Ogden Blinds

If you're interested in print photography's art, beauty, and cultural importance, the Museum of Contemporary Photography is a must-visit destination. It is the only photography museum in the Midwest, and it boasts a collection of over 7,000 pieces from renowned photographers such as Ansel Adams, Harry Callahan, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Irving Penn, and Julia Margaret Cameron. Founded in 1984 by Columbia College Chicago, the museum's collection showcases American photography from the 20th century and beyond. The collection features prints in various formats, including gelatin-silver prints, color work, digital pieces, photograms, and other processes.

The Adler Planetarium is a must-visit spot for astronomy enthusiasts and those interested in space exploration. Founded by philanthropist Max Adler in 1930, it was the first planetarium built in the Western Hemisphere and remains the oldest. The planetarium boasts three full-size theaters, including the Sky Theater planetarium, where visitors can enjoy various shows and presentations about the night sky. The Sky Theater projector can recreate every aspect and movement of the night sky, giving visitors an incredibly realistic experience. The Definiti Space Theater, an addition made in 1999, comes equipped with a digital full-dome video environment for an immersive experience. Visitors can also enjoy sculptures outside the planetarium, such as the "Man Enters the Cosmos" sundial and a statue of renowned astronomer Nicholas Copernicus. The lobby's dedication plaque is also a work of art, depicting the gods and goddesses that represent each planet, except for Pluto, which had yet to be discovered at the time of the plaque's creation.