Members Nights 2019

Members see the museum free every time and get early, exclusive access to new exhibitions. Plus, you&rsquo;ll save ten percent on all purchases in Museum restaurants and stores. Become a member today.

Experience more as a member

Explore the Museum

The Field Museum

View all events

Upcoming at the Museum and in our community

17072017 Pamanang Pinoy: A Retrospective

Join us for an event

Join us for a screening of <a href="https://www.wttw.com/chicago-stories?utm_source=field&amp;utm_medium=ros&amp;utm_campaign=cs26">WTTW’s The World’s Fair of 1893</a>. Then, explore the museum to find pieces from the World’s Fair on display today! Plus, enter a draw for your chance to receive a 1 year complimentary WTTW membership at the WTTW Passport level.&nbsp;

Official Partner

WTTW

WTTW First Wednesday

Come beat the mid-week blues with WTTW First Wednesdays

WTTW First Wednesdays

The Field Museum and WTTW are partnering to present WTTW First Wednesdays! With free general admission for Illinois Residents on the first Wednesday of every month, you can spend your day exploring Earth's 4.5 billion years of history. Hear from scientists and experts, meet Máximo the Titanosaur, the largest creature to ever roam Earth, step into the world of SUE the T. rex, explore rich histories of ancient civilizations, and more!&nbsp;

Image: Pullman National Monument &amp; State Historic Park, Chicago, IL - Photo by Scott Shigley, courtesy Site Design Group
<h3>What Can We Learn from the Power of Solidarity?</h3>
This session explores a pivotal moment in African American, Filipino American, and Mexican American history that demonstrates the power of workers coming together to challenge unfair systems. Educators will examine how Filipino and African American workers built alliances in response to efforts to undermine the Pullman Porters’ Union, and how these connections contributed to broader movements for change.
<h4>Participants will</h4>
<ul>
<li>Examine how Filipino and African American workers worked together to address shared challenges.</li>
<li>Explore how collective action can create change.</li>
<li>Analyze primary and secondary sources through an inquiry-based approach.</li>
<li>Develop strategies for incorporating student questions and reflection into classroom inquiry.</li>
<li>Explore opportunities for experiential learning at Pullman National Historical Park.</li>
</ul>
Educators who complete the workshop series will receive 6 hours of Illinois Professional Development Credit (CPDUs).
This workshop will take place at <a href="https://www.nationalparks.org/explore/parks/pullman-national-monument">Pullman National Historic Site</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/610+E+111th+St,+Chicago?entry=gmail&amp;source=g" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.google.com/maps/search/610%2BE%2B111th%2BSt,%2BChicago?entry%3Dgmail%26source%3Dg&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1791045905265000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0xdFNzX7uLABQ3cYAhNAe9">610 E 111th St, Chicago</a>.&nbsp;
Questions? Contact Ria Pretekin,&nbsp;<a href="mailto:rpretekin@fieldmuseum.org">rpretekin@fieldmuseum.org</a>&nbsp;

Field Museum Connections: AANHPI Stories &amp; the TEAACH Act programming is made possible with the generous support of the Cyrus Tang Foundation.

Acknowledgments

Cyrus Tang Foundation

Experiential Learning with the Field Museum at the Pullman National Historical Park

Marshallese Storytelling in the Classroom 

Stories in Motion: Early Childhood, Identity, Movement, and Making

Join us in person at the Field Museum for a professional learning experience and workshop!

Professional Development for Educators

Thursday, November 5

Tickets

Come meet Jeanerpeton mazonensis, a newly named 309 million year old amphibian ancestor from the famous Mazon Creek fossil beds in Illinois. Visitors will also meet Cam So, PhD, a Field Museum Postdoctoral Research Fellow who will discuss this fossil's fascinating history and uncover what Jeanerpeton can tell us about the origins of modern amphibians.

Meet Jeanerpeton: The Amphibian Ancestor from Illinois

Creepy Tales From the Fungal Kingdom

Meet a Scientist: Spooky Spider Webs

Meet a Scientist: Neotropical Bats

Observational Drawing Using Unusual Specimens

Threads Tell Stories: How Archaeologists Read Andean Textiles

See the latest science firsthand in the Grainger Science Hub.

Meet a Scientist

Young visitors and a museum educator examine a teaching specimen together in the Grainger Science Hub

Meet a Scientist in the Grainger Science Hub

Scientists, researchers, and collections managers are behind the scenes every day, uncovering new information and taking care of our collection.

During Meet a Scientist, you can find them in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fieldmuseum.org/exhibition/halls-and-galleries/grainger-science-hub">Grainger&nbsp;Science Hub</a>. They'll discuss their work and share real items from the museum’s collection of nearly 40 million objects. From collections care to field work, and dinosaurs to ecology, there’s a world of science to explore.

