The Adler is so, much easier to see the whole museum in one visit vs the Field Museum. We watched one of the 3 movies, and i wish we had watched the other two as well. It was a delight to relax and learn about our beautiful moon. Lots of cool exhibits, some interactive and some hands on play for kids. If you or a family member have the slightest passion for space, this is 10/10. read more

Adler - Museums Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I feel like this is the black sheep or the forgotten child of the museum family, but I love it. We haven't been here in ages, but our kids loved it too. There were a bunch of reviews saying how parts of exhibits were closed or in disrepair/not functioning. There were some things that were closed off, but generally our kids were able to interact with a lot of the museum. There was a fun space rover that you could actually sit in to steer and drive, which was hilarious. Other simulators allow you to actually control a robot rover as if you're in the station and exploring the terrain. They also have craft stations for a wide age range. It wasn't crazy crowded (which is great), it's small enough that you can see almost everything you want with just a morning trip, and make it back in time for naps or pick a secondary attraction without feeling rushed. I was pleasantly surprised with how much fun we had. Plus, it's probably the most affordable of all the museums, and I feel like we get our money's worth because we got to see everything at our own leisure. Go give the planetarium some love! read more

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This is our 3rd year in a row utilizing the free Wednesday nights for Illinois residents and I must say, this was my favorite visit yet! They have really worked hard to update the exhibits including one all about visiting the moon, how astronomy and astrology have historically worked together, and they updated their wall space with stickers about everything from Mars-di Gras (Mardi Gras) to Lunar New Year. Did you know that 1 out of every 5 people celebrates Lunar New Year? I didn't. I enjoy that the space can be tackled in a free evening without feeling overwhelming or stressful. The space is so manageable, we actually look forward to spending some time in the Cosmic Cafe for a latte and some breathtaking views of the Chicago skyline. A favorite part of every visit is the opportunity to use the Doane Observatory telescope! Unfortunately, the weather was beautiful and the moon so bright that we couldn't stay in the line for our turn because we had purchased tickets for a 9:15p show. It is the larget telescope available to the public in the Chicagoland area! The last time we did get to use it, we saw a whole galaxy! We also have been waiting, like, two years to see The Dark Side of the Moon because my 15 year old daughter is a Pink Floyd fan. It utilizes all 10 tracks on the album and encompasses both Pink Floyd and space. Very trippy for someone who has never done drugs, but also very surprisingly very enjoyable! The best part, I believe, of every visit is the art room. We learned about the different surfaces of the moon--highlands (mountains), craters, etc.--by using tactile objects to recreate them. The hands on learning helped to cement the information into our brains! I hope to continue to visit the Adler Planetarium with my daughter and even beyond! (Also, we waited to the side of the parking lot for 4 minutes before entering because the $17 evening parking doesn't start until 4p. $8 saved paid for my daughter's latte in the cafe!) read more

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Free Wednesday nights for Illinois residents. It was fun to be there at night without the crowds. Cool exhibits and venue. Really fun to walk around. They have a few theaters that show movies for an extra charge. An observatory outside too. Beautiful location on the lake and lovely place to walk around. They have a cafe and plenty of restrooms. A nice variety of things to see and plenty of interactive things to do. read more

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Personally, I didn't feel this one was really worth it. There's some cool science-type stuff to check out, but it felt more geared toward kids. There are lots of random interactive exhibits, but I was able to go through everything in about an hour. We came here using the CityPASS, which included two shows, but since we arrived late, we were only given the option to watch one. The show itself was a bit boring, and you could even see people dozing off. If you have the choice between this and something else, I'd recommend skipping it--unless you're really into planets. read more

