You can keep your Louvres and just leave me the Art Institute of Chicago, thank you very much. This is a classic museum with one of the finest collections of art the world has ever seen. The fact... More

You can keep your Louvres and just leave me the Art Institute of Chicago, thank you very much. This is a classic museum with one of the finest collections of art the world has ever seen. The fact it is nestled in my home town just adds to my love for this place. The first thing you will see when you walk to the front entrance of this gorgeous building are the famous lions guarding the entrance. At various times of the year these lions might have hats on their head. Last year they had White Sox hats on their heads. This is as it should be, as far as I am concerned. Inside you will find an endless supply of gorgeous works of art to look at. Even as a kid I loved this place because I could always find the paintings with the blood in them, which is always entertaining for a young boy. Of course, you will also need to stop and stare at the gorgeous stained glass windows. You may have seen them during the movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" during their visit there. If you have a loved one, sneaking a kiss in front of the stained glass is not a bad idea. It's a great bit of culture for the city and a great place to visit the next time you are in town.
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One of the great parts of the Art Institute is that it is free to the public. They want you to pay a small donation if you can, but it could even be a penny. They have art shows here as well, but... More

One of the great parts of the Art Institute is that it is free to the public. They want you to pay a small donation if you can, but it could even be a penny. They have art shows here as well, but that will end up costing you. I had a bad experience showing up here when there was a field trip and the children were running around screaming. Call ahead first and ask what days are the best for quietly pacing the museum
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Going to the Art Institute is like going shopping--you need to go frequently so you don't miss anything and, at the same time, don't get burned out because of an all-day session. The curators do... More

Going to the Art Institute is like going shopping--you need to go frequently so you don't miss anything and, at the same time, don't get burned out because of an all-day session. The curators do lovely work in the organization and flow of the works. I particularly like the few Georgia O'Keefe pieces--they are stunning and highly recommended! The gift shop is also a good place to pick up atypical and often unique presents.
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This is an awesome art museum. Its a great place to visit for toursits and Chicago residents as well. The exhibits are great. The place is really really ncie with nice architectures, drawings,... More

This is an awesome art museum. Its a great place to visit for toursits and Chicago residents as well. The exhibits are great. The place is really really ncie with nice architectures, drawings, and sculptures. There's always something new to look at when I visit here. You can seriously spend an entire day here..that's how amazing this place is! Plus, there's all sorts of discounts available at tourists spots.
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One of the best art museums in the world is located right here in our town. The two famous lion statues greet you as you pass thru the grand entrance. Each time I visit here my mouth gapes open and... More

One of the best art museums in the world is located right here in our town. The two famous lion statues greet you as you pass thru the grand entrance. Each time I visit here my mouth gapes open and I am just blown away by this place. Some of the most well known artists and sculptures' works are displayed here year-round. They also have special exhibits that usually last a month or so of other giants in the art world that pass thru this historic and celebrated museum. It is free on Tues. otherwise it is $12 for adults. If you have not been here yet you are really missing. This is a must see!
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You could spend a week here and still not see all there is to see! Because of that I felt really rushed when I went - only had one day and didn't want to miss anything! I would really like to go... More

You could spend a week here and still not see all there is to see! Because of that I felt really rushed when I went - only had one day and didn't want to miss anything! I would really like to go again and just pick what I really want to see, so that I can browse and take my time. I live close enough that I could go a few times instead of packing it all into one day. This is a great place to visit!
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I have always loved visiting this wonderful place. It's one of the top art museums in the world filled with priceless paintings, sculptures and collections that will make your eyes bug out. The... More

I have always loved visiting this wonderful place. It's one of the top art museums in the world filled with priceless paintings, sculptures and collections that will make your eyes bug out. The list of famous painters and sculptures that's work graces this Chicago landmark is too long to mention. A must stop when visiting the city. Inspiring and awesome.
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This place is, first of all, absolutely HUGE!!!! It is hard to find where to start. If I were to go here again I would find out when the tours are, and see some of those. It is an absolutely gorgeas... More

This place is, first of all, absolutely HUGE!!!! It is hard to find where to start. If I were to go here again I would find out when the tours are, and see some of those. It is an absolutely gorgeas building, with great work. My advice is go early on a Tuesday (it's free on that day) then, when they close at 4:30, you can hightail it to the Museum of Contemporary Art for another 4 hours (That's long enough to see the whole MCA)
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The Art Institute of Chicago is arguably the best art museum in the United States; it is certainly in the top five. The vast collection covers an incredible span of time and space in art. Where... More

The Art Institute of Chicago is arguably the best art museum in the United States; it is certainly in the top five. The vast collection covers an incredible span of time and space in art. Where else will you see several Monets in the same room, on the same wall, so you can see how a particular idea and theme developed in his work? This is repeated again with influential artist after artist. Remember in Ferris Bueller's Day Off how Cameron just stopped and stared, blown away by the Surrat? That's what the whole museum is like. Do your homework ahead of time so you know what you can't miss, and then take your time exploring the exhibits.
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This place really is a Chicago landmark, and they are continuously offering new and better options for enjoying art. You can brush up on all you need to know about the classics like Van Gogh and... More

This place really is a Chicago landmark, and they are continuously offering new and better options for enjoying art. You can brush up on all you need to know about the classics like Van Gogh and Renoir. Or you can walk through ancient lands, visit modern installations, or even get to view a visiting sculpture or art show. Check them out in the paper or online and see what they're showing off now!
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