Chicago

Museums and cultural venues in Chicago reflect the peculiar history of a city that, since the late 19th century, evolved progressively from a “materialistic” metropolis, devoted primarily to commerce, into one of the most cosmopolitan and culturally exciting urban areas in the United States. Many of Chicago’s museums, cultural venues, and art schools are located in two areas, both bordering the Lake Michigan waterfront. One extends, from north to south, from Lincoln Park to Millenium Park in Central Chicago, while the other comprises the Hyde Park neighborhood on the city’s South Side. The many cultural institutions of Chicago – including the famous Chicago Art Institute, the second-largest museum of art in the US – deliver collectively an outstanding program of events related to art, design, architecture, and science, including major exhibitions, and world-renowned festivals such as the Chicago Architecture Biennial.