Visit the&nbsp;Science Hub&nbsp;on select weekdays for an up-close look at what our researchers do every day.

Escape the chill and unwind at the cozy Member Holiday Lounge! 

Members’ Holiday Lounge

Escape the chill and unwind at the cozy Member Holiday Lounge!

Come learn about some of the most insidious fungi that infect or manipulate diverse hosts in fascinating, mind-bending ways! While many fungi are beneficial, this session will highlight murderous mushrooms as an enhancement to the Field's Underground MISadventure: Zombie Fungus experience. See why fungi are way more fascinating, complex, and diverse than you thought!
Presenters include Matt Nelsen, Senior Research Scientist, and Wyatt Gaswick, Assistant Collections Manager.

Staff engaging with visitors inspires wonder and curiosity.

Join the Field Museum for&nbsp;Talk Story: Pacific and Filipino Voices in the Museum, a conversation with Field Museum staff and Filipino American community partners about the importance of collaboration, shared knowledge, and community voices in museum work.&nbsp;
Drawing from partnerships connected to the Museum’s Pacific and Filipino collections, panelists will explore what collaboration looks like in practice—from collections care and interpretation to education and community engagement—and how these relationships can create new opportunities for people to connect with their histories and heritage.
The conversation will also reflect on lessons learned, unexpected discoveries, and how museums can continue building trust and creating meaningful ways for communities to engage with collections.
This event will take place in Ward Hall on the lower level and is part of our celebration of <a href="https://www.fieldmuseum.org/activity/filipino-american-history-month">Filipino American Heritage Month</a>.

Talk Story: Pacific and Filipino Voices in the Museum

Sigamos Adelante: Community and Career Fair

Cultural Programming

 How can museums build meaningful relationships with the communities connected to their collections?

<img src="https://www.datocms-assets.com/44232/1790366791-talkstory.webp">

Top, l-r, Ria Pretekin, Christopher Philip, RJ Silva; bottom, l-r, Jamie Kelly, Cecilia L. Salvatore

<h3>Panelists include</h3>

Ria Pretekin (Moderator), Cyrus Tang Learning Resources Educator Ria Pretekin (she/her/siya) is a Filipina American, born and raised in Los Angeles currently living in Chicago with her husband, two children, parents, and goldendoodle. She is an educator, equity coach, facilitator, speaker and has spent much of her career as a school counselor in public high schools from Santa Ana, CA to Chicago, IL. In her last role at the University of Chicago, Ria provided coaching and professional development to educators to help build the capacity of school leaders to understand adolescent development as it relates to improving postsecondary outcomes. Ria currently serves as a Museum Educator at the Field Museum, co-creating learning experiences and learning resources with AANHPI communities to equip educators to meet the TEAACH (Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History) Act. Ria earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and social behavior from the University of California, Irvine, and earned a master’s degree in counseling psychology from the University of Southern California.&nbsp;

Jamie Kelly, Collections Manager, African Archaeology; and the Ethnography and Archaeology of Europe; the Middle East; South, Central, and East Asia; and Mainland and Island Southeast Asia As part of a museum collections and curation team, Jamie’s role is not only to help care for the roughly 1.5 million cultural items at the museum, but also to connect descendant communities, researchers, educators, and the general public to these collections through community partnerships, behind-the-scenes visits and tours, community-driven programs, museum education initiatives, public events, loans, and exhibitions. Since 2011, he has been part of a team at the Museum engaging and working with Filipino-American and Filipino partners to help in the care of the roughly 13,000 cultural items that make up the Philippine collections at the Field Museum. During this time, community partners and museum staff have hosted community-driven programs centered around the collections, digitized and photographed aspects of the collection, hosted Indigenous visitors and researchers from the Philippines, and added contemporary pieces to the collection through donations and purchases with community guidance. Between 2013 and 2024, he served as Head of the Anthropology Collections.&nbsp;

Christopher Philipp, Collections Manager, African Ethnography and the Ethnography and Archaeology of Middle America, South America, and the Pacific Christopher Philipp works as a collections manager in the Gantz Family Collections Center at the Field Museum.&nbsp; He is responsible for assisting with the care of and providing access to the Anthropology collections, including those originating from the continent of Africa (historic and contemporary cultures), the Pacific Islands, and Latin America (Meso, Central, and South America).

Cecilia L. Salvatore, C.A., MLS, PhD Cecilia Lizama Salvatore is an archivist/educator who advances and advocates for co-curation of museum collections. She was professor and coordinator of the Archives and Cultural Heritage Program at Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois for 17 years. &nbsp;She is a Co-PI in a Mellon Foundation grant that supports students and communities in their community archives. Professor Salvatore grew up on the island of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands in the Western Pacific. She has collaborated with the Field Museum on the museum's Pacific Islands collection.

