Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry

My first stop after leaving Pittsburgh and driving to Chicago was the recently-renamed Griffin Museum of Science and Industry (I doubt anyone calls it by its full name) in the city's Hyde Park neighborhood.

Opened in 1933, I find it fascinating that the museum sits in the last building remaining from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, the infamous World's Fair where the first Ferris wheel debuted among other events. I'm sure the building's shell is pretty much the only thing that dates back to that period, but it's cool to think that this view across the reflecting pool is practically the same as it was in 1893. 

The museum's entrance is on the opposite side of the building from the previous photo, where it fronts a large lawn. To my surprise, upon entering two outbuildings, you descend a staircase and discover the museum's main lobby is housed entirely under the front lawn.

Also underground (and free to the public) is the 1934 Burlington Zephyr, the second streamliner train built in the US and the first to carry the Zephyr name. It came to the museum in 1960 and has been one of its most famous exhibits ever since.

As I would discover is a theme throughout the museum, the exhibit is spectacular. You can walk through each appropriately-furnished car, like the observation car seen here.

The projection screen on the left portrays passing scenery, which creates a cool effect when looking out the windows of the train cars.

The Burlington Zephyr became a cultural icon, with its nickname as the "Silver Streak" becoming the title of a film.

Even though I'm not a huge train fan, I love Streamline Moderne design, and the Zephyr is certainly something that defined the era.

In addition to being housed in a building used in the 1893 World's Fair, many of the museum's early exhibits came from the 1933-1934 Century of Progress World's Fair that was held elsewhere in Chicago. One example is this engraved mural that originally appeared in the Applied Science exhibit.

A long escalator takes you from the lobby to the main museum building. I only had three hours to spend, but this is a place where you can easily spend the whole day.

The transportation exhibit has been part of the museum for decades. It's the kind of thing that would have had me enraptured as a child. You can enter the Boeing 727 on the right after climbing the stairs to the balcony level.

Engine No. 999 broke a world record for speed in 1893, after which it was brought to the World's Columbian Exposition. It returned to the city for the Century of Progress Fair and the Chicago Railroad Fair in 1948-1949. Ten years later, it came to the museum.

A large miniature train layout is also included in the exhibit.

It's endlessly fascinating to any 6-year-old (and even this 20-year-old)!

The Museum's 1940 Mark 1A Spitfire is positioned as if it is attaching an enemy German Stuka (seen in the first picture of this exhibit). Incidentally, the Stuka is one of only two remaining in the world.

One of the museum's more legendary exhibits is the Coal Mine, a museum original from 1933. It requires an additional cost, and unfortunately I didn't have time to do it during my visit. From what I understand, you descend in an elevator and ride a mine car during the guided tour. It's a very early example of themed entertainment still in operation today! Next time.

You also have to stop and watch the baby chicks hatching from their eggs.

Something that caught my eye in the transportation exhibit is this old Chicago streetcar. I couldn't find how old it is, but it has to date from between 1882 and 1906. It's remarkable that you are still able to climb on it.

I love the weathered paint and wooden footrests, as you can tell this exhibit has been enjoyed by generations of museum visitors perhaps dating back to the 1930s.

Just when I thought the museum couldn't become any more amazing, I entered this room. The exhibit is called Yesterday's Main Street, and I later found out that it dates back to 1943. In a world where everything in a museum has to be interactive, Yesterday's Main Street is a complete change of pace. Along this cobblestone street (which is a struggle to navigate with a stroller as I witnessed), there is nothing but shallow storefronts with antiques that look like they have not been touched in decades. It reminded me of Knott's Berry Farm peek-ins. Hopefully this exhibit stays the same forever.

The exhibit includes a Nickelodeon, where one person was watching films by themself.

I love weird time capsules like this.

Looking out the back door of the museum, I was not able to see my car so I just hoped it hadn't been broken into yet.

Continuing the transportation theme, there is also a large exhibit of model ships on the lower level. 

On the lower level is this large Rube Goldberg contraption known as the Swiss Jollyball. It was created as an advertisement for the Swiss National Tourist Office by a British man using scraps from junkyards. It is quite a spectacle to watch.

Since 1949, Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle has been a beloved exhibit in the museum. It's in a somewhat secluded room by itself on the lower level, but it is yet another display that stuns simply with its level of detail.

The audio played in the room describes each room in detail, and it's fascinating that some of the decor used are ancient artifacts.

I'm sure this is another thing that would have captivated me as a child, just as it has done for thousands in the Chicago area.

Apparently the bible in the chapel is one of the world's smallest bibles, with every page having tiny print. The level of artistry it took to create the castle surpasses any definition of a doll house I previously knew.

Although the museum amazes at every turn, this may be its most amazing exhibit. The U-505 Submarine is a WWII U-boat that is the only German submarine in the US, having made its debut at the museum in 1954. The exhibit includes a theatrical lead-up to the submarine itself that does a great job of placing it in the proper context.

The goal was to capture a German U-boat to be studied without the awareness of Germany, and this Pepper's Ghost show portrays the research work that allowed it to be successfully located in June 1944.

It's quite a grand reveal when you turn the corner, especially when you realize that all this is completely underground! There's even dramatic music to set the tone. While you are able to tour the submarine interior, it's another thing I didn't have time to do on this visit.

In addition to being a tribute to those who worked to capture the U-505, the second half of the exhibit includes more information about how it arrived in Chicago. Following the war, retired admiral Daniel V. Gallery offered to donate it to the museum, but the Navy would not cover the cost of the move. It took some fundraising, but the sub was eventually towed all the way from New Hampshire through the St. Lawrence Seaway and four of the Great Lakes to its new home. After being exhibited outside for years, it moved to this new underground exhibit in 2004. Notably, it was designed as a National Historic Landmark in 1989.

