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

Family Field Nights: Boo with SUE

Meet a Scientist in the Grainger Science Hub

What did Tanyka eat? Reconstructing the diet of an ancient Brazilian tetrapod

Threads Tell Stories: How Archaeologists Read Andean Textiles

Illustration copyright (c) 2026 Kristen Balouch; Published in 2026 by Red Come Press, LLC, Brooklyn, NY

Creating Classroom Libraries: Centering Representation in Children’s Literature

Secrets and Specimens

Poetry Pop-up: Genetic Poetry

Poetry Pop-up: On the Wings of Pterosaurs

Poetry Pop-up: Insects and Poems

Poety Pop-up: Whale Songs

Meet a Scientist: The Science of Interpretation

Dozin' with the Dinos

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

Native Knowledge 360° Teach In: Cultural Sovereignty and Solidarity on the 250th

Corporate Family Day

Dozin' with the Dinos 

Visitors reacting to seeing jarred specimens at an event.

Game Night: The Scientist’s Secret

Sigamos Adelante: Community and Career Fair

PlayLab PlayDate: A is for Artist! Song Makers with Karim Nagi

Meet a Scientist: Diversity of Amphibians

Virtual Professional Development: Planning Purposeful Focused Field Trips  

Field Museum Gala 2026

Field Museum Gala

Illinois Free Wednesday 

PlayLab PlayDate: Diwali Storytime and Craft

Illinois Free Wednesday

Educator Open House 2026

Educator Open House

Early Morning events

Early Morning: The Pokémon Fossil Museum 

Armour Seminar: Grace Burgin

My ticket to Pokémon Fossil Museum is for after 4:30pm. Don't you close at 5pm?

What is there to eat at the Field?

The Field Museum accepts gifts in a variety of ways to make supporting our mission easy and convenient.<ul><li>Give Online.&nbsp; Use our secure online gift processing form</li><li>Give via Check.&nbsp; Mail a check payable to “Field Museum” to one of the following addresses: <ul><li>For standard USPS “snail mail” send to: Field Museum 75 Remittance Drive, Suite #1093 Chicago, IL 60675-1093</li><li>For FedEx, UPS, or Next Day Delivery send to: Field Museum Lockbox 1093 5503 N. Cumberland Avenue Chicago, IL 60656</li></ul></li><li>Give via Cryptocurrency. Make a gift of cryptocurrency by exploring options with our partners at <a href="https://thegivingblock.com/donate/the-field-museum/">The Giving Block</a>.</li><li>Give via Appreciated Securities, ACH/wire transfer, QCD Distributions. To make a gift via any of these methods, please contact us for additional instructions.</li></ul>Any questions on making a gift via any of these giving methods may be directed to Jeanette Rodriguez, Director of Development Services, at 312.665.7285 or jrodriguez@fieldmuseum.org.

What other ways can I make a gift?

Have another question you need answered? Visit our expanded Giving FAQ for more answers, or contact our donor support teams at 312.665.7777 or <a href="mailto:supporters@fieldmuseum.org">supporters@fieldmuseum.org.</a>

I have a question not answered here.

Is my gift tax-deductible?

How can I purchase tickets?

How do I purchase a ticket to the Pokémon Fossil Museum exhibition? 

What does Field Museum Women in Science (FMWIS) membership mean?

Why should men join the Field Museum Women in Science (FMWIS)?

Who can join the Field Museum Women in Science (FMWIS)?

Why do we need Women in Science groups?

Will I have access to the Pokemon Fossil Museum store at Collection Quest?

Will I receive a promotional trading card with my Collection Quest ticket?

I have more questions. Who can I talk to?

Can I purchase a meal voucher in person?

Will there be food/drink at Collection Quest?

What if my entire party does not arrive at the same time?

What happens if I miss my scheduled entry time for the exhibit?

Can I select my timed-entry ticket to the exhibit?

Can I purchase a ticket to Collection Quest upon arrival on the day of the event?

Does a ticket to Collection Quest include access to other exhibits in the museum?

Does a ticket to Collection Quest include admission to the Pokémon Fossil Museum exhibit?

What happens if I purchased Collection Quest tickets by mistake?

Are Collection Quest tickets transferable?

Can you accommodate dietary restrictions?

Will I receive a promotional trading card with my Family Night ticket?

Pokémon trading Archeops card.

How do I obtain the Pokémon Trading Card Game promo card commemorating the Pokémon Fossil Museum?

What happens if I miss my scheduled entry time for Family Night?

I have more questions about Family Night. Who can I talk to?

What if my entire party does not arrive at the same time for Family Night?

Will there be food/drink at Family Night?