RJ Silva, CIRCA Pintig Artistic Director RJ is the Artistic Director of CIRCA Pintig, Chicago's Filipino theatre and community arts organization. A playwright, director, producer, and community arts leader, RJ has extensive experience using storytelling, performance, and collaborative arts practices to amplify Filipino American voices and histories. Through his leadership, CIRCA Pintig launched the Chicago Filipino American Theatre Festival and continues to create original works that center community narratives, cultural memory, and belonging. RJ Silva was born and raised in Manila, and moved to America when he was thirteen, and is a graduate at Loyola University Chicago’s Department of Fine and Performing Arts. He and husband Adam founded Nova Entertainment, a production company that was created from the success of their popular podcast “Boys Love Boys Love.”

This event takes place in Ward Hall on the lower level and is included with general admission.

T. rex Teeth and Tails explores what made Tyrannosaurus rex one of the most remarkable dinosaurs to ever roam the Earth. Through interactive activities and museum exploration, Itty Bitty Explorers will discover how T. rex used its powerful teeth and strong tail to eat, balance, move, and survive.

Itty Bitty Explorers: T. rex Teeth & Tails

Itty Bitty Explorers: Lost City Explorers

Itty Bitty Explorers: T. rex Teeth & Tails 

Itty Bitty Explorers: Fossil Finder

Explore the wonders of the museum through workshops for ages 3-5!

Itty Bitty Explorers

Sold Out

<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">For more information, please see the <a href="https://www.datocms-assets.com/44232/1787322427-2026-27-playlab-programs-policies-faqs.pdf">PlayLab Programs FAQs</a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">. Still have questions? Contact the PlayLab team at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:playlabevents@fieldmuseum.org" style="letter-spacing: 0px;">playlabevents@fieldmuseum.org</a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">.

Dr Lieberman will sign copies of his book, Fed Up, following the lecture.&nbsp;

How many times a day do you ask the question, “What should I eat?” Are you confused and overwhelmed by the thousands of factory-made foods supermarkets sell? Or the abundance of diets (paleo, Mediterranean, low-fat, low-carb, low-calorie, intermittent fasting, vegan, vegetarian, carnivore) claimed to optimize your health and manage your weight?&nbsp;
In this talk and his new book, Fed Up, best-selling author and Harvard professor Daniel Lieberman tackles this confusion. Drawing on evolutionary biology, anthropology, physiology, and medical science, he explores how our ancestors never evolved to choose their food to lose weight or live to 100. Instead, we evolved to eat almost anything in order to survive.&nbsp;
By telling the fascinating story of diets from seven million years ago to the present and using myth-busting science to evaluate today’s most popular diets, Lieberman explains what everyone needs to know to make wiser, kinder choices about what to eat. This talk will help you understand why no diet is flawless, though some are better than others.
This event will be presented in-person at the Field Museum and live-streamed to pre-registered guests. Please fill out the registration form below to reserve your spot. Only pre-registered guests receive free basic admission to the Field Museum.&nbsp;

Fed Up: What Evolution Reveals about Food, Diet, Health, and Eating Well 

Join us for author events and discussions!

Author Talk and Book Signing

Presented in partnership with

<h3 dir="ltr">About the Author</h3>

Daniel Lieberman is the Edwin M Lerner II Professor of Biological Science, founding Chair of Harvard’s Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, and a member of The Leakey Foundation’s Scientific Executive Committee. He studies and teaches how and why the human body is the way it is, and the relevance of human evolution to contemporary health. He is best known for his research on the evolution and biology of long-distance running (including barefoot running) and the evolution of the highly unusual human head. He has published more than 200 peer-reviewed papers and four books: Fed Up:&nbsp; What Evolution Reveals about Food, Diet, Health, and Eating Well (Knopf, 2026), Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do is Healthy and Rewarding (Pantheon, 2021), The Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health and Disease (Pantheon, 2013), and The Evolution of the Human Head (Harvard University Press, 2011). He is an avid runner and loves to cook.&nbsp;

*The Nocturnal Garden Walk is a one-hour, limited-capacity tour of the Rice Native Gardens to learn about bats, raccoons, opossums, and other nocturnal residents. Gain early access to Boo with SUE and explore the gardens with a scientist! In the event of inclement weather, enjoy a tour of the museum's behind-the-scenes mammal collections instead.

