big into vinyl, do yourself a favor and check out Reckless Records. Inside, you'll find wall-to-wall rare vinyl from bygone eras, new EPs from up-and-coming artists, and even old movies if you're so inclined. A lot of it's second-hand, understandably, so make sure to check your purchases before you wreck your purchases. Or, God forbid, they wreck you. If you want to lose multiple hours and come away with a collection to make all of your weird friends froth at the mouth, go check out Reckless Records. Get artistic Need to be inspired? Go check out some of Wicker Park's quirky art galleries! The Flat Iron Building has a whole collection of galleries where you'll find mind-blowing, or mind-altering, works from local artists. If you like your art with a hint of street, check out The Vertical Gallery for some thought-provoking pieces on modern life, local culture, and antiestablishmentism. Or, if you like more experimental art, or are at least open to it, head to Johalla Projects. Step inside, and you'll find a huge gallery space filled with images, sculptures, movies, and paintings. Now that's art, baby. Grab a bite And finally, this one's for the hungry. Luckily for you, Wicker Park has a handful of great restaurants to get some chow. If you want some southern fun with your food, check our Ina Mae's delicious menu full of New Orleans-inspired dishes. Their potato salad is to die for. Want to go even further south? Try Antique Taco, which offers a selection of gourmet tacos and Mexican appetizers, alongside some tequila-based cocktails to wash it down. Or, if you want your mind blown with some New American cuisine, a few dollars more will get you a delicious meal at Schwa. Many locals think it's the best restaurant in town. Best you find out for yourself! And that was our list of the best things to do in Wicker Park when you visit Chicago!

Dom Bewley

Have a 5% discount, on us!

Sign up to our newsletter and receive exclusive discounts, trip inspiration and attraction updates straight to your inbox.