Escape the Museum is back and better than ever. After a sold-out weekend in 2024, Griffin MSI is hosting 12 nights of "The Wandering Alchemist." This giant escape game asks you to find clues and solve puzzles as you explore the Museum after hours.
 
Take a closer look at some of your favorite exhibits as you work to pass the final exam leading to your induction into the Guild of Alchemists. Each puzzle is designed to test your curiosity, logic and insight as you explore the museum like you never have before.
 
This year's program is for players who identify as beginner to intermediate. Experienced escape room players are welcome but may go quickly through the games.

This event is family-friendly and suitable for ages 8 and up. Players under 18 must be accompanied by a ticketed game-playing adult.

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Escape the Museum

General Admission gives you access to most permanent exhibits as well as select temporary exhibitions.

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General Admission

Membership allows you to explore more while enjoying a great value. 

Exclusive benefits include free entry all year, Giant Dome Theater tickets, discounted exhibition tickets and so much more!

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Member Checkout

Low-Sensory Mornings provide exclusive early access to Griffin MSI from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., allowing you to explore exhibits with modified lighting and sound. Your tickets also include Museum Entry for rest of the day, with most Museum experiences remaining in sensory-friendly mode until noon.

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Low Sensory Morning

Select weekend dates: check-in at 7:45 a.m., coffee/tea at 8 a.m., guided tour begins after

Take an extended, private group tour of the U-505 submarine and exhibit before the Museum opens. United States submarine veterans answer your questions, and you'll have additional free time in the exhibit before Museum hours. Tickets include the morning refreshments, exclusive morning tour, and General Admission for the entire day. Recommended for ages 10 and up.

A Museum guide points to an open hatch as a guest looks into it

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U-505 In-Depth Experience

Admission $20 per ride ($18 MSI members), good for up to 2 people. PURCHASE ONLY ONE TICKET PER TWO PEOPLE.

Height/weight requirements to ride: 48" (approx. 122 cm) or taller and 245 lbs. or less.

Try your skills at air-to-air combat in numerous historic aircraft such as the F-4 Phantom, the A-10 Thunderbolt II, F-15 Eagle, the P-51 Mustang and more. Choose either pilot or gunner responsibilities. Climb, dive, and roll your simulator in 360-degree barrel rolls to earn “ace” status (training time included prior to your mission). (Approx. 6 minutes)

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Interactive Flight Simulators

Must be 42" (approx. 106 cm) tall to ride. Height and other restrictions apply.

Be "transported" into space or the sea in this state-of-the-art motion-based virtual reality experience. Our electronic VR goggles immerse you in the action with experiences including: Apollo 11 & Beyond, Spacewalk: Danger in Orbit, and Dive in Prehistoric Seas. (Approx. 5 minutes)

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VR Transporter

Admission: $8 per person ($7 Griffin MSI members) * Max. 6 people per ride.

Riders must be 42” (approx. 106 cm) tall to ride unaccompanied.

Choose your adventure from a list of exciting aviation and space-themed experiences and take an exciting trip on board our dynamic Motion Theater Pods. Adventures include Aerobatic Challenge, Moon Thunder, Red Baron: Legend of the Air and Space Chase. (5 minutes)

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Motion Simulators

Corporate Family Day Admission

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Add to the Event: Anne Frank The Exhibition

Adults $18, Children (3-11) $14 (+ General Admission)

Limited accessibility. Stairs, uneven floors and tight quarters aboard the submarine make the tour not accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.

Board the U-505 Submarine, the only remaining German U-boat captured during World War II. From the cramped quarters to the feel of battle, take a guided tour through a piece of history that you'll never forget. (25 minutes; allow up to 30 minutes to explore the exhibit before the tour.)

Submarine machinery in the U-505 Submarine engine room

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U-505 On-Board Tour

Adults $12, Children (3-11) $9  (+ General Admission)

Limited accessibility. Stairs in this tour make it inaccessible for wheelchairs and strollers. 

The Museum's very first exhibit has been a guest favorite ever since 1933. Descend into the coal mine on an engaging tour of mining innovations and machinery through the years.

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Coal Mine

Adults $12, Children (3-11) $9 (+ General Admission)

Showtimes: Every 30 minutes from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. (4:30 p.m. on extended days)

Immerse yourself in science on a grand scale in our five-story, wraparound dome theater.

Large multicolored movie screen with seated audience

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Giant Dome Theater

Are you on Santa’s naughty or nice list this year?

No matter which one you end up on, you can still celebrate at this 21-and-up after-hours holiday party. Grab a seasonal cocktail, try your hand at holiday trivia and crafts, join forces with Santa and Mrs. Claus or Scrooge and the Grinch and explore Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light along with the rest of the Museum after it’s been closed to the public.

Partygoers in holiday sweaters pose in front of a large holiday tree

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Naughty or Nice

Tickets: Adults $12, Children (ages 3-11) $9

Showtimes: Every 60 minutes from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m. on extended days)

Join shark heroes Jess Cramp, Liv Rose and Cristina Zenato on an epic family adventure into the fascinating kingdom of sharks and come face-to-face with these magnificent creatures to learn how our future is intertwined with theirs. (25 minutes)

A conservationist and shark advocate, seen underwater in a scuba suit, helps to remove a fishhook from a shark. 