Trick-or-treat yourself to a night at the Field Museum! This after hours Halloween party will be a scream for all ages. Whether you're a ghost, ghoul, or guest, you'll have the opportunity to trick or treat with SUE and our team of scientists, getting up close and personal with spooky specimens from the museum's collections along the way! Then, enter the realm of nocturnal creatures and take on our special walkthrough attraction, Dioramas in the Dark. Your senses will be put to the test in a series of challenges and obstacles as the lights go out and the “Dead Zoo” comes to life!
Costumes encouraged!
For the safety of all guests, please do not wear costumes that cover your face or include prop weapons of any kind.
Guests are encouraged to register in advance. All sales are final. Access to all museum exhibitions, including the Crown Family PlayLab, Underground MisAdventure: Zombie Fungus!, Pokemon Fossil Museum, and After the Age of Dinosaurs, is included with admission. Get your tickets for Boo with SUE below!
Parking for Boo with SUE can now be purchased in advance directly through Soldier Field - North Garage. Rates are subject to change for parking that is purchased upon your arrival on the day of your event.&nbsp;Please purchase parking in advance by following <a href="https://www.soldierfieldparking.com/?doing_wp_cron=1692375913.0622060298919677734375">this link</a> and selecting Boo with SUE on October 30th.
For all other questions, please email us at familynights@fieldmuseum.org or call us at 312.665.7525.

Halloween Candy Partner

Ferrara Candy Company

Family Field Nights: Boo with SUE

Explore science after hours with the whole family!

Field Family Nights

Young visitors check out some spooky science at Boo! with SUE

Standard Ticket

Nocturnal Garden Walk Ticket*

Please carefully review our updated policy regarding age requirements for Dozin' with the Dinos attendees.

<ul>
<li>Children under the age of 6 will not be admitted into a Dozin' with the Dinos event. Families and groups with children under the age of 6 may be asked to leave the event without a refund.</li>
<li>Adults may not attend Dozin' with the Dinos without a child between the ages of 6-12. If you attend the event and do not have children in your party, you will be asked to leave the event without a refund.</li>
<li>If you've purchased tickets incorrectly by mistake, you have until 2 weeks prior to the event to request a refund. After the two week period no refunds will be given, and you will not be admitted to the event.</li>
</ul>

If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out via email: overnights@fieldmuseum.org or give us a call at 312-665-7525.

Age Policy

See the Field Museum in a whole new light! Families and groups with kids ages 6 to 12 can spend the night at the museum during Dozin' with the Dinos.
Stay up late with scientists as the Field Museum comes to life in games, challenges, and stories throughout the night. Will you dissect owl pellets and identify animal tracks to become the next great wildlife detective? Or, will you embark on a paleontologist's expedition to learn how fossils form? Take on these adventures and more with the Dozin&rsquo; Institute for Nocturnal Observations (DINO) on our late-night mission of discovery. Then, grab your flashlight and explore the halls as the lights go out. This is a night at the museum you won't forget!
Tickets to Dozin&rsquo; with the Dinos scheduled for September 18th and November 6th will include admission to the Pok&eacute;mon Fossil Museum. Timed tickets will be assigned to all Dozin&rsquo; ticketholders prior to the event. All sales are final.

Dozin&rsquo; with the Dinos is supported by Utz Brands&nbsp;

Utz Brands

Dozin' with the Dinos 

Media for Before SUE the T. rex, there was ‘Gorgeous George’

Media for Visiting SUE the T. rex: What to Know Before You Go

An adult and two children standing at the skull of SUE the T. rex in it's glass display case..

The smallest of museum visitors can get up close and personal with the largest dinos at our special events.

© Ed Lines, Jr

Settle in for a snooze next to your favorite species at Dozin' with the Dinos!

Science is more fun in your pajamas.

Standard

Premium

Tour

Ultimate SUE Sleepover 

All Dozin’ with the Dinos tickets include a sleeping spot in the&nbsp;exhibitions, discounted parking, admission to select ticketed exhibits,&nbsp;general admission to the Museum the following day, an evening snack, and a&nbsp;continental breakfast. Upgrade to sleep near the dinos in&nbsp;Evolving Planet,&nbsp;or SUE with the Ultimate SUE package!

Groups of 15 or more can get discounted tickets with all standard amenities—learn more and register via the&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeqNYWa048zKci5SUk2zdf1kMi7j3SWUujH9UP2yysGv4Vm5Q/viewform">Group Info Form.</a>

All sales are final. Tickets are non-refundable.

2026 Tickets Packages

Welcome to Dozin' with the Dinos at the Field Museum

Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park

Field Favorites in ASL

See the best of what the Field Museum has to offer in this 45-minute guided tour presented in American Sign Language.

What lies within the silky webs of spiders? Join Thomas Marchese as he reveals a hidden world at an unimaginable scale through the use of a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Explore the micro-verse of spiders as Marchese showcases how this powerful tool can be used to closely examine a spider web and uncover the mysterious contents trapped within it.&nbsp;
Presented by&nbsp;Thomas S. Marchese, NSF Graduate Research Fellow at the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering.