Can I purchase a ticket to Family Night upon arrival on the day of the event?

Does a ticket to Family Night include access to other exhibits in the museum?

Does a ticket to Family Night include admission to the Pokémon Fossil Museum exhibit?

What happens if I purchased Family Night tickets by mistake?

Are Family Night tickets transferable?

Can I select my timed-entry ticket?

Will the promotional trading card be available for all museum visitors? Will the cards be restocked if they run out?

Can I purchase the Pokémon Fossil Museum merchandise outside of the Field Museum?

Do you have plans to restock Pokémon Fossil Museum merchandise should items sell out?

What are the purchase limits for Pokémon Fossil Museum merchandise? 

Will there be a retail experience for the Pokémon Fossil Museum?

 How long should I plan to spend in the exhibition? 

I have more questions. Who can I talk to? 

What happens if I miss my scheduled entry time? 

At what time should I arrive at the museum to see the Pokémon Fossil Museum exhibition? 

Do the tickets required for the Member Preview Days count against my allotment of Pokémon Fossil Museum tickets?

Are there packages I can purchase to save money when visiting Chicago?

I have Chicago CityPASS®, Go City pass, or am eligible for discounted admission that I cannot reserve online—how can I secure tickets to the Pokémon Fossil Museum?

I'm a teacher, what should I expect in the exhibit?

What happens if I need to reschedule my group's visit? 

Can I purchase tickets for the exhibit on the day of my group’s visit? 

Can I receive a refund for students who missed the field trip?

 How long should my group plan to spend in the exhibition? 

Is there any special programming for my students?

I missed my group’s entry time. What should we do? 

In order to ensure that groups have a great visit, pre-K through 5th-grade students must be accompanied by a minimum of one adult for every five students and a maximum of one adult for every child. Students in 6th through 12th grade must be accompanied by a minimum of one adult for every ten students and a maximum of one adult for every child.

How many chaperones can my Illinois School Group bring?

After you submit your registration form, you will receive an email with an invoice PDF. You can submit that payment amount by mailing a check before the trip or calling our office at (312) 665-7500 with a credit card.

Payment must be received 2 weeks prior to your trip date. If payment is not received 2 weeks prior to the field trip date, tickets will be released to the general public.

How do I submit payment?

Illinois groups registered at least 2 weeks in advance are allotted a discounted price of $7 per person to enter the &nbsp;Pok&eacute;mon Fossil Museum exhibition. Every person entering the exhibit will need a ticket.

Your group will still be able to enter all General Admission exhibits on your trip.Limited tickets are reserved for Illinois field trip groups each day.

How much are tickets for the Pokémon Fossil Museum exhibition for Illinois field trip groups?

Starting March 3, Illinois field trip groups may register using our <a href="https://www.fieldmuseum.org/page/register-your-field-trip-group">field trip registration form</a>. &nbsp;All field trips should be booked at least 2 weeks in advance. Limited tickets are reserved for Illinois field trip groups each day.&nbsp;

How can my group register for a field trip to see the Pokémon Fossil Museum exhibition?

When will tickets be available for Illinois school groups?

Unfortunately, there are no scholarships available for this special exhibition. All Illinois students, chaperones, and teachers on the field trip who are visiting the exhibit must pay $7 to enter. You can still book your <a href="https://www.fieldmuseum.org/landing/field-trips">General Admission field trip</a> for free, and visit the Evolving Planet exhibition to learn about fossils.

My group can not pay the $7 per person fee to see the Pokémon Fossil Museum exhibition. Are there any scholarships or free programming?

What happens if I need to reschedule my visit? 

Are tickets to the exhibition timed?

Are tickets transferable?

Tickets for the date I want to visit are not yet available. When will I be able to access those?

How long will tickets be available for the Pokémon Fossil Museum? 

I’m a member—how can I redeem my member benefits for Pokémon Fossil Museum?

Are there any other websites that sell Pokémon Fossil Museum special exhibition tickets?

I didn’t receive an email confirmation for my tickets—who can help me? 

I have another question about visit Pokémon Fossil Museum—who can I reach out to? 

When can I make reservations for Pokémon Fossil Museum?

What’s the best way to stay up-to-date on Pokémon Fossil Museum?

How will I be able to make reservations for Pokémon Fossil Museum?

 How many Pokemon Fossil Museum special exhibition tickets are included with my membership?

 What does my membership include?

Do you have a lost and found?

Does the Field Museum have parking available?

Do you have an adult-sized or universal changing space?

Do you have lockers or storage?

Do you have educational resources for students?

Do you have an area for nursing parents?

Do you have sensory-friendly hours?

Can I bring my own food and drinks?

How do I book a group visit to the Museum? 

