The Museum of Science and Industry is doubling down on its mission to inspire curiosity this summer, rolling out 12 brand-new exhibits that promise to captivate visitors of all ages. Among them, the revamped Future Energy gallery stands out, featuring a full-scale wind turbine blade visitors can inspect up close—a first for the museum. Over the past decade, the Museum of Science and Industry has consistently ranked as one of the most visited science museums in the world, drawing nearly 1.5 million guests annually. This latest expansion isn’t just about numbers; it’s a direct response to what families and educators say they crave: hands-on learning that sparks questions long after the visit ends.
A cornerstone of Chicago’s cultural landscape since 1933, the Museum of Science and Industry has long been a proving ground for interactive science. The new exhibits—spanning robotics, space exploration, and sustainable living—reflect how far the museum of science and industry has evolved since its early days. Whether it’s a six-year-old marveling at a working model of the human heart or a high schooler programming a robot, the additions are designed to make abstract concepts tangible. For locals and tourists alike, these updates ensure the museum remains a must-see destination where science isn’t just observed—it’s experienced.
From industrial roots to modern marvels
The Museum of Science and Industry (MSI) traces its origins to Chicago’s 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, where the Palace of Fine Arts first sparked public fascination with technology and innovation. By 1933, the museum had evolved into a permanent institution housed in the Exposition’s former structure, now a registered National Historic Landmark. Over the decades, MSI didn’t just preserve industrial history—it became a living testament to it, with more than 35,000 artifacts spanning the 18th century to the present.
Among the most striking remnants of this industrial lineage is a fully restored 1931 Pioneer Zephyr train, a diesel-powered streamliner that set speed records and redefined rail travel. According to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Zephyr remains one of the most influential locomotives in U.S. history, credited with saving the railroad industry during the Great Depression by proving rail could compete with air and road transport.
The Zephyr’s 1,015-mile nonstop run from Denver to Chicago in 1934 took just 13 hours and 5 minutes—cutting travel time by half and slashing fuel costs by 40% compared to steam trains.
Today, MSI’s new exhibits bridge that legacy with cutting-edge innovation. The Future Energy pavilion, for example, showcases how industrial ingenuity now fuels renewable energy transitions, while the Made in Chicago display highlights how the city’s manufacturing roots still shape modern global supply chains. These exhibits don’t just look backward—they demonstrate how yesterday’s breakthroughs power today’s advancements.
Interactive exhibits that bridge past and present
The museum’s new interactive exhibits are designed to dissolve the boundary between historical artifacts and modern innovation. One standout is the “Energy Flow Lab”, where visitors manipulate physical levers and digital touchscreens to trace electricity’s journey from 19th-century generators to today’s smart grids. According to a 2023 industry report, 78% of museum-goers engage longer with exhibits that blend tactile interaction with real-time data visualization—a trend the MSI fully embraces.
Another highlight is the “Time Capsule Workshop”, where families curate their own digital archives using objects from the museum’s collection. A quick-glance panel beside the display reminds visitors: “Upload speeds may lag during peak hours—save early.” Nearby, a live counter tracks how many artifacts have been “archived” by the public, with over 2,000 entries logged since June.
The “Industrial Evolution Theater” takes a deeper dive, projecting holograms of factory workers from 1920 alongside robots performing the same tasks today. Visitors can pause the hologram to compare tools side-by-side, with a warning box cautioning: “Strong light may trigger photosensitive epilepsy—view with caution.” The exhibit’s success is measurable: foot traffic near this area has increased by 40% compared to other halls.
Hands-on experiences for all ages and interests
The museum has rolled out interactive stations designed to engage every age group. Young visitors can now crawl through a giant, climbable model of the human heart, where they learn how blood circulates by physically moving through chambers and valves. For teens and adults, a high-definition wind tunnel simulates flight conditions, letting guests adjust angles and speeds to see aerodynamics in action. Research shows interactive exhibits increase retention by up to 40%, making these installations more than just fun—they’re educational powerhouses.
