Museum of Science & Industry
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The cultural star of the city’s Far South, this museum was the first in North America to introduce interactive exhibits, with a record of innovative, hands-on displays dating back to the 1930s. Two million visitors flock annually to this vast neoclassical building, which houses more than 800 exhibits and is a Chicago must-see, especially for families. Make sure you arrive rested, since it takes a whole day to hit just the top attractions.
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1. Apollo 8 Command Module
This, the first manned spacecraft to orbit the moon, offers a genuine peek into the 1960s space race. The historic photos, space suits, and training module on display all help set the scene.
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2. The Great Train Story
2. The Great Train StoryThirty-four miniature trains race past skyscrapers, through prairies, and over the Rockies to the Pacific Docks on 1,425 ft (437 m) of track that replicates the 2,200-mile (3540 km) train trip from Chicago to Seattle.
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3. Walk-Through Heart
A museum favorite since the 1940s, this 20-ft (6-m) tall model of the human heart would fit inside the chest of a 28-story person. Enter its chambers to see the marvel of human engineering.
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4. The Coal Mine
Venture down a simulated 600 ft (184 m) in an authentic shaft elevator to discover how coal was extracted in the 1930s compared to today. The mini train ride enhances the underground illusion.
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5. Colleen Moore’s Fairy Castle
Star of the silent screen, Colleen Moore commissioned the design of this lavish 9-sq-ft (0.8 sq-m) castle and lovingly filled it with over 2,000 one-twelfth-scaled objects, including the world’s smallest Bible.
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6. All Aboard the Silver Streak
Both Art Deco design afficionados and rail buffs alike are drawn to this streamlined, vintage Zephyr train with its ground-breaking diesel-electric engine. Onboard visits are by tour only.
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7. Yesterday’s Main Street
A cobblestone, shoplined street gives a taste of 1910 Chicago, with a cinema screening free silent movies and a traditional ice-cream parlor serving sweet treats at present-day prices.
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8. Omnimax Theater
Films shown in this five-story theater make the viewers feel like they are right in the thick of the on-screen adventures. Films on a rotating program are screened about every 50 minutes.
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9. ToyMaker 3000
Twelve robotic arms work the assembly line to produce toy top after colorful top in this display of computer integrated manufacturing technology. You can race a robot to see who can trace letters faster, and souvenir tops come gratis.
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10. U-505 Submarine
10. U-505 SubmarineTake a tour around this 1941 German U-boat: captured during World War II, it looks much as it did then, complete with an Enigma codebreaking machine.
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