Free Days in October 2009 at Field Museum

In October 2009, the Field Museum has both Target Free Second Mondays (October 12) as well as free days on October 7 and 8. The Field Museum educates and entertains visitors with exhibits about nature and culture, prehistoric to present. The Field Museum was founded to house the biological and anthropological collections assembled for the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893. These objects form the core of the Museum’s collections which have grown through world-wide expeditions, exchange, purchase, and gifts to more than twenty million specimens. The collections provide the foundation of the Museum’s exhibition, research and education programs.

One if its most popular attractions is Sue, the world’s largest and most complete T. rex dinosaur skeleton. Museum docents freely answer questions and share their in-depth knowledge, facts and figures on weekends from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. — Free with Museum Admission.

As an educational institution the Field Museum offers multiple opportunities for both informal and more structured public learning. Exhibits remain the primary means of informal education, but throughout its history the Museum has supplemented this approach with innovative educational programs. The Harris Loan Program, for example, begun in 1912, provides educational outreach to children, bringing artifacts, specimens, audiovisual materials, and activity kits to Chicago area schools. The Department of Education, begun in 1922, offers a changing program of classes, lectures, field trips, museum overnights and special events for families, adults and children. Professional symposia and lectures, such as the annual A. Watson Armour III Spring Symposium, presents the latest scientific results to the international scientific community as well as the public at large.

Other regularly scheduled FREE Basic Admission Days remaining in 2009:

October: 7th, 8th
November: 11th, 12th, 18th, 19th
December: 2nd, 3rd, 9th, 10th