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Adler Planetarium had some interesting exhibits, but there was not enough entertainment to justify the admission fee of more than twenty five dollars. I chose the base museum admission without any show add ons. While the experience might entertain younger children for thirteen dollars, there was little for adults to enjoy. The museum had poor airflow and felt very stuffy and there should have been more sanitation stations given how many displays were hands on. *Other World: this section would have been more impressive if the displays were not so worn down. The area was humid and cramped and the crowding made it difficult to appreciate the interactive elements. *Community Design Labs and Star Studio: these areas were clearly designed for younger children and offered a wide variety of art supplies. *Chicago's Night Sky: an interesting collection of globes and star maps. We were not able to see the Historic Atwood Sphere, but I enjoyed the surrounding historical objects. *Universe In Your Hands: This was my favorite section, showcasing different models used to measure time. The collection featured unique and striking sundials from around the world. *Telescopes: was another extensive collection. I wished the South Pole Telescope had been more functional and some of the others had scratched viewing glasses from previous guests. *Mission Moon: included fun memorabilia from various past missions. Although the activities here were the most interactive, many items were missing or not functioning. While the base collections were solid, there was noticeable wear and tear throughout the exhibits. Because so many displays were interactive yet damaged or incomplete, it was difficult to fully appreciate the historical context of the items on display. We finished the entire planetarium in about thirty minutes, including the time spent weaving around children. Younger children may enjoy the arts and crafts, but they might not engage with the extensive reading required in the older exhibits. Adults may find that many exhibits are either nonfunctional or primarily geared toward children. read more

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We were visiting Chicago and wanted to take he kids to the planetarium! This place is so cute! Not too big and you definitely see two shows and the whole area within a day. The highlight for my kids was the play area! There is a hidden star room in the spaceship the kids were ecstatic about! I loved their excitement. The exhibits were also set up so nicely my kids still tell me fun facts weeks later! read more

I like that Chicago has a planetarium and it's likely a good place for kids, but as an adult I did not find it that interesting. While many of the artifacts are nice, especially in the telescope area, some of the interactive displays did not work and much of the information was pretty elementary. The sky show was late getting started. It was, however, well done, the narrator was very knowledgeable. Overall, I would definitely prioritize the Field museum and the aquarium over the planetarium. read more

A lovely place and an amazing place on the lake of Lake Michigan. They have more than just the planetarium. They have events like the lunar eclipse on the lawn for example in 2024. read more

Adler - Museums Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It's a very interesting museum. Very cool things to see and interactive for kids and a little for adults as well. However, for the price and for how quickly you can run through this museum, I feel as though it's a good thing to see one time and then not really needed to go again. Unless you're really super into space and stars and planets, it's just a knock off your list once and never again type thing. Maybe they need to do different exhibits or change events or something. It's an ok experience for me. read more

Honestly, you can probably skip when there are several other museums in the area that offer a lot more. It was fairly basic on the inside and very small compared to others - unless you come here specifically to see a show, I'd recommend skipping. read more

Adler - SpaceX module - Museums Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Adler is a well organized planetarium which is great for everyone but probably best for middle school and high school students, based on some of the displays. I personally found the sections on telescopes and sextants to be the most interesting. Depending on your speed, you are likely to finish going through the displays in 1-2 hours. We stayed for one of the shows, the one with the "futuristic" tour of the solar system... ironic because you're presenting a view of the future using today's technology, so the amounts of the solar system that are displayed in detail are limited. And as I mentioned to my group, there was of course the "unexpected crisis" that had to be resolved during our "journey." The gift shop is nice, food is available, plenty of rest rooms. The area outside is also quite scenic to stroll or lounge in nice weather. read more

Went here for a private event that was closed to the public. I've been a lifelong Chicagoan and can't believe I've never been here. Awesome place and will go here during normal business hours to get the full experience. read more

We enjoyed the Adler! It was very crowded, however very cool new advanced learning technology the kids could enjoy like digital floors, screens to show outer space, telescopes and game like technology to learn about outer space. The wall that you could touch that gave a realistic feel of the moon was unique, plenty of rooms to explore! read more

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Great view of the skyline right outside the planetarium. You really can't get a better view unless you are on a ferry. If you arrive without tickets you can purchase them from the accessible entrance on the first floor. If you have a mobile ticket go to the second level to check in. This is also a museum so you can look around while waiting for the planetarium show. The cost depends on how many shows you want to see. read more

Adler - View looking at city - Museums Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been to Chicago several times and I am pretty sure that I've stopped at the Adler everytime. We finally took the kids and once again, Adler was on the list! The kids had a great time and there were so many exhibits to see. You could spend a whole day here, or hit a variety of exhibits and spend a half-day and still have a great time(this is what we did). Exhibits when we visited included life on other planets, moonwalk, and more with a large variety of interactive exhibits that are great for children (ours are 11 and 13 and they had a good time). Regular prices are a bit high but if you are spending a week or less, you can usually find tickets includes as part of one or more CityPass/GoCity programs and save some money. Regardless, it's worth the trip! Before or after, step outside and take some great photos of the Chicago skyline and the lake! read more