Celebrate Bat Week at the Field Museum! &nbsp;Meet Beatriz Dybas da Natividade and Dr Amanda Grunwald, and hear about their field seasons in the Dominican Republic and Peru, while you examine bat specimens and learn about their diversity in the Neotropics. Discover why bats are not something to be feared, but are instead&nbsp;amazing creatures vital to the health of the natural world and economy.
Presented by&nbsp;Beatriz Dybas da Natividade, PhD candidate at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and Dr Amanda Grunwald, Post-doc researcher at the Field Museum.

Join us at our annual paleontology event celebrating all things fossils! See rarely displayed specimens from the collections, meet scientists, and take part in hands-on activities exploring prehistoric life on Earth.&nbsp;
The Field Museum is free on Wednesdays for Illinois Residents.

National Fossil Day

Celebrate National Fossil Day at the Field Museum!

Close-up with a scientist's hands doing fossil preparation with small pnuematic tools

Research Scholarships and Grants

science.jpg

Join us for a talk by Rudiger Bieler from the Field Museum.
This session will take place in Ward Hall on the lower level.
The A. Watson Armour III Seminar Series is a weekly seminar highlighting the research of science professionals across a broad spectrum of scientific interests, disciplines, and lived experiences. This series connects the Field Museum’s research, collections, conservation, and associated community with professionals at the forefront of life, geophysical, and social sciences. Lectures are open to the public and regularly highlight or complement research conducted by Field Museum staff and affiliates.
Have a speaker to suggest? Contact us at armourseminars@fieldmuseum.org.

Armour Seminar: Rudiger Bieler

Armour Seminar: Patrícia Rodrigues-Niu

Armour Seminar: Bernard Goffinet

A. Watson Armour III Research Seminar Series

This event is part of our celebration of <a href="https://www.fieldmuseum.org/activity/latin-american-heritage-month">Latin American Heritage Month</a>.&nbsp;

Thank you to all the Field Museum staff who helped organize LAHM programming.

Join us for a talk by Patrícia Rodrigues-Niu, University of Notre Dame, Department of Anthropology.
This session will take place in Ward Hall on the lower level.
The A. Watson Armour III Seminar Series is a weekly seminar highlighting the research of science professionals across a broad spectrum of scientific interests, disciplines, and lived experiences. This series connects the Field Museum’s research, collections, conservation, and associated community with professionals at the forefront of life, geophysical, and social sciences. Lectures are open to the public and regularly highlight or complement research conducted by Field Museum staff and affiliates.
Have a speaker to suggest? Contact us at armourseminars@fieldmuseum.org.

Join us for a wild after-hours adventure at the Field Museum, where we’ll explore the dramatic end of the age of dinosaurs—and the astonishing world that came next. In this exclusive 21+ evening, discover how a colossal asteroid ended the dinosaurs’ reign and helped pave the way for the world we know today.
Get up close with incredible specimens and meet the experts who study them. Interact with Field scientists and put your prehistoric knowledge to the test with hands-on activities. Plus, enjoy rare after-hours access to the After the Age of Dinosaurs exhibition before it closes.
Whether you’re a lifelong dinosaur enthusiast, a curious fossil hunter, or simply looking for a fun night out, Last Call: After the Age of Dinosaurs delivers an evening packed with discovery, interaction, and prehistoric surprises.
Tickets include access to select exhibitions and special programming, snacks, and an open bar of beer, wine and our specialty cocktail.

Last Call: After the Age of Dinosaurs

Enjoy an evening at the museum, with access to the latest special exhibition!

Last Call

See After the Age of Dinosaurs before it closes!

Price

Additional food and beverages will be available for purchase.

All ticket sales are final. Please email us at <a href="mailto:adults@fieldmuseum.org">adults@fieldmuseum.org</a> or call 312.665.7303 with any questions.&nbsp;

Poetry Pop-up: What Is An Animal Poem?

Poetry Pop-up: Space Rock Poetry

Poetry Pop-up: Lives of Plants 

Discover the natural world through poetry at weekly pop-up events featuring the Field’s poet in residence.

Poetry Pop-up

Find Eric at the entrance to What is an Animal? and ask him to compose a poem for you based on your thoughts and feelings about your favorite animal. 

A group gathers at the corner of a diorama case. One man sits a desk with a typerwriter. He looks up to a family of three standing over him. The man in the middle stands with arms around the other two individuals. Both are smiling down at the man seated at the desk. A black box with a glass front holds a rock specimen and is propped up against the leg of the desk.

Poetry Pop-Up

gn92631_149ad-photoarchives_webexport.jpg

Join Eric outside of the Grainger Gallery on the upper level to explore the heavens in poetry. 

Join Eric and green up your poetry--he will compose you a poem about your favorite fern, flower, or moss!

Legendary Late Hours

Enjoy extended museum hours from 9am to 9pm, last entry at 8pm.