How do I get to the Field?

How do I schedule a field trip to the Museum?

Is there wheelchair-accessible parking? 

Where can I park?

Why can't I apply a community discount to my online ticket purchase?

Will the Field Museum donate tickets to support my fundraiser or event?

Can I take pictures?

Can I leave and come back later?

Can I have my wedding, party, or other event at the Field?

Can I bring a wheelchair or stroller?

Can I bring a bag?

Are there programs that offer free or discounted admission?

Are there hotels near the Field?

When is the Museum open?

What has SUE taught us?

The Field Museum

Media for Staff Profile

*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.

Explore science after hours with the whole family!

Field Family Nights

Standard Ticket

Nocturnal Garden Walk Ticket*

See an ‘ancient living fossil’ and hear about the research into their diet being led by Syd Joheim, Prince Intern, and Ken Angielczyk, MacArthur Curator of Paleomammalogy. Tanyka, a Permian stem tetrapod from Brazil, is known only for its jaws that have extensive fields of tiny teeth on their&nbsp;inner surface. These unique features suggest they had a different diet than&nbsp;other early tetrapods who lived over 275 million years ago. Discover how researchers hope to gain insight into what it might have been eating by&nbsp;comparing the complexity of these teeth to those of other contemporary&nbsp;species and examining micro-wear patterns on the teeth to reconstruct their diet.

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

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.

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.

Illustration copyright (c) 2026 Kristen Balouch; Published in 2026 by Red Comet Press, LLC, Brooklyn, NY
Join us at the Field Museum for an inspiring professional learning experience exploring how children's literature can help educators create affirming, culturally responsive classroom libraries. Educators will examine how thoughtfully selected books can foster identity, belonging, empathy, and critical thinking while expanding students' understanding of different communities, cultures, and lived experiences.
The workshop will feature a keynote address by Dr. Taraneh Matloob, Associate Professor of Literacy Education and children's literature scholar, whose research and writing center on multicultural children's literature and its role in literacy education. Participants will explore practical strategies for evaluating and selecting books that serve as both windows into others' experiences and mirrors that reflect students' own identities.
Drawing on Dr. Matloob's expertise as both a scholar and picture book author, educators will engage in discussion around representation, perspective, and the power of storytelling in the elementary and middle grades. Participants will leave with tools and resources to thoughtfully build and evaluate classroom libraries that reflect a range of cultures, identities, experiences, and perspectives.
As part of this unique experience, attendees will enjoy a special viewing of items from the Field Museum's Iran Collection, offering an opportunity to connect literature with material culture and deepen understanding of Persian history and storytelling traditions. The day will conclude with a meet-and-greet and book signing with Dr. Matloob for her picture books <a href="https://www.redcometpress.com/picturebooks/invisible">An Invisible River to Cross</a> and <a href="https://www.redcometpress.com/picturebooks/dearnewfriend">My Dear Friend</a>.
Whether you are building a new classroom library or reexamining the books already on your shelves, this workshop will provide practical strategies, meaningful dialogue, and museum-based resources to support thoughtful and culturally responsive literacy instruction.

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

Professional Development for Educators

Illustration copyright (c) 2026 Kristen Balouch; Published in 2026 by Red Comet Press, LLC, Brooklyn, NY

Thursday, October 1

Tickets

Registration will remain open until September 25 or until the program reaches capacity.

<h3>Registration Includes</h3>

<ul>
<li>Keynote presentation by Dr. Taraneh Matloob</li>
<li>Workshop materials and instructional resources</li>
<li>A signed copy of <a href="https://www.redcometpress.com/picturebooks/invisible">An Invisible River to Cross</a></li>
<li>A signed copy of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.redcometpress.com/picturebooks/dearnewfriend">My Dear Friend</a></li>
<li>Meet-and-greet and book signing with the author</li>
<li>Exclusive viewing of objects from the Field Museum's Iran Collection</li>
<li>Continental breakfast</li>
<li>Soldier Field parking</li>
<li>General admission to the Field Museum</li>
</ul>

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

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

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.

Halloween Candy Partner

Ferrara Candy Company

Museum After Hours

Events for Adults

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Image for Events for Adults

Price

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;

Join us at the Field Museum for a celebration of all things anime. Enjoy a model-making tutorial with Mohammed Masoud of La Estrella, a panel co-moderated by podcaster and self-proclaimed nerd Malcom Crawford and Field Museum Project Manager for Africa Hall Community Engagement Angelica London, live music by DJ EvieTheCool, and a cosplay contest!
Come early to catch your favorites: SUE the T.rex, the Chicago Archaeopteryx, Tsavo Lions, priceless gems and jades, and then stay late for Level Up: Anime at the Museum— included in general admission! Add special exhibitions After the Age of Dinosaurs and Pokémon Fossil Museum separately.
This event takes place from 5:30pm-8:30pm. The museum will be open from 9am-9pm.

