- Chicago CityPASS /
- Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
An Experience to Remember
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago — one of the largest science museums in the world with 400,000 square feet of hands-on exhibits — blends education and entertainment into a dynamic experience sure to spark scientific inquiry and creativity. A visit will have you touching, testing, and imagining as you explore the expansive galleries and journey through the history and future of transportation, space, and human evolution.
Chicago CityPASS includes:
Chicago C3 includes:
The Great Train Story at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry features a large-scale model train that simulates a 2,000-mile journey from Chicago to Seattle, showcasing detailed models of the cities, various industries, and landscapes such as the Rocky Mountains along the way. The exhibit includes more than 30 trains on 3,500 square feet of track.
A U-505 Submarine occupies a massive climate-controlled hall at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. Through interactive experiences, archival media, and nearly 200 artifacts, you can learn about the history of the German U-boat, its secret capture by the U.S. Navy in 1944, and the engineering behind its operation.
Highlights
01.
Special Exhibition: Experience the life and legacy of Anne Frank in an immersive, full-scale reconstruction of the annex where Anne and her family lived in hiding with four other Jewish people during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Step inside the meticulously recreated space and reflect on the world that shaped Anne's story. Through multimedia installations, photographs, film and sound elements and more than 130 original collection pieces from the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, Anne Frank The Exhibition, open through early 2027, offers an intimate portrait of Anne as a girl, a writer, and a symbol of resilience and strength. (This special exhibition is not included with Chicago C3® admission.)
02.
Spend time in Science Storms with a 40-foot tornado, 20-foot Tesla coil, and 30-foot avalanche disk.
03.
Walk through a real United 727; climb aboard the engine of the Empire State Express Steam Locomotive No. 999, the first machine to surpass 100 mph; and gaze in awe at historic aircraft flying above you in the Transportation Gallery.
Test your skills on the interactive navigation station at the U-505 Submarine exhibit at Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. Hands-on experiences such as this bring maritime history vividly to life.
Visitors learn about the science of flight, a variety of aviation careers, and the societal and cultural impacts of the airline industry in the Take Flight exhibit at Griffin Museum of Science and Industry.
Visit Griffin Museum of Science and Industry with CityPASS®
CityPASS® tickets offer multiple great ways to see Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. No matter which you choose, you'll save.
Advice for Visitors
Tips
Mondays and Tuesdays are generally the least crowded. To get the full experience, allow about four hours for your visit. If you're short on time, don't miss The Blue Paradox, U-505 and Science Storms.
Learn more on the CityPASS® Blog about what you'll see at Griffin Museum of Science and Industry.
Attraction Features
Amenities
Dining: One Small Snack, Museum Kitchen, Stan’s Donuts & Coffee
Shopping: Museum Store
Accessibility
The Museum and the Giant Dome Theater are fully accessible with elevators. A limited number of manual wheelchairs are available on a first-come, first-served basis in the entry hall. Visit Griffin MSI’s website for more information on services for guests with specific needs.
Parking/Transportation
Paid parking is available in the Museum's underground garage, and there are multiple public transit options, including bus and train. Get directions and more information on parking and transportation.
Offers & Upgrades
Motion Simulator Virtual Trip
$8 per virtual trip (Guests with CityPASS® tickets may choose this as their included special experience or add it on with purchase. C3® tickets require an additional purchase available when booking a Museum reservation or at onsite ticket kiosks.)
Minimum height: 42"
Coal Mine Tour or Giant Dome Theater Film
Adult, $12; child (3-11), $9. (Guests with CityPASS® tickets may choose one of these as their included special experience and may add on others with purchase. C3® tickets require an additional purchase available when booking a Museum reservation or at onsite ticket kiosks.)
Additional Experiences on Offer at Griffin MSI
• U-505 Submarine Onboard Tour, Adult $18, Child (3-11) $14
• VR Transporter, $12
• Interactive Flight Simulator, $20 per ride, good for two people
• Anne Frank The Exhibition, Adult $19, Child (3-18) $15 (This exhibition is included with CityPASS® tickets and available as an upgrade with C3® tickets.)
Contact Information & Hours
- Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
- 5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive
- Chicago, IL 60637
- Just minutes from downtown Chicago
GPS address: 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60637
- (773) 684-1414
- griffinmsi.org
- Daily: 9:30am-4pm
Hours may vary; check the schedule when planning your visit.
Closed: Thanksgiving (fourth Thursday of November) and Christmas Day (Dec. 25)
In the rotunda at Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, colorful projections dance across the floor and walls. It's the gateway to the Science Storms exhibit, which transforms complex weather and physics concepts into hands-on exploration and discovery.
Originally built as the Palace of Fine Arts for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, Chicago’s Griffin Museum of Science and Industry remains a Beaux-Arts landmark and notably the only major building from the 1893 World's Fair still standing on its original site.
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