Travel from ancient civilizations through modern times to view the remnants of bygone cultures and traditions at The Field Museum. Get the inside story on Sue, the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaur skeleton, or view preserved man-eating lions and other animals. For a truly subterranean experience, check out the Underground Adventure, an exhibit dedicated to soil and how it sustains life, or just relax at one of several places to eat. Admission to the museum is free for members, teachers, and military personnel. Moreover, Chicago residents receive a discount.

Modeling after settlement houses in London, Jane Addams and Ellen Gates Starr built their "Hull House" in 1889 in what was then a poor, immigrant district of Chicago. Countless immigrants passed through its doors, learning English, citizenship, music, dance, art, and a host of other skills, both for fun and practical reasons. Benny Goodman first picked up a clarinet there, and Clarence Darrow, another social reformer, often gave lectures. Today, Hull House is owned by the University of Illinois at Chicago and is open as a museum. Pass by late at night, and you may spot the famous "Hull House Baby" peering at you from the third floor. Legend has it that the baby's father was a devil. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged.

The Chicago History Museum, which is situated in Lincoln Park, originally housed some amazing relics, including Abraham Lincoln's final draft of the Emancipation Proclamation, which was destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire. The museum still has an extraordinary collection that chronicles the history of the Windy City today. Find out more about Chicago's colorful past in the museum's permanent collection, Chicago: Crossroads of America, which includes information on the city's diverse neighborhoods, entertainment, and business. The museum is guaranteed to inform and amuse everyone with its varied collection of historical relics, which includes the first elevated railway car in the city and Lincoln's deathbed.

At the National Museum of Mexican Art, explore the vibrant and varied aspects of Mexican heritage through a range of exhibitions. Pre-Cuauhtémoc antiquities, modern painting and sculpture, photography, prints and drawings, and popular art are the main themes of the permanent collection. Incredible compositions by renowned and up-and-coming musicians, writers, and artists highlight Latin America and its strong sense of community. The museum's yearly "Day of the Dead" show, which takes place in October, is well-known and brings a sizable throng to the city.

The historic neighborhood of Andersonville, known for its Swedish roots, houses the Swedish American Museum, where you, along with your family and kids in particular, can swing by on a day off and have an amazing time. Through historical displays, artwork, and artifact collections that date back to the huge immigration of Swedes to Chicago in the 19th century, this museum weaves the legacy of two great nations. Take your kids to the top level, where they may engage and play; they'll like it and adore it. Along with conference and workshop spaces, the center's 24,000 square feet also feature a Swedish library. Enquire in advance on the official website for concerts, educational activities, seminars, and films that are offered all year round.