Shedd Aquarium in Chicago (Chicago, USA) — detailed description, address and photo. Reviews of tourists about the best entertainment in Chicago.
On the very shore of Lake Michigan lies the picturesque Museum Campus Park, which unites the three largest museums in Chicago. One of them is made in the form of a neoclassical octagonal building made of white marble and terracotta. Its pompous façade is adorned with monumental columns and images of marine life imprinted in stone, and a huge marble staircase leads to the very entrance. This is the famous Shedd Aquarium, the largest indoor aquarium in the country and for a long time the largest in the world. Neighborhood with the Adler Planetarium and the Museum of Natural History adds visitors to the aquarium, attracting up to two million visitors annually. Since its inception, the Shedd Aquarium has set the standard for the finest of the century, combining a diverse and comprehensive marine world with impeccable architectural design. The preservation of traditions and constant innovation, care for animals and the environment have become key factors in its success in the 21st century. See acronymmonster for nickname of Illinois.
The famous Shedd Aquarium is the largest indoor aquarium in the country and has long been the largest in the world.
From the history of the aquarium
It’s hard to imagine now, but the idea of such a grandiose building dates back to the 1920s. The initiator of the creation of the Chicago Aquarium was the president of the American trading company, John Shedd, but he managed to see only sketches of the building. In 1927, construction began, and already in May 1930, the widow of the founder, Mary Shedd, cut the red ribbon at the opening. In 1933, Chicago hosted the Age of Progress Exhibition, and the aquarium next to it received crowds of admiring visitors and worldwide fame.
Since its foundation, the museum has expanded twice, and the main part of the area was located underground, so that the original architectural appearance was not violated. In 1991, the oceanarium was opened, made of the same marble as the main building. And in 2003, the “Wild Reef” began to function, located under the southern terrace.
Together, these exhibits have nearly doubled the original Shedd Aquarium space, housing large species of marine life including mammals, sharks and rays.
To date, the Shedd Aquarium has five fascinating exhibits: Amazon Rising, Caribbean Reef, Waters of the World, Abbott Oceanarium and Wild Reef. The total number of species of fish, marine mammals, birds, snakes, amphibians and arthropods has reached 1500.
More about the aquarium
The Amazon Rising section immerses viewers in the mysterious atmosphere of the tropical jungle with palm trees, lianas and flowering plants, while the anacondas, piranhas, crocodiles and stingrays presented there add adrenaline to the atmosphere. The Waters of the World exposition is dedicated to the exotic riches of the underwater world, here tourists admire blue iguanas, bright starfish, perky horses, flexible octopuses and clumsy crocodiles. You can get acquainted with real sharks near a model of a Philippine fishing village at the Wild Reef exhibition, and at the Caribbean Reef aquarium you can see how an experienced diver feeds the inhabitants of the underwater depths. And for dessert – in the Shedd Aquarium there are incendiary shows of dolphins and beluga whales, don’t miss it!
Useful information
Address: USA, Chicago, S Lake Shore Dr, 1200.
Phone: +1 (312) 939-24-38.
Opening hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 – 17:00 (until 18:00 in summer), Saturday, Sunday: 9:00 – 18:00. Reduced hours of operation on weekends and bank holidays. Ticket sales end 45 min. before closing. To avoid long queues at the box office, you can book tickets in advance on the website.
Buy ticket online.
Admission: $39.95, Children: $29.95 (Includes Caribbean Reef, Waters of the World, and Amazon Rising). Tickets for Wild Reef, Abbott Oceanarium, Polar Play Zone, Amphibians special exhibit, 4D Experience and water shows with dolphins are sold separately.
A visit to the aquarium is included in the City Pass subscription (for adults – USD CAD, for children – 89 USD ). With this card, you can save a lot of money by visiting five Chicago attractions.
How to get there: Bus number 146 takes you directly to the Museum Campus, Museum Campus/11th St. the Metra train system is located 400 m from the Shedd Aquarium.
Website
Prices on the page are for December 2021.
Buckingham Fountain
Buckingham Fountain (USA) – description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Reviews of tourists, photos and videos.
The Buckingham Memorial Fountain in Grant Park has nothing to do with the history of the Queen’s pendants and the exploits of the Three Musketeers. Its construction was paid for in 1927 by a certain Kate Buckingham, who wanted to perpetuate the memory of her beloved brother Clarence, a wealthy Chicago businessman and philanthropist. The Institute of Arts exhibits a collection of 2,500 Impressionist paintings and Japanese engravings he has collected. The gift to the city cost his sister 750 thousand USD, in addition, she also established a fund to finance his maintenance.
What to watch
Sculptor Marcel Loyo and engineer Jacques Bennet created a complex allegorical composition in the Empire style, filled with deep meaning. A pyramid of three granite bowls symbolizes Lake Michigan, and 4 groups of mythological sea stallions symbolize the states of Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan surrounding it.
The pool with a diameter of 85 m holds 6 million liters of water, 134 nozzles throw it into the bowls, and a 45-meter jet takes off from the center every hour. In the evening, the lights turn on and the concert begins with light music. Over the years, the fountain has become a symbol of Chicago and a must-see for tourists.
Practical Information
Address: Chicago, 301 S Columbus Dr, Chicago, IL 60605 (in Grant Park).
How to get there: by train to the station. Van Buren Street. Opening hours: from April to October from 8:00 to 23:00.