Enjoy extended museum hours from 9am to 9pm, last entry at 8pm

Legendary Late Hours: Open until 9pm on select dates

Step into the shadows of science at this 21+ after-hours event where eerie tales meet evidence. Secrets and Specimens invites you to explore strange stories and unsettling legends from the Field’s collections—and uncover how science helps explain the unexplainable.
Explore pop-up storytelling sessions scattered throughout the galleries, where Field Museum staff and scientists bring chilling true stories to life. Hear how the museum and its collections have played a role in uncovering mysteries, investigating unusual cases, and revealing the unexpected connections between science, history, and the world around us.
Plus, put your own skills to the test with hands-on mystery-solving activities and observation-based challenges that explore how scientists use the tools of their trade to separate science from superstition.
Follow the clues, and you may even discover a hidden speakeasy tucked within the museum, offering a moody retreat for the curious.
Whether you’re a skeptic, a storyteller, or a science lover, Secrets and Specimens invites you to see the museum in a whole new light—where every strange tale hides a scientific truth waiting to be uncovered.
Tickets include light snacks, beer, and wine. Additional food and beverages will be available for purchase.

Secrets and Specimens

Museum After Hours

Purchase a meal voucher ahead of time for $20. Meal vouchers include a main dish, side dish and dessert. Menu will be shared closer to the event. Gluten free and vegan options will be available upon request. All meal vouchers must be purchased before the event.

Limited stations will be available at the Field Bistro for purchase at the event.

All ticket sales are final. 

Please email us at <a href="mailto:adults@fieldmuseum.org">adults@fieldmuseum.org</a> or call 312.665.7264 with any questions.&nbsp;

Come meet Field Museum Artist in Residence Peggy Macnamara as she discusses her technique to seeing - and sketching - the natural world. Visitors can try their hand at sketching "unusual" specimens from Field Museum collections while learning more about Macnamara's five tips for sketching natural specimens: squint, crawl, locate, measure, and correct.
Peggy Macnamara has been the Field Museum's Artist in Residence since 1990. She has traveled the world with Field Museum scientists to paint nature and illustrate conservation efforts. She is also an Adjunct Professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and is an exhibiting artist.

Illustration provided by Filmmakers
Join us for a special professional learning experience exploring Marshallese history and culture through the Field Museum’s refreshed Marshall Islands exhibit and new educator resources. Using UCLA’s Foundations and Futures multimedia textbook, educators will dive into the complex history between the United States and the Marshall Islands, examine the lasting impacts of U.S. nuclear testing and other historical events, and explore why Marshallese communities in the Midwest are growing and what these experiences mean for students and communities today.
Participants will see the newly unveiled exhibition, engage with classroom-ready resources, and screen 67 Bombs to Enid, followed by a panel discussion and Q&amp;A with the film’s director/producer and Marshallese cultural experts. Together, we’ll consider how museums, educators, and communities can center Marshallese voices and perspectives in the classroom.

Tuesday, December 15

<h3>Registration Includes</h3>

<ul>
<li>Screening of 67 Bombs to Enid</li>
<li>Meet-and-greet with filmmakers</li>
<li>Exclusive viewing of the Marshall Islands exhibition</li>
<li>Continental breakfast</li>
<li>Soldier Field parking</li>
<li>General admission to the Field Museum</li>
</ul>

Registration will remain open until December 10, or until the program reaches capacity.

Educators who complete the workshop series will receive&nbsp;6 hours of Illinois Professional Development Credit (CPDUs).

Questions? Contact Ria Pretekin, <a href="mailto:rpretekin@fieldmuseum.org">rpretekin@fieldmuseum.org</a>&nbsp;

<spanhelvetica neue",arial;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;color:#222222;"="" data-sheets-root="1">Families with 2-6 year olds are invited to a free, drop-in program celebrating the Diwali season. Join us and our special guest, Parul L. Bhandari, author of Shine a Light on Diwali, at 11am for a festive read-aloud and crafts!</spanhelvetica>

PlayLab PlayDate: Diwali Storytime and Craft

Drop in to the Crown Family PlayLab for free weekly activities for 2-6 year olds!

PlayLab PlayDates

The Crown Family PlayLab offers PlayLab PlayDates on select Wednesdays and Saturdays. PlayLab PlayDates are drop-in activities, free to museum guests with children ages 2-6, featuring storytime sessions, music, crafts, science experiments, and more.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Pre-registration is not required! Sessions take place in the <a href="https://www.fieldmuseum.org/exhibition/halls-and-galleries/crown-family-playlab">Crown Family PlayLab</a>.&nbsp;

Program length varies, usually from 20 minutes to 1 hour.

For more information, please see the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datocms-assets.com/44232/1771856923-general-playlab-programs-policies-faqs-updated.pdf">PlayLab Programs FAQs</a>. Still have questions? Contact the PlayLab team at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:playlabevents@fieldmuseum.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">playlabevents@fieldmuseum.org</a>.

