Hyde Park in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Museum of Science and Industry

Charles B. Atwood, architect; 1891-93

— Chicago Landmark —

Museum of Science and Industry Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Sean Flynn, December 27, 2023

1. Museum of Science and Industry Marker

Inscription. Originally built as the Palace of Fine Arts for the World's Columbian Exposition, this plaster-clad structure later became the first home of the Field Museum of Natural History. After the museum left in the 1920s, the decayed building was reconstructed of stone for the Museum of Science and Industry. The exterior is an exact copy of the original Beaux-Arts style design, but its interior was remodeled in 1929-33 in the Art Moderne style, under the direction of architect Alfred Shaw.

Designated on November 1, 1995
Richard M. Daley, Mayor

Erected 1995 by Commission on Chicago Landmarks; City of Chicago.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Notable Events • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the Illinois, Chicago Landmarks Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1891.

Location. 41° 47.462′ N, 87° 34.965′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Hyde Park. Marker can be reached from 57th Drive near DuSable Lake Shore Drive (U.S. 41). The marker is to the left of the exterior steps that lead up to the (usually closed) north exterior entrance of the Museum of Science and Industry. It is accessible by foot from the primary pedestrian entrance into the museum, which is about 100 feet north of this marker. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5700 South DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Chicago IL 60637, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Norway Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Masaryk Memorial Monument (approx. half a mile away); John Dewey (approx. 0.6 miles away); Harold Washington (approx. 0.6 miles away); Charles E. Merriam Center for Public Administration (approx. 0.6 miles away); Enrico and Laura Fermi (approx. ¾ mile away); Obama Kissing Rock (approx. ¾ mile away); Site of the First Self-sustaining Controlled Nuclear Chain Reaction (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

Regarding Museum of Science and Industry. Of the 200 buildings that covered the 1893 Columbian Exposition's 690 acres, what was originally the Palace of Fine Arts is the only one left standing—although it was completely rebuilt in the 1930s out of more permanent materials. The only other building related to the 1893 fair still standing is the Art Institute of Chicago downtown, which was partially funded by the Exposition for use as an auxiliary building during the event before becoming the Art Institute's new permanent home.

Also see . . . Museum History. From the the Museum of Science and Industry website (Submitted on January 1, 2024, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Museum of Science and Industry image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Sean Flynn, December 27, 2023

2. Museum of Science and Industry

The building's Chicago Landmark plaque is the small square marker to the left of the columned entrance into the museum.

Photographed By Sean Flynn, December 27, 2023

3. Museum of Science and Industry Marker

Photographed By Sean Flynn, December 27, 2023

4. Museum of Science and Industry Marker

East-facing view

Photographed By Sean Flynn, December 27, 2023

5. Museum of Science and Industry

The interior of the museum centers around the dome, which is decorated for the Christmas season in this photo.

"Palace of Fine Arts Chicago World's Fair" image. Click for full size.

Courtesy of Denver Public Library's W.H. Jackson folio, 1893

6. "Palace of Fine Arts Chicago World's Fair"

An 1893 photo of the museum's south entrance (opposite the side of the historical marker) while it served as the Palace of Fine Arts at the World's Columbian Exposition.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 3, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 1, 2024, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 49 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on January 1, 2024, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.