Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Encyclopedia
The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum - The Museum of the Chicago Academy of Sciences is a nature museum located in Chicago, Illinois. The museum, which opened in a new facility in October 1999, is located at the intersection of Fullerton Parkway and Cannon Drive in Lincoln Park
. The museum focuses on the natural history of the Chicago region and child and adult education. In addition, it has a popular live butterfly house.
The Academy was founded in 1857 by young prominent American naturalists, such as Robert Kennicott
and William Stimpson
. It was Chicago’s first museum dedicated to nature and science, and developed one of the finest natural history collections in the United States in the mid-19th century, but that collection was lost in the Great Chicago Fire
of 1871. The museum was rebuilt but lost its home again in the financial turmoil of the 1880s. The museum then built a building in Lincoln Park in 1898, which became the model for the Chicago Park District
's museum-in-the-parks program. In the 1990's, a new home for the museum was constructed nearby, on the southeastern banks of the North Pond. Its old building is currently used for Zoo administration.
. The building was designed by Perkins and Will
.
Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park is an urban park in Chicago, which gave its name to the Lincoln Park, Chicago community area.Lincoln Park may also refer to:-Urban parks:*Lincoln Park , California*Lincoln Park, San Francisco, California...
. The museum focuses on the natural history of the Chicago region and child and adult education. In addition, it has a popular live butterfly house.
History
The Museum is operated by the Chicago Academy of Sciences, which had previously been located at Lincoln Park's century old Matthew Laflin Memorial Building.The Academy was founded in 1857 by young prominent American naturalists, such as Robert Kennicott
Robert Kennicott
Robert Kennicott was an American naturalist.-Biography:Kennicott was born in New Orleans and grew up in "West Northfield" , Illinois, a town in the prairie north of the then nascent city of Chicago....
and William Stimpson
William Stimpson
William Stimpson was a noted American scientist.- Biography :Stimpson was born in Boston, Massachusetts to Herbert Hathorne Stimpson and Mary Ann Devereau Brewer. The Stimpsons were of the old colonial and Revolutionary stock of Massachusetts, the earliest known member of the family being James...
. It was Chicago’s first museum dedicated to nature and science, and developed one of the finest natural history collections in the United States in the mid-19th century, but that collection was lost in the Great Chicago Fire
Great Chicago Fire
The Great Chicago Fire was a conflagration that burned from Sunday, October 8, to early Tuesday, October 10, 1871, killing hundreds and destroying about in Chicago, Illinois. Though the fire was one of the largest U.S...
of 1871. The museum was rebuilt but lost its home again in the financial turmoil of the 1880s. The museum then built a building in Lincoln Park in 1898, which became the model for the Chicago Park District
Chicago Park District
The Chicago Park District is the oldest and largest park district in the U.S.A, with a $385 million annual budget. It has the distinction of spending the most per capita on its parks, even more than Boston in terms of park expenses per capita...
's museum-in-the-parks program. In the 1990's, a new home for the museum was constructed nearby, on the southeastern banks of the North Pond. Its old building is currently used for Zoo administration.
Exhibits and Programs
The museum's exhibits today include displays about the ecological history of the Illinois region, a live butterfly house, and a green home demonstration. The butterfly house features more than 200 species of exotic butterflies. The museum also offers more than 100 educational programs for adults and children.Name
The museum is named in honor of Peggy Notebaert, wife of Qwest Communications chairman and chief executive officer Richard NotebaertRichard Notebaert
Richard C. Notebaert is the former Chairman and CEO of Qwest, Tellabs and Ameritech. He was credited for saving Qwest and Tellabs from bankruptcy, and making Ameritech the most successful "Baby Bell"....
. The building was designed by Perkins and Will
Perkins and Will
Perkins+Will was founded in Chicago in 1935 by and ., on the belief that design has the power to transform lives and enhance society...
.