Discover What’s New in Our Permanent Exhibitions Over the years, The Field Museum has offered a robust schedule of extraordinary temporary exhibitions such as Darwin, The Splendors of China’s Forbidden City, and The Aztec World. Because these exhibitions are here for just a short time, we aggressively promote them and encourage the public to visit before they close. But no matter when you visit, The Field Museum offers a rich experience thanks to our outstanding permanent exhibitions – many of which are new or completely refurbished. Our scientists, exhibitions staff, and educators continually work together to develop and improve exhibitions that explore the wonders of nature and the world’s diverse cultures. If you haven’t visited the Museum in recent years, you will be delighted to discover these new additions to our permanent line-up: The Crown Family PlayLab is a unique and immersive environment created especially for children ages 2-6 in mind. This hands-on space provides endless opportunities for young visitors to express themselves, get excited by their own discoveries, develop new skills and take on the role of scientist for a day. It’s a place for children’s caregivers to rediscover their own sense of wonder, too, as they join in the fun. DNA is the thread that connects all life on Earth, but few people understand what it is, how it works, and what it tells us. The Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice DNA Discovery Center is a working state-of-the-art laboratory where Museum visitors can observe researchers extracting, sequencing, and analyzing DNA. It is the first molecular systematics facility in the country open to public viewing. In addition, the exhibition includes videos, hands-on interactives, and informative displays. The Museum’s new T. Kimball and Nancy N. Brooker Gallery showcases exhibitions of books, documents, and art. Many of the exhibitions scheduled for the gallery contain material from the Museum’s collections. The Brooker Gallery is located on the mezzanine level. The Elizabeth Hubert Malott Hall of Jades has been refurbished to better showcase more than 450 stunning jade objects that span China’s history. This serene, softly lit gallery allows visits to reflect on the stone that represents prosperity, virtue, and power in Chinese culture. Kenneth and Anne Griffin Halls of Evolving Planet opened in 2006 and has been hailed as a ground-breaking exhibition on the subject of evolution. Come journey through four billion years of life on Earth and discover many life forms from single-celled organisms, to giant dinosaurs and our extended human family. Learn about major extinctions that shaped the way life evolved. The 27,000-square-foot exhibition showcases nearly 1,300 unique specimens and more than 100 interactive displays. Discover the diversity and ingenuity of the peoples who thrived in the Americas prior to the arrival of Europeans. The McCormick Halls of the Ancient Americas explores 13,000 years of cultural evolution in the Western Hemisphere from small groups of hunter-gatherers to the empires of the Aztecs and Incas. This compelling story is told through 2,200 artifacts – including pottery, tools, and jewelry – as well as interactive maps, dioramas, computer activities, and animated videos. John W. McCarter, Jr. President & CEO