I can't finish this post without talking about Mold-A-Rama, which is as much a part of the museum's culture as the U-505 submarine. Ever since 1967, museum visitors have used these machines to make injection molded plastic souvenirs. There are several machines throughout the museum, and there's even this temporary exhibit with a few additional machines.

I had to purchase a few molds, including this Eiffel Tower. The sign said this mold was originally commissioned for Expo 67 in Montreal.

Mold-A-Rama Sinclair dinosaurs were famously available at the 1964-65 World's Fair, including this one.

I love this colorful assortment of figurines. If you look closely on the middle shelf, you'll see a Seattle Monorail mold.

If you've never seen a Mold-A-Rama machine before, this clip gives a good idea how they work. The smell of the hot plastic is not to be forgotten.

I'm happy I visited the Museum of Science of Industry, as it's unlike any museum I've previously visited. There's plenty of history here despite being a science museum, and the experience honestly feels more reminiscent of a theme park than a museum. I've probably never experienced more "wow" moments in any other museum, that's for sure.

Walt Disney Birthplace

During my first visit to Chicago this past October, I was fortunate enough to go on a guided tour of the Walt Disney Birthplace on the outskirts of the city. Built by Walt Disney's father Elias in 1893, it was in the upper-story master bedroom of this house on December 5, 1901 that Walt Disney was born. Although the restoration of the home is not yet complete, it was an incredible experience to walk through the home and imagine Walt Disney living there as a young child. If you're not aware, the home was a private residence until 2013, and this Yesterland article gives good insight into the restoration process and the state the house was originally in.  Unfortunately, my camera battery had died the previous day, so I have to make do with phone photos for this post. But it's all good!

The part of the house with the cream-colored siding is the original portion, with the two additions in the rear added after the Disneys left the house. As a result, these parts are currently used for work and storage space.

Purchased by Brent Young and Dina Benadon in 2013, a decade of restoration work has brought the house back to its 1893 appearance, the year Roy O. Disney was born. The reconstructed porch fronts the street just as it did 100 years ago, replacing the aluminum siding that covered what was once a plain duplex.

The house sits along Tripp Avenue, but the city has rechristened the street as Honorary Disney Family Avenue.

The birthplace has started doing public tours on the last Saturday of every month, but this was a private tour with the National Amusement Park Historical Association.

Our tour guide said the house was likely a model for other homes built by Elias’ carpentry business. A few other Disney-built homes remain in the area and provided a model to replicate the Birthplace’s stair balustrade. The stairs are believed to still have their original wood. Elias also worked as a carpenter during the construction of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, which occurred shortly after he moved the family to Chicago.

Looking out the front door, you can see the front walk with engraved pavers from people who supported the birthplace's restoration.

Two of the bay windows have plaques with the names of Alice Davis and Bob Gurr on them, another example of the naming opportunities for people who donated to the house's restoration.

Completed efforts include reconstructing the front porch, reconfiguring doorways, and molding replica trim. As only one photograph exists from the time the Disneys lived in the house, the restoration required careful attention to scars left behind from previous renovations.

The next step in the restoration is refurnishing the interiors to evoke their appearance during Walt Disney’s childhood.

This is the only known photo of Walt Disney when he lived in the house. I do not know the history of when the front porch was added or removed, as it doesn't appear to be in this picture.

Plaques around the house allow people to take a self-guided tour during open days when the number of visitors exceeds the capacity to do guided tours.

Most of the rooms are unfurnished, but there is a guestbook to sign.

Here are Brent Young and Dina Benadon who purchased the house in 2013. I used to listen to Brent on the Season Pass Podcast, and I remember him talking about the restoration. Who knows how long this house would have remained a private residence if they had not purchased it!

Future plans for this room include a scrim placed over the former window frame on the right that is now blocked by a later addition to the house, depicting the former backyard and street with atmospheric noises.

One of the first impressions upon entering the house is the small size of the original floorplan. Ignoring the additions that were tacked on to the house later, this picture was taken at the rear wall of the original floorplan and essentially captures the entire ground floor.

Here's Walt's tiny bedroom on the second floor! The Disneys moved to Marceline, Missouri in 1906 before Walt's fifth birthday, so he was no more than four years old when he lived in this house.

As the stairs are original, it is pretty cool to stand at the top and imagine Walt Disney running up as a toddler to his bedroom.

The plaque says that we are "reasonably sure" that Walt was born in the master bedroom, and that's the case with most of the historical info--it's largely guesswork.

The master bedroom is by far the largest room in the house.

The candle in the window is lit annually by the winner of an art contest at neighboring Nixon Elementary School during a caroling event on Walt Disney’s birthday.

This trapdoor has an interesting backstory, as explained by the plaque. The hatch's purpose was unknown until Rebecca Cline, archivist at the Walt Disney Archives, came forward with a box that is known to have once contained Disney family documents. The box would have fit in the compartment, making it likely that the Disney family kept their valuables in a box underneath their bed.

With the aid of a $25,000 grant from the Walt Disney Company, the Birthplace was able to complete additional projects, including the front door. Animatronic firm Garner Holt Productions was contracted to build a door identical to the one in the picture of Walt and Ruth on the front porch, with the transom featuring the Disney family crest in stained glass. Elias could only wish to afford a touch as stylish as this.

This unrestored cubby underneath the stairs is likely where the original toilet was located.

Here's the background on Walt Disney's toilet!

Hope you enjoyed this visit to the Walt Disney Birthplace! I was not expecting it to be so cool. More posts on some of the other places I visited in Chicago will come later.