Museum of Science and Industry

The Museum of Science and Industry (MSI) is housed in the only remaining building from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, the former Palace of Fine Arts. Designed by architect Charles B. Atwood, the structure was originally meant to be temporary like the rest of the 'White City,' but its brick and plaster construction allowed it to survive while others perished. Following the fair, it briefly housed the Field Columbian Museum before falling into disrepair in the early 20th century. In 1926, Julius Rosenwald, the president of Sears, Roebuck and Company, championed the idea of creating an interactive science museum inspired by his visit to the Deutsches Museum in Munich. Rosenwald contributed over 5 million dollars to the project, insisting that the museum focus on industrial progress and hands-on learning rather than static displays. The museum officially opened its doors in stages starting in 1933 during the Century of Progress Exposition. Over the decades, MSI has expanded its collection to include massive, one-of-a-kind artifacts. It successfully acquired the U-505, a captured German submarine from WWII, in 1954, and has since integrated iconic exhibits like the Pioneer Zephyr train and a working replica of a coal mine. Today, it stands as one of the largest and most visited science museums in the Western Hemisphere, continuing Rosenwald's legacy of sparking curiosity through immersive education.