Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago is a major art museum and research institution located on Michigan Avenue in Chicago, established in 1879. It houses a large, encyclopedic collection spanning ancient to contemporary art.

Visitors explore vast permanent collections with strengths in Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painting, American art, Asian art and modern and contemporary galleries, plus special exhibitions in rotating galleries. Notable on-site features include the Thorne Miniature Rooms and the Modern Wing for 20th- and 21st-century works.

The institute grew out of an 19th-century art school and exhibition society and moved to its present Grant Park campus for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition; it has expanded through building additions and new curatorial departments since then.

The museum sits on the lakefront in Chicago’s Loop district, directly adjacent to Grant Park and within walking distance of downtown hotels and public transit.

• Founding and location: Founded in 1879, the Art Institute of Chicago sits on Michigan Avenue adjacent to Grant Park and is one of the United States' oldest and largest art museums.
• Signature works: The collection includes iconic works such as Grant Wood's 'American Gothic' and Georges Seurat's 'A Sunday on La Grande Jatte.'

What to See #

• Impressionist galleries: Galleries holding the museum's renowned Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collections, including paintings by Monet, Degas and Seurat, arranged in the McKinlock Court and adjacent rooms.
• Modern Wing: The Modern Wing opened in 2009 and houses 20th- and 21st-century art, expanding the museum's display of modern and contemporary works.
• Thorne Miniature Rooms: A collection of miniature furnished rooms created in the early 20th century that showcases detailed interiors from different periods and regions.