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04/24/14 - In April Adler Planetarium had a free Wednesday admission from 4-10pm. Tonight was the last free Wednesday. I was able to go w/my friend and spend a few hours. Neither of us has been at the Planetarium for decades so it was pretty cool to go inside and see some of the exhibits. I never cease to be amazed at the vastness of the universe & what a minuscule little speck planet earth is in the universe. Our solar system sits within the milky way galaxy which is estimated to have 100 - 400 billion stars. The andromeda galaxy has an estimated 1 trillion stars (no I didn't count them). The Milky Way Galaxy is estimated to be 2.5 million light years from the Andromeda Galaxy. It's estimated that there are 2 trillion galaxies in the ever expanding universe. So as large as earth is to us it's just a little speck in the universe. Anyone who thinks we are alone in the universe is delusional. Out of the trillions of stars & planets there is 100% chance that there are other life forms read more

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I've always been such a sucker for planetarium shows since I was little, so I try to go whenever I can! I got tickets for the museum and a show about a week in advance. We had so much fun walking around the museum before and after the show - there's so much to look at and read about! Very educational, but also very cool! Unfortunately some of the interactive stuff wasn't working or was constantly being used by kids, but overall a really good time. The show we saw was about Pluto and the ninth planet - I would highly recommend it! Learned a lot and the show was very visually appealing as well! Overall we spent about 3-4 hours total, but probably could have spent a little more if you were really meticulous about seeing/reading everything. My only regret is not doing more shows! read more

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Visited here with my mother while we were in Chicago. Because of my Chicago based employer, I was fortunate enough to get free admission. We saw a short animated film, which was super fun and enjoyed a stroll around the planetarium. It's mostly kid oriented, but there's still great views and things to be enjoyed by adults. read more

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The museum was quite interesting especially the exhibit regarding light pollution. The other exhibits were whatever, and the museum itself took less than two hours to go through, which makes a good option for people wanting to visit a museum but don't have much spare time. At least the area right outside of the museum offers impressive views of the Chicago skyline. Overall, I wouldn't go out of my way to visit here again. read more

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The Adler has one of the best locations of any museum I have ever been to. It's located on a peninsula that juts out into Lake Michigan with a postcard backdrop of the city skyline. Another advantage it has is its within walking distance of two other Chicago landmarks, The Shedd Aquarium and The Field Museum. I believe that this planetarium claims to be the oldest in the US. It is a 3 level building but only two have exhibits with the third being administrative and meeting areas. Inside it has all the standard space stuff like the US manned moon missions, displays on the planets in our solar system, other displays about the Milky Way galaxy and The Universe with several interactive demonstrations that you can participate in. In the Grainger Sky Theater (the domed theater) they offer sky shows that usually last about 30 minutes and require a separate ticket. My Go Chicago pass allowed me to attend two of them and I chose Planet Nine and Imagine The Moon and both were entertaining. Planetariums don't have the same awe to me that they use to. The projector technology developed in the 1930's to visually show people movies in a domed theater has been exceeded by the advent of IMAX movies that show high definition movies on a curved screen in a reclining seat in many movie theaters. However they are useful in teaching people about space and hopefully with the arrival of the Artemis program (going back to the moon) it will provide planetariums like this one with new material to show the public and add more value to going to a planetarium. read more

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This place exceeded my expectations (which were admittedly low). Adler participates in the ASTC reciprocity program so our family of 5 was able to get in for free, though we had to pay for one of the dome shows. The exhibits were surprisingly modern and interactive. The children's play area was larger than I expected and we had a lot of fun using the remote control space rovers. A great place to spend a few hours (3 hours was perfect) and if you're lucky you can get street parking right outside. read more

The Adler prides itself in being the first planetarium in the Western Hemisphere, built in 1930 on the shore of Lake Michigan, offering unrivaled insights into our solar system. Among others, its' permanent exhibits are- Solar System, Mission Moon, The Universe: A Walk Through Space and Time, Telescopes: Through the Looking Glass, and Astronomy in Culture Its facilities include the Doane Observatory, which has the largest telescope available to the public in the Chicago area, through which visitors can glimpse celestial objects trillions of miles away the Adler also has three full-size theaters - the 3D Universe Theater, the Definiti Space Theater and the Grainger Sky Theater - - in which it screens programs like "Destination Solar System," "Planet Nine" and "One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure." Shedd Aquarium, The Field Museum, and the Adler Planetarium -are all in the Museum campus and at a walkable distance between Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan view from here - it's amazing...!! read more

