Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
University of Illinois at Chicago, 800 S. Halsted St. (at Polk St.).
&
312/413-5353.
www.uic.edu/jaddams/hull. Free admission. Tues-Fri 10am-4pm; Sun noon-4pm.
Closed university holidays. Bus: 8. Subway/El: Blue Line to Halsted/University of
Illinois.
McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum
As you might
guess from the name, the
Chicago Tribune
newspaper is the guiding
force behind this celebration of the First Amendment. Thankfully,
though, this is no corporate-PR stunt, but rather a thought-provok-
ing overview of how freedom of speech impacts our daily life. Aimed
predominantly at junior-high and high-school students, it includes
the requisite high-tech bells and whistles aimed at jaded young atten-
tion spans (such as computer kiosks where you can listen to once-
banned songs or take sides in a free speech debate), and during the
week, you might be surrounded by loud school groups. But some of
the exhibits—such as the stories of reporters who were jailed for
telling the truth—are emotionally affecting, and it makes an easy
stop during a walk along Michigan Avenue. Allow 1 hour.
445 N. Michigan Ave. (between Illinois St. and the Chicago River).
&
312/222-
4860.
www.freedommuseum.us. Admission $5, children 5 and under free. Wed-
Mon 10am-6pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Subway/El:
Red Line to Grand. Bus: 145, 146, 147, or 151.
Kids
National Museum of Mexican Art
Chicago's vibrant Pilsen
neighborhood, just southwest of the Loop, is home to one of the
nation's largest Mexican-American communities. This institution—
the only Latino museum accredited by the American Association of
Museums—may be the neighborhood's most prized possession.
That's quite an accomplishment, given that it was founded in 1987
by a passel of public-school teachers who pooled $900 to get it
started.
Exhibits showcase Mexican and Mexican-American visual and
performing artists, often drawing on the permanent collection of
more than 5,000 works, but the visiting artists, festival program-
ming, and community participation make the museum really shine.
Its Day of the Dead celebration, which runs for about 8 weeks begin-
ning in September, is one of the most ambitious in the country. The
Del Corazon Mexican Performing Arts Festival, held in the spring,
features programs by local and international artists here and around
town, and the Sor Juana Festival, presented in the fall, honors Mexi-
can writer and pioneering feminist Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz with
photography and painting exhibits, music and theater performances,
and poetry readings by Latina women. Allow 1 hour.
