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Experience Chicago online: Virtual tours and digital experiences

Last updated on December 3, 2020 by Choose Chicago

Chicago is home to awe-inspiring museums, iconic architecture, and world-famous sites — and you can explore them all without leaving your living room with virtual tours and experiences. These digital resources allow you to experience Chicago in a new way, from our home to yours. Check back regularly as we add more experiences.

Art museums

History museums, science museums.

• Zoos & animals

Attractions

Architecture.

• Theatre & music

Art Institute of Chicago The Art Institute of Chicago is known for their astounding collection, which includes some of the most famous paintings on the planet. And more than 40,000 of their works have been digitized in high-resolution, so you can explore them from the comfort of your own home. A good place to start is with some of the museum’s essential works — zoom in to see each tiny dot in a A Sunday on La Grande Jatte or admire the brushstrokes in Monet’s Water Lilies .

See the digital collection Take a virtual tour of the museum Explore more ways to visit virtually

Museum of Contemporary Photography The Museum of Contemporary Photography is the world’s premier college art museum dedicated to photography. Located within the Columbia College Chicago’s Loop campus, the museum is home to more than 15,000 objects by over 1,500 artists. Their digital collections showcase photographs from the MoCP permanent collection that have been selected by artists, curators, and students.

Explore digital exhibitions

National Museum of Mexican Art In the heart of the city’s vibrant Pilsen community, the National Museum of Mexican Art showcases more than 3,000 years of Mexican art and culture. The free museum is home to one of the country’s largest Mexican art collections, with a 10,000-piece permanent collection that celebrates the rich diversity of Mexican art across centuries. This virtual tour walks you through the museum’s colorful galleries, where you can view paintings, pottery, textiles, and more.

Take a online tour Book a virtual tour of their Day of the Dead exhibit

Museum of Contemporary Art The Commons Online is a new digital extension of the Museum of Contemporary Art ‘s community space. The portal brings together the museum’s online programs and resources, designed to foster social belonging during social distancing. Tune in to virtual programs, try your hand at creative projects, and dig into their archives of artist interviews. Check back soon, they’ll be adding new experiences every week.

Explore The Commons Online

Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art Experience outsider art across mediums in Intuit ‘s digital collection. View a portion of the museum’s 1,200 works, including pieces from the world’s most well-known self-taught artists.

Explore the online gallery

Wrightwood 659 Wrightwood 659 is a striking exhibition space in Lincoln Park designed by Tadao Ando. Check out their new virtual programming complementing their latest critically acclaimed exhibition Balkrishna Doshi: Architecture for the People.  Other digital offerings include a film series and virtual panel discussions.

Explore online exhibits and events

Oriental Institute This hidden gem, located on the University of Chicago campus, houses a treasure trove of artifacts from the most ancient days of Egypt, Persia, Mesopotamia, Syria, and beyond. The Oriental Institute ‘s virtual tour lets you explore many of the objects uncovered during their excavations, from early pottery to a massive statue of King Tut. 

Take the virtual tour

Field Museum The Field Museum of Natural History is one of the largest museum’s of its kind in the world. The original collection began with artifacts from the 1893 World’s Fair, and has grown into 40 million specimens and artifacts from all over the globe that span millennia. Take a peek at some of these fascinating items via their digital collection, which includes online imagery of ancient pottery, extinct animals, and historic sites.

Explore the museum at home

National Hellenic Museum The National Hellenic Museum in Chicago’s Greektown neighborhood is the second oldest U.S. institution dedicated to celebrating the cultural contributions of Greeks and Greek-Americans. Their free digital museum displays the largest Greek/Hellenic collection of its kind in the world, with more than 20,000 artifacts, photos, historic newspapers, and books, plus over 450 recorded oral histories.

Enter the digital museum

Chicago History Museum  Delve into Chicago’s rich history with the Chicago History Museum ‘s entire portal of online exhibitions, which presents a fascinating look at our city’s past. Learn about the Great Chicago Fire, the life of Abraham Lincoln, the Haymarket riots, and the evolution of Chicago’s culinary scene. One of their coolest digital experience is the Chicago θθ Project, which offers free virtual reality experiences of defining Chicago moments like the SS Eastland Disaster and the 1933 World’s Fair.

Explore online exhibits

DuSable Museum of African American History The DuSable Museum is the nation’s first independent museum dedicated to the collection, preservation and study of the history and culture of Africans and Americans of African descent. Their online exhibit — Freedom, Resistance, and the Journey Toward Equality — includes artifacts that represent the story of African American struggle and achievement across centuries.

Explore the online exhibit

Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center

As the third largest museum of its kind in the world, Illinois Holocaust Museum shares first-hand survivor narratives that inspire visitors to learn from the lessons of the past to transform the future. Their virtual museum allows you to watch documentaries of survivor stories, take audio tours, and tour the museum’s blockbuster exhibition,  Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Explore the virtual museum  

American Writers Museum The American Writers Museum   has launched a virtual hub with blogs, podcasts, exhibits, author talks, and more. Check out their latest exhibit, My America: Immigrant and Refugee Writers Today , an immersive multimedia exploration of the influence of modern immigrant and refugee writing .