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We purchased our tickets online on a third party app (Citypass) and the purchasing process was smooth. No reservation was required and we could arrive at any day and time. We arrived at 1:30pm on Wednesday and we waited in line to be let in. The older lady scanning tickets at the front desk was the rudest lady I had encountered on this trip. I asked her a simple question regarding purchasing additional tickets for the 2:30pm show and she basically yelled at me and told me that they were all sold out. My cousin got her ticket scanned after us and that same lady offered her tickets to the show I had just inquired about for free. So my cousin took a ticket. I was irritated but no biggie, I figured we had enough to do and see anyways. We walked through the different exhibits and nothing was really impressive as everything looked pretty outdated and old. The outside view of the lake was nice. It took us about 35 min to see it all. The outside structure of the building is pretty cool. I do wish I would've been able to see a show but that's my fault that I didn't purchase a ticket beforehand.. I don't recommend coming here as its underwhelming and not worth the ticket price, oh and because that grouchy lady is there. read more

Adler - Museums Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great museum but just like a museum about the sky, the prices also happen to be sky high. If you happen to be an Illinois resident it has free days though. Adler Planetarium is a classic collection of newer and older space artifacts. Has some cool newer things to keep children interested a bit. The older stuff is also good such as the space crafts and moon rocks. As is the case with any museum that charges admission, it can be expensive. It's about $30 for regular admission for adults, which is way too much for any museum. The good thing is it's free for Illinois residents on Wednesdays. Of course then it gets busy. The other bad thing is getting here. It's a long walk unless you take a bus. Lots of cool artifacts to check out inside. Among these are actual space crafts. There's a few capsules and some other equipment that was in space. It has an exhibit featuring each planet, but it's mostly basic information. Same thing with much of the museum. For as expensive as it is there should be more about it. The sky shows are pretty cool but they cost even more on top of the already high price. Come on the free days if you're an Illinois resident and it's more worth it. It's just too expensive to pay that much for what they have. The free admission is Wednesdays. read more

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The exhibitions are mostly geared to little kids, and the shows are all extra. All in all there's a lot of better museums to spend your time at literally steps away. read more

We watched the special viewing of Pink Floyd " dark side of the moon " superb experience, we were transported to outer space, amazing visuals/graphics. Highly recommend. It's been a few years since our last visit to the Adler and we throughly enjoyed the various exhibits. read more

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We went to the Wednesday evening opening of the planetarium. I liked the Chicago skyline tour and the "imagine the moon" movie. I think we were a bit underwhelmed by the museum portion, a lot of knobs, doors and things for kids to pull to make noise or "reveal" words or pictures. I'm not one to stand there and go slowly reading every plaque with so many screaming kids running around. It's too overwhelming. So we completed the whole museum in less than an hour. I did like the interactive table where you can classify galaxies. It's likely they had more cool things like that but with all the kids running around and banging on things we missed it. read more

Checking out the planetarium in Chicago and one of the first ones built in America. I saw this on a Youtube episode and wanted to see what this was all about. This place would be great for kids though and I feel like it also has a lot of readable material all around the place. It is quite small though and could be finished quite easily and quickly. If you do enjoy space and science this is probably your thing to come to. I did get to find some cool facts that I didn't know about and some of the parts were pretty interesting! The thing about how to tell time without a clock was pretty cool and quite useful! read more

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We got a Chicago City Pass, and Adler was one of our choices. Located near other popular attractions also. You'll probably spend a few hours here depending how much you enjoy the solar system. Our City Pass also includes 2 shows of our choice. We decided on the time when we checked in the front desk. I'm not a space geek, but this place here is pretty interesting. Some things are interactive. Informative and interesting things about the solar system. There is also a dining area (expensive food/drinks) and a gift shop. Worth a stop if you're into space stuff. It's pretty cool. read more

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Absolutely love coming here for the community event. They did as thousands of Chicagoan gathered to watch the solar eclipse. They gave out glasses and it was a really great experience. read more

Adler - Museums Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Well, I would put it up there with the Griffith Observatory in LA. Both are historical places that teach science and space, after all. The Adler had a lot of interesting items on display. Also some hands-on material. My admission with Citypass included a short film in the Imax theater, but I mostly fell asleep during it. read more

