Our Trip to the "Museum of Science + Industry - Chicago"

            Recently I was going through my trip souvenirs collection and realized that our family seems to have traveled quiet a few places in the USA that we can talk about!. So, result.. this blog!. In my blog, you will see reviews on various places our family went, or events that we attended or products that we used etc.
       I know this makes you feel that my blog is a mish mash of various topics, which it will be. But I can promise you one thing..... no two posts of my blog will be the same.
Now, getting back to the title's purpose, I decided that I will start my blog with a review of the most recent trip we made. It was to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, IL.
 When I say that one day will not be enough for going through all the exhibits of the museum, I am saying the truth. We reached the museum around 10 am in the morning and we were there till closing time of the museum.
     The museum is set up in 4 levels, with the entry hall being the base level and another 3 levels spanning above this entry hall. Below are only some of the many interesting exhibits that captivated us:

Level 1- Lower Level

Farm tech area has cool displays of John Deere's harvester and combine tractors. Also there are simulation consoles where, on screen you can try your hand on driving a combine and planting/harvesting crops!!

     The Colleen Moore's fairy castle display is a sight to behold!. This is the fairy castle which was created by actress Colleen Moore for her own collection and later donated to the Chicago MS&I by her. You will be so impressed to see all the miniature size furniture and structures inside this fairy castle!! Something so cute!!! (couldn't stop myself from saying this -:) )

 The "Idea factory" is an ideal place for younger kids to spend their excess energy, in a way they like. It has water works, float-sink kind of games that we usually find in a children's museum.

Level 2 - Main Level

This level's coolest area would be the "Science Storms" - a science lab which has a two stories tall tornado vortex as its main feature. Science demonstrations about tornadoes happen every 20 mins near this vortex.

      Also there are exhibits demonstrating various concepts of physics such as force, friction, momentum etc. This science storms exhibit also spans up to the Level 3.

The other "must see" is the "Toy Maker 3000". This area has a robotic assembly line, where you can, for $5.00, place customized order for something called the "Gravitron" - a top with your name etched on it. And you can follow the assembly line, as the top is assembled for you. Our 6 yr old DS best loved the part where  the top is packed it its box, the packaging robot arm lifts the box and shows us the top, as though asking - "What do you think of it?..."

Also this area has robot which sketch as you sketch something, a dancing robot and some more!!!. Here is a picture of the "Gravitron" assembled for us. It would be a cool souvenir to have and is more than worth the money.

Level 3 - Balcony Level

Look out for the below in level - 3:
YOU! The experience - Find more about the internal workings of your body and see a GIANT heart beat to your rhythm.
727 Take flight - Take flight in the real size 727 flight. Also see a model of the first flying machine that the Wright brothers designed.
Also, keep an eye out for new exhibits are displayed periodically or new movies shown in the unbelievably large OmniMax screen
Finally, do not miss the following specials:
1. The First ever GPS: Invented in 1909 by J.W. Jones, called as the "Jones Live Map" : Found in the 80 at 80 area of Level 1
2. The Sweepers Clock   - A real-time video created in 2009 by Dutch designer Maarten Baas shows two men keeping time by sweeping trash piles laid out in the shape of clock hands. This is the first video to be a part of the museum's collection. Also found in the 80 at 80 area
3. The Eye Spy display  - Challenge yourself with these eye spy exhibits and see how many objects can you spot in each of them - again in the lower level
4. The Future energy Chicago - Look out here for the Vertical Farming simulation! Don't miss it!. This is in the second level, near the fairy castle exhibit.
5. The U-505 On-board tour  - Found in the lower level 1, walk around and look at the real size submarine.

Well, that's about what I can recollect from our mind-boggling trip to the Chicago Museum of Science + Industry. Hope my post was useful to you and hope you get to visit the museum. Have fun as much as our family did or even more!!.