Field Museum’s 2012 Discount Days Are Numbered – Three

On November 6 I took advantage of one of the Field Museum’s discount days for Illinois residents which allowed me – with the simple flash of my Illinois driver’s license – free basic admission (a $15 value).  I opted out of the special exhibits that cost an additional fee, brought my own water, and ate a sandwich only (no Extra Value Meal for me) at the McDonald’s inside the Field so the total cost of my day including the Red Line to and fro was under $10.

There are three more discount days this month – November 15, 26, and 29 – so you, fellow Illinois resident, too, can have a fun and inexpensive outing.  These are also the final discount days of the year so if you don’t want to miss some great exhibitions that are closing soon these are your last opportunities to do so on the cheap.

I especially enjoyed Nature’s Toolbox: Biodiversity, Art, and Invention, which closes December 2.  Many of the exhibits in this exhibition would not be out of place in a modern or contemporary art museum, they were that beautiful and ingenious.  The pieces highlighted the conservation and preservation of nature while also being visually striking.  There were a number of different media in use including video, photography, glass, tree branches, x-rays, stainless steel, and sugar.  Since I didn’t pay the usual $15 general admission, this exhibition alone would have been worth the trip to the Field Museum for me.  

Closing next, on January 1, 2013, is Malaria: blood, sweat, and tears.  I thought this photographic exhibition would just be depressing but it was surprisingly uplifting.  In addition, the photos were stunning and the information about the disease is fascinating.  For example, I learned that female mosquitos, the ones responsible for spreading malaria, are more attracted to pregnant women than anyone else; pregnant women are also the most susceptible to the disease.

Extreme Mammals closes on January 6, 2013, and Maharaja: The Splendor of India’s Royal Courts closes on February 3, 2013.  Because I was bargain museuming I did not see these exhibitions, which costs an additional $7 each.  What I did not know on the 6th is that as a Chicago resident I could have gotten some sort of discount (between $2 and $4.50) on the entrance fees.  Knowing that, a return to see Maharaja: The Splendor of India’s Royal Courts on one of the three remaining discount days may be in order for me.

Two exhibitions don’t end until June 2013, Images of the Afterlife and Fashion and the Field Museum Collection: Maria Pinto.  I didn’t get a chance to see Images of the Afterlife but I enjoyed the fashion exhibition.  The clothing Maria Pinto designed is gorgeous and it’s interesting to see the items from the museum’s collection she chose to  accompany her work.

Of course there are the numerous permanent exhibitions that can be seen at any time.  I descended into an Egyptian tomb, I saw how people around the world are working to conserve the Earth’s environment, I learned about the indigenous peoples of the Americas, and I saw an ancient Egyptian bust that looked eerily like Michael Jackson late in life.

The Field Museum is a great place to visit, and even greater when the $15 entrance fee is waived.  If you can, get to the Field on November 15, 26, or 29.