Level Up: Anime at the Museum

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

Cosplay competition, panel discussion, model making, and music!

<h3>Panelists</h3>

Malcolm Crawford - Co-moderator, podcaster and creator&nbsp; Angelica London - Co-moderator, Field Museum Project Manager for Africa Hall Community Engagement&nbsp; EvieTheCool - Panelist, DJ&nbsp; Ella McCann - Panelist, Head of Partner Activation at The Executives' Club of Chicago D'Andre Adonis - Panelist, Singer and artist&nbsp; Mohammed Masoud, Model-making, Owner, La Estrella&nbsp;

Use the building blocks of life to build a poem.

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

Poetry Pop-up

Use the building blocks of life to build a poem. Join Eric at the DNA Discovery Center on the upper level.

Let your poems soar with our pterosaurs. Eric will be on the upper level near the perching quetzalcoatlus replica.

Imagine what it would feel like to stand next to a T. rex. Ponder what flowers smelled like 30 million years ago. See what inspiration you'll find and start turning your ideas into poetry with Eric Elshtain, the Field Museum's first poet in residence.&nbsp;
Join us for a series of weekly events that change how you see the museum—whether you’ve visited once or dozens of times. Encounter objects from our collection. Tour an exhibition. Find our poet in residence at a typewriter station to craft your own poem!
Eric hosts pop-ups most Thursdays from 10am–12pm, in locations across the museum. No prior knowledge of poetry needed. &nbsp;

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

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Use poetry to describe what you like or hate about bugs. Find Eric in the Small Treasures Room on the lower level.

Write poems under the shadow of a right whale skeleton, while listening to the mournful songs of different whale species.

Imagine what it would feel like to stand next to a T. rex. Ponder what flowers smelled like 30 million years ago. See what inspiration you'll find and start turning your ideas into poetry with Eric Elshtain, the Field Museum's first poet in residence.&nbsp;
Join us for a series of weekly events that change how you see the museum&mdash;whether you&rsquo;ve visited once or dozens of times. Encounter objects from our collection. Tour an exhibition. Find our poet in residence at a typewriter station to craft your own poem!
Eric hosts pop-ups most Thursdays from 10am&ndash;12pm, in locations across the museum. No prior knowledge of poetry needed. &nbsp;

Come join Lincoln Park Zoo and meet two Guest Engagement Fellows who facilitate and create public education programs on Zoo grounds. You will have the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities to learn how fellows forge emotional and intellectual connections between Zoo visitors and our stories related to care and conservation for wildlife.
<h3 dir="auto">Presenters</h3>
<ul>
<li dir="auto">Joe Frumkin- Guest Engagement Coordinator</li>
<li dir="auto">Mack Shenker- Guest Engagement Fellow</li>
<li dir="auto">Chloe Schaffel- Guest Engagement Fellow</li>
</ul>

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 14 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? Choose from these challenges and more as the night unfolds. No two nights at the museum are the same, but each is an adventure!
<h3>Tickets for 2027 Dozin' events go on sale soon!</h3>
<ul>
<li>Monday, August 17th - Members</li>
<li>Monday, August 24th - General Public</li>
</ul>
Tickets to Dozin’ with the Dinos scheduled for January, February, and March will include admission to the Pokémon Fossil Museum. Timed tickets will be assigned to all Dozin’ ticketholders prior to the event. All sales are final.

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

Acknowledgments

Utz Brands

Science is more fun in your pajamas.

Programs & Series

Events by Audience

Family Field Nights: Boo with SUE

What did Tanyka eat? Reconstructing the diet of an ancient Brazilian tetrapod

Threads Tell Stories: How Archaeologists Read Andean Textiles

Creating Classroom Libraries: Centering Representation in Children’s Literature

Secrets and Specimens

Poetry Pop-up: Genetic Poetry

Heritage Months

30

Friday, October 30

11

Friday, September 11

04

Wednesday, November 4

Guided Tours

Programs & Series

Events by Audience

Filter controls

Family Field Nights: Boo with SUE

What did Tanyka eat? Reconstructing the diet of an ancient Brazilian tetrapod

Threads Tell Stories: How Archaeologists Read Andean Textiles

Creating Classroom Libraries: Centering Representation in Children’s Literature

Secrets and Specimens

Poetry Pop-up: Genetic Poetry

Heritage Months

30

Friday, October 30

11

Friday, September 11

04

Wednesday, November 4

Content to explore

Guided Tours