Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum: a respite from city life
Living in a big city can make it easy to forget just how close, and important, nature is. Chicago’s Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, located on 6 acres in nearby Lincoln Park, serves as a terrific reminder of how beautiful and valuable the natural world is, and how vital it is to protect it.
Opened in 1999, the museum has become a leader in environmental and science education through interactive exhibits that promote green living in the city. The museum is a branch of the Chicago Academy of Sciences, founded in 1857. In 1871, the Academy’s vast collections of nature specimens were lost in the Great Chicago Fire, but have since been rebuilt to more than 250,000 specimens used for science enrichment for teachers and children.
Hundreds of thousands of visitors each year explore the museum’s Judy Istock Butterfly Haven, which includes more than 1,000 butterflies in a 2,700-square-foot greenhouse. Tropical birds, waterfalls, pools, flowers and trees make the haven a magical spot for adults and children alike.
In the Birds of Chicago exhibit, visitors can examine nearly 100 specimens of birds native to Illinois. Turtles, water scorpions and stick bugs are just a few of the residents in the Mysteries of the Marsh exhibit, and museum guests can learn more about these and other animals from scientists and volunteers at the Istock Family Look-in Animal Lab.
Interactive exhibits like the Hands-on Habitat allow children to explore the secret world of animal homes, and the Extreme Green House lets visitors walk through a full-sized bungalow right in the middle of the museum. River Works lets patrons build damns, control water turbines and change a river’s flow to learn more about how waterways support ecosystems.
And what nature museum would be complete without outdoor exhibit areas, which include 17,000 square feet of green roofs, cliff gardens and a large restored native-prairie area?
With more than 150 species of live animals, temporary exhibitions, guided nature walks, live animal feedings and special events and activities throughout the year, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is a terrific spot to reconnect with nature. It’s a relaxing, invigorating and educational attraction for city dwellers of any age.
- by D.J. Siegel, Chicago Reporter for HelloMetro
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