I recommend going if you have a GoCity pass. This included 2 of the movies for us that had very unique theatre experiences. We were able to spend a few hours enjoying the overall experience. The cafe also provided decent sized meals that weren't too crazy expensive. read more

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3.5/5 We visited during "Adler at Night" which currently is every Wednesday from 4-10pm. We were able to visit for free as Illinois residents, although shows required additional tickets. Compared to the Field and MSI, Adler is much smaller and could be easily knocked out in a few hours. Since it was free for us, we didn't feel obligated to read or look at every single thing so we got through in less than 2 hrs. It is an interesting museum at one of the best scenic locations in Chicago, but unfortunately feels a bit dated and the exhibits were lacking in the "WOW" factor. One of the most interesting and historic pieces, the Atwood Sphere, is tucked away in a corner and was not in operation during our visit. It would have been cool to see how it works in person. The Doane Observatory was open for viewing, but it was a chilly night so we opted not to stand in line for the opportunity. read more

The Adler Planetarium was really cool! I love anything about space and so I was intrigued about the facts of the planets. I also enjoyed the sky show! We had to reserve a time to watch it because it does get filled up. Just be careful, it is very comfortable inside the planetarium and dossing off will be inevitable, haha. But we had a blast and was grateful to be able to visit while we can. read more

Adler - Museums Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We walked over to the Adler Planetarium after visiting the Shedd Aquarium. It's important to note that tickets must be purchased in advance. The entrance process was smooth, and we decided to grab lunch right away--the food was surprisingly great for a museum cafe! We also bought tickets for one of the shows. While the concept sounded intriguing in the description, the actual experience fell a bit flat. Someone behind me even fell asleep and snored loudly, which made for a distracting moment. It's worth mentioning that you can leave the show if needed, but you're not allowed to re-enter, which is a bit disappointing. The planetarium itself isn't very large and takes about an hour to go through. While I personally feel it's more of a "one and done" experience, I can see how kids and adults interested in space or astronomy would find it especially engaging. I'm giving it 4 stars because it's a great experience for first-time visitors. The exhibits are fun and educational, and the lunch cafe was a pleasant surprise. That said, I'd probably skip the shows next time--they're not really worth the extra cost unless you need a quick rest. Overall, a nice visit, but maybe not a repeat destination. read more

I used to walk past this all the time when going to the museum campus. I decided to come here since we had tickets to see one of the sky shows. I do agree with some of the other reviewers, that this place needs a makeover so that some of the exhibits would look more modern. I was able to go through this museum a lot faster than the other major ones and that included the sky show. So, plan to spend about 2.5 hours or less here. They have a lot of articles for reading. The sky show was great to see and easily the highlight of the entire place. Admission is $19 for an adult. That's without any sky shows. Not sure I would come back unless they do a massive renovation of the place. read more

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Adler is... ok. As an important historical building in Chicago it's interesting, and of course it has architectural interest. But it's not all that exciting, to be honest, and the entrance fee is high. The Adler Planetarium has an important history. Did you know it was the first planetarium in the United States? And it dates only to 1930! The building is this... maybe I'm making it up, but it seems to be a brown marble. What I love the most are the astrological symbols that are carved around the perimeter of the building, inside and out. It's fun to check them out. When I visited we went to one of the sky shows and wandered the area on the main level. The Doane observatory was not open at the time we visited. So did we miss a level? I don't know, but honestly I hope we did because otherwise I can't really recommend the Adler, much as I would want to. Having said that, when I'm comfortable and they re-start additional programming, I would definitely go to Adler After Dark. read more

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When I landed in Chicago, I was hungry and attempted to go to a taco place only to find myself in the planetarium parking lot. After paying $25 to park, I found myself going into the planetarium. Exhibits are fine. Neat planet replicas and displays the touch space rocks. Would recommend read more

Adler - Planet replicas hanging from the ceiling. - Museums Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The Adler Planetarium is a beautiful museum dedicated to the unknown of space and our solar system. It is a beautiful museum, however I do not feel there was a lot of interactive materials outside of the shows, which do cost extra. The information is excellent though and found some unique experiences that I haven't had from other planetariums/conservatories. read more

Adler - Museums Near Me - Chicago, Illinois