If you're searching for a zoo knowledgeable about its animals, you should visit the Lincoln Park Zoo. It is one of the oldest zoos in the country and houses over 1,250 animals within its exhibits and attractions. During your visit, you will witness various animals, such as zebras, big cats, polar bears, penguins, gorillas, reptiles, monkeys, and more. Established in 1868, the Lincoln Park Zoo is rich in history. It is situated in Chicago's Lincoln Park and covers an area of 35 acres. One of the zoo's most unique features is a burr oak tree that goes back to 1830. For younger guests, the Children's Zoo and the Farm-in-the-Zoo exhibits offer hands-on experiences. Children will also enjoy the indoor play structure, while the Farm exhibit allows guests to pet animals like goats and feed the cows.
Chicago Jazz Festival invites you to a four-day celebration of jazz featuring world-class artists. The festival is free and open to the public and will take place at Millennium Park, downtown Chicago, the Chicago Cultural Center, and various venues across the city. The Labor Day weekend festival aims to promote all forms of jazz and showcase Chicago's local talent alongside national and international artists. The event seeks to raise awareness and appreciation for one of the city's most beloved art forms. As the only jazz organization in Chicago that offers a wide range of opportunities for artists, both old and new, they provide high-visibility venues for creating and performing new work. They collaborate directly with Chicago Public School teachers to develop programs for their students and professional development for themselves. Additionally, they present the city's most significant artists in their communities, building an audience that crosses racial and geographic boundaries to break through historical barriers that have been obstacles to the evolution of music.
Hawthorne Race Course is a venue that offers both live racing and simulcasting. It is a thoroughbred horse racetrack with a one-mile dirt oval and a seven-furlong turf oval. The homestretch on the main track is 1,320 feet long, making it one of the longest in the country. Founded in 1891, Hawthorne Race Course is the oldest sporting venue in Illinois for horse racing, considered America's original sport. The business is family-owned and operated, now in its 4th generation, and has been hosting racing events on the City's border for over a century. The track is famously known as "Chicago's hometown track." Hawthorne is also the only race course in the nation that hosts both Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing. Additionally, they have the largest network of off-track betting bars in Illinois and offer two PointsBet Sportsbooks and a sportsbook at the track.
The Illinois Railway Museum is where you can learn about the history of railway transportation and its impact on the country. The Museum houses over 400 pieces of original equipment from when railroad transportation was essential for industrial purposes and everyday life in America. These pieces of equipment include horsecars, steam locomotives, and passenger cars. The Museum also exhibits and operates restored rolling stock and equipment on a demonstration rail line. Moreover, it collects, preserves, and maintains a reference library of publications, technical information, and other materials related to railroads, railways, and transportation for research and other purposes.