This week's session features a talk by <a href="https://bryology.eeb.uconn.edu/bernard-goffinet/">Bernard Goffinet</a>, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Connecticut.
This session will take place in Ward Hall on the lower level.
The A. Watson Armour III Seminar Series is a weekly seminar highlighting the research of science professionals across a broad spectrum of scientific interests, disciplines, and lived experiences. This series connects the Field Museum’s research, collections, conservation, and associated community with professionals at the forefront of life, geophysical, and social sciences. Lectures are open to the public and regularly highlight or complement research conducted by Field Museum staff and affiliates.
Have a speaker to suggest? Contact us at armourseminars@fieldmuseum.org.

What can a piece of cloth tell us about the people who made and used it? Using contemporary Andean textiles, alongside images from archaeological research, visitors will be encouraged to look closely at fibers, threads, weaving techniques, colors, and patterns and discuss how these details can help archaeologists understand technology, identity, labor, and everyday life in the past. Become a “textile detective” as you consider what clues different materials and manufacturing choices can provide about the people and communities that produced them.
Presented by Rosa María Varillas, PhD Candidate in Anthropology, University of Illinois Chicago; Scientific Affiliate, Field Museum.

Learning from Coast Salish Weaving and Woolly Dogs

In this session created especially for Early Childhood teachers, hear from Eliot White-Hill, Kwulasultun (Snuneymuxw) about storytelling and the importance of the Woolly Dogs for the Coast Salish people.
Then, take on the role of a student as we connect the story of the Woolly Dogs– whose hair was used in Coast Salish weaving– to a hands-on weaving activity that helps our earliest learners practice fine-motor skills and connect to special animals as well as special clothing in their lives.
<h3>Educators will</h3>
<ul>
<li>
Understand: We learn by doing and making connections to what we already know. Weaving tells a story, and storytelling in the Coast Salish community is a powerful means of conveying knowledge, expressing identity, and preserving culture.
<ul></ul>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Do: Practice weaving, listen to a story about the Woolly Dogs and their importance to Coast Salish people, and make personal connections.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Feel: Prepared to utilize best practices in early childhood learning to make the unfamiliar familiar.
</li>
</ul>
Registration is open to formal and informal educators of all levels, though activities for this session are most applicable for PreK-Grade 2 teachers.
<h3>Your registration includes</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="ltr">Materials</li>
<li dir="ltr">Light breakfast</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Parking&nbsp;
</li>
</ul>
Looking to be more environmentally-friendly? You can find public transit options <a href="https://www.fieldmuseum.org/page/directions-parking">here</a>.
Registration will remain open until Tuesday, October 20, 2026, or until full. Participants must register by October 20 to guarantee parking validation.
Program questions? Contact Samantha Chapleau, <a href="mailto:schapleau@fieldmuseum.org">schapleau@fieldmuseum.org</a>.

This program is made possible with the generous support of Lilly Endowment, Inc.&nbsp;

<h3 dir="ltr">Illinois Educators will earn 2 hours of Professional Development for attending this training.</h3>

<h4 dir="ltr">Standards Alignment</h4>

Skyline

<ul>
<li dir="ltr">PreK Social Science
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="2">
Unit 4: Me and My World
</li>
</ul>

</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Grade K</li>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="2">
Unit 1: Getting Along Together
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="2">
Unit 4: From the Past to the Future
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
Grade 1: Living, Learning, and Working Together
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="2">
Unit 4: Past, Present, and Future
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="2">
Unit 5: The Work We Do
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<h4>Illinois Physical Development and Health Standards</h4>
19.A.ECa Engage in active play using gross- and fine-motor skills.
<h4 dir="ltr">Illinois Social Studies Standards – Geography</h4>
SS.1.G.3. Compare how people in different types of communities use local and worldwide environments to meet their daily needs
<h4 dir="ltr">Illinois Social Studies Standards – History&nbsp;</h4>
SS.K.H.1. Compare life in the past to life today, including the points of view of diverse groups of people.
<h4 dir="ltr">Illinois Social/Emotional Development Standards</h4>
1.A.ECa Show empathy, sympathy, and caring for others.
30.C.ECa Exhibit eagerness and curiosity as a learner.&nbsp;
30.C.ECb Demonstrate persistence and creativity in seeking solutions to problems.&nbsp;
30.C.ECc Show some initiative, self-direction, and independence in actions.&nbsp;
30.C.ECd Demonstrate engagement and sustained attention in activities.
<h4>Common Core State Standards – ELA</h4>
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.3 Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.
<h4 dir="ltr">Social Justice Standards&nbsp;</h4>
DI.K-2.8 I want to know about other people and how our lives and experiences are the same and different.

