The museum's two bronze lions at the Michigan Avenue entrance were installed in 1894 and are frequently adorned with sports jerseys during Chicago championship runs.
The Thorne Miniature Rooms feature 68 hyper-realistic historical interior models created at a 1:12 scale.
The museum's collection includes the largest assembly of works by Chicago Imagists.
The Modern Wing houses the largest collection of works by the architect Renzo Piano under one roof.
The building was originally constructed for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, though it was repurposed as an art museum shortly thereafter.
The Art Institute of Chicago houses one of the world's most significant collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings outside of France. Located in Grant Park, the institution occupies two major buildings connected by the Modern Wing, designed by Renzo Piano, and the Nichols Bridgeway. Its permanent collection encompasses approximately 300,000 works spanning 5,000 years of human history. The museum serves as both a research institution and a public gallery, featuring specialized departments for photography, textiles, and architectural drawings. Notable holdings include American Gothic by Grant Wood and A Sunday on La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat. The site also incorporates the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries, which hold significant research materials on art and architecture.
The elevated walkway of the Nichols Bridgeway, offering views of the Millennium Park skyline.
Use the museum's digital map to locate specific galleries, as the floor plan is vast and non-linear.
Visit the Griffin Court in the Modern Wing for architectural viewing and natural light.
Check the online calendar for curator-led gallery talks before arriving.
Attempting to see the entire collection in a single visit, as the physical footprint of the museum is massive.
Open daily throughout the year, but may have adjusted hours during major public holidays.
No flash photography is allowed in galleries; backpacks must be worn on the front of the body or checked in the cloakroom.