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Shark Kingdom

Saturday, Dec. 19, 2026 from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. 

Multigenerational family smiling and surrounded by holiday trees and an escalator

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Naughty or Nice: All Ages Edition

The contents of the "Orange" Science Curiosity Kit are displayed featuring Garden in a Pouch, Map Making, Weather Station, Solar Oven

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Science Curiosity Kit

Visiting Chicago? CityPASS® tickets save up to 50% on premier admission to Chicago’s top 5 attractions.

Includes Griffin MSI permanent exhibits and one special timed-entry experience (a $37.95 value).

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CityPASS

Are you an educator or administrator looking to enhance STE(A)M learning? Join Griffin MSI on Saturday, Sept. 5 to learn about all of the incredible ways our education team can support your students.  

During this event, Education staff will be showcasing the breadth of Griffin MSI programming. Whether you're looking for hands-on activities for your students in the classroom or a camp for your family, we're here to support your learning. No matter your subject area or grade we have something for you: 

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Educator Open House

Saturday, October 17, 2026 from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m

Young guest in a Spider-Man costume touches a mirror showing his reflection

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Member Evening

No photography or large bags permitted in the exhibition.

This upgraded exhibition ticket for Anne Frank The Exhibition includes express untimed exhibit entry (once per visit day).

Portrait of Anne Frank with orange label saying "+ Flex Pass"

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Anne Frank The Exhibition Flex Pass

Hosted by our Educator Advisory Group, Griffin MSI will provide an inspiring backdrop to this teacher collaboration and networking event. With a particular emphasis on meeting the unique needs of Black and Hispanic/Latino educators and students this event supports our collective efforts to inspire the inventive genius in everyone. 
Connect with and learn from other educators as you snack on hors d'oeuvres, enjoy refreshments and explore some of your favorite Griffin MSI exhibits. 
This brand-new event is the first of many, intended to strengthen community among teachers and build a network of collaborative partners to support classroom learning. Throughout the evening, there will be opportunities to get to know your fellow teachers with hands-on science activities and fun ice breakers. 
The Griffin MSI team will be leading in-depth tours of Science Storms and Powering the Future so you can gain even more insight into these fascinating topics. 
Plus, there will be a supply swap (not just for science classrooms!) so bring any extra supplies you have and take what you need for your students. And we will be raffling off prizes like a full year membership to the Museum! 
<h3>Advance registration required</h3>
Capacity is limited so we recommend reserving your tickets early!

Educator Networking Event

Showtimes: Every 60 minutes from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. (4 p.m. on extended days)

Take a journey from ice to fire to tornados and discover how all these extreme elements are connected. Travel alongside researchers and scientists as they search for answers and join with real-life heroes as they battle the elements. (25 minutes)

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Extreme Weather

A time-traveling journey to watch spectacular moments in our solar system's past and future, including stars, comets, interstellar debris, and the ongoing merger of our galaxy with a smaller satellite galaxy. Narrated by Pedro Pascal. (25 minutes)

A blue spectral formation in front of a background of stars

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Encounters in the Milky Way

Flex Pass +$10/ticket: Includes untimed express entry to the exhibition (once per visit day).

An immersive, full-scale recreation of the Annex where Anne Frank and her family lived in hiding. Step inside the meticulously reconstructed Annex featuring multimedia installations and more than 130 original collection pieces from the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam.

Portrait of Anne Frank with "Free Admission" label at top

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Anne Frank The Exhibition

Saturday, November 14, 2026 from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

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Member Morning

Snoozeums are for children ages 6-12 and their adult (18+) chaperones (one required for every five children). The per-person fee includes overnight admission with parking, hands-on science activities, tours, Giant Dome Theater screenings, a Snoozeum patch and breakfast. Space is limited and pre-registration is required.

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Science Snoozeum

Two young campers are all smiles collaborating on a craft. 

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Curiosity Day Camps

A young camper proudly shows off a robot made during a Griffin MSI camp. 

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Fall Break Camp

Two campers working on drawings confer at a lab table

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Winter Break Camp

Four girls wearing lanyards assembling LEGO® structures at a table

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Spring Break Camp

Group of excited young campers holding up stuffed griffins

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Summer Camp

Admission to Anne Frank The Exhibition is free through October.

This Saturday, the Museum will close at 3 p.m. in preparation for the annual Boo Fest Member Evening.

Anne Frank The Exhibition is sold out for today. The exhibition will be closed for the day on Monday, Sep. 21.

Why wait? Advance tickets let you save time and bypass lines this holiday weekend.

Allow additional time for your travel to Griffin MSI due to significant road closures nearby.

Cyber Monday special! Save 5% on Summer Camps with code EARLYBIRD through Dec. 7.

Our summer camp experiences are about exploring everything the Museum has to offer.&nbsp;

Virtual Crime Lab

Call for artists now open through October 12, 2025!

Facade of the Museum's North Portico with banners reading "Inspiring Inventive Genius"

Select your ticket type