What Chicago Museum Are You in the Mood For?

While a multibillion-dollar art collection might sound appealing on Monday, Tuesday could have you ramped up for a basement full of fossils. It really depends on what you’re in the mood for, so take a moment for self-reflection, and then read on.

If you feel like getting your hands dirty, Chicago is home to some fantastic interactive museums. The Museum of Science and Industry offers a plethora of interactive exhibits, such as Health and the Human Body, where you can learn hip-hop dance moves and tai chi from a virtual coach. Another activity-heavy destination is the Chicago Sports Museum, a recent addition to the city’s museum medley. Check out the Measure Up exhibit to see how your strength, speed and agility compares with the pros.

Sometimes our twisted psychology yearns to be utterly creeped out. Fortunately, Chicago has two museums that fit the criteria. The International Museum of Surgical Science is as informative as it is cringe-worthy. Whether it’s a collection of used heart valves or an amputation demonstration, you’re bound to find something that curdles your blood. For a more light-hearted plunge into bizarro land, pop over to Woolly Mammoth Antiques and Oddities. One could argue it’s more of a curiosity shop than a museum, but semantics aside, it’s definitely worth the visit. Prepare yourself for oddities such as a jar of used dentures, an abundance of taxidermied specimens and, of course, animal skulls.

For those of you looking for some precious peace and quiet, Chicago’s museum scene does have a more intimate side. A solemn and quietly beautiful museum experience can be had at The Richard H. Driehaus Gallery of Stained Glass at Navy Pier. The Smart Museum of Art at the University of Chicago offers a fascinating art collection in a more tranquil environment than some of the city’s bigger art museums. And then there’s Dave’s Down To Earth Rock Shop, a well-loved hobby shop with a fossil museum in the basement.

No matter what mood you’re in, there is a museum in the Windy City that fits your needs, so remember: Before you can know thy museum, you must know thyself.