Join us on October 7th for a vibrant community celebration honoring the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of Latin America through music, education, and community connection. Kick off the day with an energetic cultural performance by La Escuelita Bombera de Corazón, then explore our Community &amp; Career Fair featuring Field Museum staff and local organizations sharing educational resources, career pathways, and opportunities to get involved.
Designed with youth and families in mind, this event welcomes Chicago-area middle and high school students, educators, and visitors of all ages to connect with community partners, discover future opportunities, and celebrate Latin American heritage in a fun and engaging environment.
10:30am-11am: La Escuelita Bombera de Corazón performance 11-12pm: Community and Career Fair&nbsp; Location: Stanley Field Hall
This event is included with General Admission, which is free to <a href="https://www.fieldmuseum.org/our-events/free-wednesdays">Illinois residents on Wednesdays</a>.

This event is part of our celebration of <a href="https://www.fieldmuseum.org/activity/latin-american-heritage-month">Latin American Heritage Month</a>.&nbsp;

Thank you to all the Field Museum staff who helped organize LAHM programming.

Field Museum Gala

Celebrate and support the Field Museum at our annual Gala!

Field Museum Gala 2026

Soirèe at the Gala

Enjoy a night of music, dancing, and science with other young professionals at the Field Associates' annual fundraiser.

Field Museum Soirèe at the Gala

Illinois Free Wednesday

Beat the mid-week blues and come visit SUE— the Field is free on Wednesdays for Illinois Residents! 

Illinois Free Wednesdays

Early Morning: The Pokémon Fossil Museum  

Early Mornings

Early Morning events

After the Age of Dinosaurs

Pokémon Fossil Museum

VR Transporter at the Field Museum

Drop in the Ocean

Adult Rex Sunset Burst: UNLEASHING THE GREATEST OF ALL TYRANTS: The GOAT roars to life again in the epic new documentary T. REX

T.REX: The Story of SUE 3D

Penguin Island 3D

Regenstein Halls of the Pacific

June 10th marks the Field Museum’s Annual Giving Day!

Science

Cyrus Tang Hall of China 99 (Hewett 2018)

Culture

Native Seed Harvesting

Community

McDonald's Prep Lab staff at microscopes.

Discovery

Spooky chills and scientific thrills!

Fright at the Field

Field Mueum North Entrance - Maximo banners

Left: Allison Sefcovic and Payton Kohlberg hold epoxy sculptures of their new species, Jeanerpeton mazonensis. Photo credit: Arjan Mann. Right: Photo and illustration of the fossil of Jeanerpeton mazonensis. Credit: Allison Sefcovic

Mother of amphibians: New species of proto-amphibian described by two student scientists, named in honor of their moms

Left: a spider-tailed horned viper. Photo by Omid Mozaffari. Right: XCT scan showing the normal bones inside the snake’s bizarre tail. Image courtesy of Sara Ruane and Stephanie Smith.

Welcome to the Field

What's on

Pokémon Fossil Museum

After the Age of Dinosaurs

VR Transporter at the Field Museum

Drop in the Ocean

T.REX: The Story of SUE 3D

Penguin Island 3D

Pokémon Fossil Museum

Plan your day at the Museum

Tickets & Pricing

Directions & Parking

Accessibility

Fright at the Field

Join us for an event

Explore the Museum

Regenstein Halls of the Pacific

Griffin Halls of Evolving Planet & SUE the T. rex

Amerika Samoa

Grainger Science Hub

Experience more as a member

Our scientists at work

Mother of amphibians: New species of proto-amphibian described by two student scientists, named in honor of their moms

A fake spider at the tip of this snake’s tail helps it lure birds. Scientists got their first look inside the “spider.”

A fossil feather preserved inside dinosaur poop could help explain why birds survived the mass extinction

Welcome to the jungle: newly-discovered snake named after Slash from Guns N’ Roses

The Field Museum connects all of us to the natural world and the human story.

Welcome to the Field

What's on

Image slideshow

Pokémon Fossil Museum

After the Age of Dinosaurs

VR Transporter at the Field Museum

Drop in the Ocean

T.REX: The Story of SUE 3D

Penguin Island 3D

Plan your day at the Museum

Tickets & Pricing

Directions & Parking

Accessibility

Fright at the Field

Join us for an event

Explore the Museum

Regenstein Halls of the Pacific

Griffin Halls of Evolving Planet & SUE the T. rex

Amerika Samoa

Grainger Science Hub

Experience more as a member

Our scientists at work

Mother of amphibians: New species of proto-amphibian described by two student scientists, named in honor of their moms

A fake spider at the tip of this snake’s tail helps it lure birds. Scientists got their first look inside the “spider.”

A fossil feather preserved inside dinosaur poop could help explain why birds survived the mass extinction

Welcome to the jungle: newly-discovered snake named after Slash from Guns N’ Roses

The Field Museum connects all of us to the natural world and the human story.