As I begin this next year of my life, I sit thinking about the last several birthdays I've celebrated with friends and family. While I didn't do much on my actual birthday besides watch KU lose in Manhattan, KS for the first time in my lifetime...I did have a wonderful birthday celebration over the past month - visits with Blair and the Reddigs; packages coming from Kansas, Ohio, and Iowa; the flowers that technically came from both the east and west coasts; and all the e-mails the phone calls wishing me a happy day. Thank you to everyone! While my family and friends don't live right down the street - I know that I'm still close with all of them and well, that's something I can always hold on to when I'm feeling lonely.
This weekend, I finally got started on my new year's resolution list. I planned that my first Chicago site would be the Chicago History Museum. It seemed like a good starting place. My plans were almost scratched due to the admission price ($14)...which seemed steep for a general museum. However, I found out that you can check-out passes at the public library - so that's just what I did! Technically, another adult and 2 children could have come along with me for free, but when the museum employee asked me, "How many are with you?" - I just said, "Oh, it's just me!" I checked my coat, took my audio tour iPod, and headed off to learned how this Windy City came to be.
This museum certainly has some great exhibits - a Lincoln gallery brought back memories of the family trip to D.C. and our tour of Ford's Theatre. The exhibits with the founding "Checaugo" and the establishment of Fort Dearborn helped me figure out that the reason for all the crazy diagonal streets was that they were old Indian trails that the city planners kept in place as the grid-system was being laid out. Learning how this 'Second City' is really second to none ibecause it is the birthplace of so many things that we often take for granted...the retail department stores like Marshal Field, Macy's, Sears, Crate and Barrel; and other companies like Schwinn bicycles and the Playboy Bunny. Sadly, one of these things that its start in Chicago is the Pill - which was not included on the audio tour. Interesting...
Learning more about the Great Fire, the Haymarket riots, Race riots - brought back a lot of Mr. Ortmann's U.S. history class discussions. I find it interesting that the two cities I've live in have dealt with such turmoil and have both burned to the ground, but rose from the ashes. Of course, my favorite area was the Jazz section - even though it was pretty small in comparison to the rest of the exhibits. And yes, there was the Chicago's sports exhibits - including a pair of Michael Jordan's shoes. I only wish there was some interactive exhibit were you leaned the 'Super Bowl Shuffle'.
Overall, a interesting visit for the historian in me. I feel that with all these outings I'll be making - I should probably have some sort of rating.
Taking time, price, accessibility, and overall enjoyment into account, on a scale of 1-5. 1 being don't waste your time and 5 being a must see in Chicago.
Chicago History Museum: 4
Until next time...
-mitzi
2 comments:
Chicago is the home of the department store and the playboy bunny...but the only regret is that it's the home of the pill? Hmmm...so Mitzi's a fan of the playboy bunny?
First comment! I rate a 5! :)
Can you check out passes for other places? Wow...this is fantastic. More stuff to do for free when we come to Chicago!
Man! That turnaround time is unbelievable. I had no idea you would post so quickly.
Although I think it would be great to have a rating for your list. That way we know what to not spend money on. I also think you should have a list of restaurants that Chicago is known for, or pizza joints and then you can rate those as well. But, maybe that is for next year's resolutions....
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