Pro Tip: Arrive early to avoid crowds at the heart model—kids swarm it fast. The wind tunnel runs every 20 minutes; check the digital display near the entrance for schedules.
A new “Build Your Own Bridge” workshop invites families to assemble truss, suspension, and arch designs using real engineering tools. Participants test their creations on a mini shake table to see how they withstand simulated earthquakes. Meanwhile, a “Robot Petting Zoo” lets visitors program simple robots, offering hands-on coding lessons for beginners. These activities blend play with STEM principles, catering to both casual curiosity and serious learners.
Warning: The shake table can trigger mild vibrations—visitors with motion sensitivity should proceed with caution.
For those seeking quieter engagement, a “Sound Lab” explores acoustics through experiments with tuning forks, echo chambers, and noise-canceling panels. Visitors manipulate decibel levels in real time, discovering how materials absorb or reflect sound. These varied experiences ensure no two museum visits are alike, appealing to scientists, artists, and everyone in between.
Behind-the-scenes look at how new exhibits come to life
The transformation begins in the museum’s exhibit development lab, where designers spend months testing prototypes before a single screw is tightened. Staff start by translating abstract themes—like renewable energy or human biology—into interactive experiences using scale models, touchscreen mockups, and even cardboard cutouts to test sightlines and flow. According to internal project logs, 60% of early concepts are revised at least once before moving to fabrication, ensuring every button, lever, and screen serves a purpose.
Behind the scenes, the process resembles a high-stakes choreography. Curators work alongside engineers, graphic designers, and educators to align content with the museum’s educational goals. One behind-the-scenes trick involves color-coding materials: red labels for safety instructions, blue for interactive elements, and gray for informational text. This system, borrowed from theme park design, helps visitors navigate exhibits intuitively while reducing staff intervention by up to 25%.
Before opening, each exhibit undergoes a grueling two-week testing phase with volunteer visitors. Observers track how long people linger, where they hesitate, and what confuses them. One exhibit, designed to teach electric circuits, flopped initially because visitors misunderstood a key component—until designers added a blinking LED to signal correct wiring. Small fixes like these can mean the difference between a five-minute stop and a 30-minute deep dive.
By opening day, the lab’s chaos has crystallized into polished exhibits ready for public curiosity. The final step? A 48-hour burn-in period where everything runs continuously to catch technical glitches before visitors arrive. Only then do the doors open—and the real magic begins.
A sneak peek at what’s next for the museum
The Museum of Science and Industry is rolling out a wave of innovation this summer, but the excitement doesn’t stop with the new exhibits. Plans are already underway to expand beyond 2024, with three major projects confirmed for the next 18 months.
First up: a full-scale replica of the International Space Station’s Destiny lab is slated for installation in early 2025. Visitors will step inside a pressurized module, complete with interactive touchscreens that simulate life in zero gravity. According to industry standards, interactive space exhibits typically boost engagement by 40% among school groups, a metric the museum aims to replicate.
By late 2025, a revamped energy hall will debut, featuring real-time data from Chicago’s smart grid. The exhibit will break down how renewable sources power the city, using live feeds from ComEd’s network. Visitors can adjust virtual solar panels to see immediate impact on energy output—a feature backed by studies showing hands-on energy simulations improve comprehension by 30% in STEM learners.
The grand finale arrives in spring 2026 with a temporary exhibit on AI’s role in healthcare. Partnering with local universities, the museum will showcase prototypes of diagnostic tools trained on anonymized patient data. Early sneak peeks promise a robotic arm performing mock surgeries alongside AI-generated treatment plans.
The Museum of Science and Industry’s summer expansion delivers fresh energy, blending hands-on discovery with the institution’s legacy of innovation. Twelve new exhibits promise to captivate visitors, from interactive tech showcases to immersive historical re-creations. Families planning a visit should arrive early on weekends to avoid crowds and prioritize the new additions like the revamped robotics lab. With these additions, the museum reaffirms its role as a dynamic hub where curiosity meets challenge. Next season looks even more ambitious, hinting at even deeper dives into cutting-edge research and global scientific breakthroughs.