Explore the virtual exhibits

Pritzker Military Museum & Library The Pritzker Military Museum & Library has launched Pritzker Military Presents . This original series airs each week on Chicago Public Television, WTTW Prime, and is available to stream via their website. Topics cover the full spectrum of military history and include lectures, discussions, and interviews with authors, scholars, and veterans.

Watch the video series

Museum of Science and Industry Keep the whole family entertained with the new Science at Home series from the Museum of Science and Industry . The kid-friendly activities and videos cover a wide variety of topics, from basic engineering to kinetic energy to human biology. The resources include interactive activities, videos, web-based games, and more. You can also join live tours of their popular exhibits, like Christmas Around the World and the U-505 Submarine .

Explore Science at Home games and activities

Adler Planetarium  Take a walk through space without leaving your couch. The Adler Planetarium presents a rich array of online exhibits, digitized images and artifacts, and virtual walk-throughs. Online exhibitions cover everything from women in space to rare astronomy books to first-hand stories from the Apollo 11 mission. And the virtual tours allow you to walk through the exhibits as if you were really there.

Check out online exhibits and tours

Zoos & animals

Shedd Aquarium  The Shedd Aquarium is home more than 1,500 species, including sea otters, seahorses, beluga whales, reef sharks, stingrays, Pacific white-sided dolphins, and beyond. Get up close and personal with the aquatic creatures via high-resolution images and virtual online tours. Walk through exhibits and get behind-the-scenes peeks at trainers and museum employees hard at work. And for a moment of zen, watch the live stream of their stunning Underwater Beauty exhibit.

Explore virtual programs and animal encounters

Lincoln Park Zoo  Lincoln Park Zoo is one of the largest and oldest free zoos in the country. While the zoo is temporarily closed through March 2021, you can stay connected to your favorite animals through their new Stay Tuned to the Zoo web series. The family-friendly videos will feature creatures from all over the world, from giraffes to Japanese macaques to meerkats.

Watch their animal videos

Brookfield Zoo Take a walk on the wild side with Brookfield Zoo ‘s new live streams. The suburban zoo’s Facebook page is # BringingTheZooToYou with videos of a different zoo animal each day at 11 a.m. CDT. So far they’ve featured Mexican wolves, snakes, and a bearcat while zookeepers provide informative and interesting narration. Viewers can even ask questions to be answered in real time. If you can’t make it right on time, each daily video is saved on their Facebook and YouTube pages.

Watch the daily live stream

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Get to know birds, mammals, reptiles, and more with the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum . This super family-friendly museum has a massive collection of plants, animals, insects, fossils and more to teach people of all ages about the natural world. Check out their online exhibit   about the importance of biodiversity, along with a collection of digital artifacts.

Explore online programs

Millennium Park Millennium Park is the green heart of Chicago. The lakefront park is home to iconic public art, outdoor concerts, skyline views, seasonal ice rinks, and more. The centerpiece of the park is Cloud Gate, aka “The Bean” , one of Chicago’s most famous attractions. It’s also where you’ll find the soaring Pritzker Pavilion, home to the popular (and free!) summer movie series, the tranquil Lurie Garden, and so much more.

Take a video tour

Garfield Park Conservatory The Garfield Park Conservatory , often referred to as “landscape art under glass,” is one of the largest conservatories in the nation. The conservatory spans two acres of public greenhouse space and 10 acres of outdoor gardens, with a diverse collection of plants representing all different climates. Take a virtual tour of their gardens, including a digital color safari and an architecture-based tour. 

Take a digital tour

Morton Arboretum The Morton Arboretum , located just outside Chicago in Lisle, is offering online resources for all ages. Find horticulture classes; virtual video walks; and educational offerings on tree care, ecology, climate change, and plant identification. These online webinars are designed for children and families, students and teachers, or just lifelong learners and home gardeners.

View all digital programs and webinars

Fox in a Box escape rooms Challenge your friends and family from afar with this one-of-a-kind virtual experience from Fox in a Box Chicago. This online escape room takes participants to the height of the Cold War, where you must coach a live actor on how to disarm a nuclear warhead before it’s too late.

Experience the live virtual escape room

Frank Lloyd Wright architecture The Chicagoland area, including nearby Oak Park, is home to the largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright -designed structures in the world. This is where you’ll find some of the iconic architect’s most influential works, including UNESCO World Heritage sites like the Frederick C. Robie House in Hyde Park . Take a look inside with these video tours.

Take a video tour of the Robie House Take a video tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Home and Studio

Chicago Architecture Center The Chicago Architecture Center has launched a new online mini-magazine, CAC@Home. The digital publication brings new and archival video, reading material, fun for the family, quizzes, interactive content, and more straight to subscribers’ inboxes. Read the first issue here and make sure to subscribe for more.

Chicago Detours Explore every corner of Chicago from your couch. Chicago Detours offers tons of virtual video tours that explore architecture all around the city, focusing on hidden gems and lesser known stories. They also cover a variety of other topics, from historic bars to the 1893 World’s Fair to LGBTQ history, all led by expert guides.

See the virtual tours

Chicago Cultural Center Check out these free virtual tours of “The People’s Palace”. The virtual tours, which are available on-demand on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month, cover the stunning architecture and history of the Chicago Cultural Center, built in 1897.

Request your virtual tour 

Theatre & music

Chicago Symphony Orchestra The Chicago Symphony Orchestra , part of Chicago’s museum scene for more than 130 years, is consistently hailed as one of the greatest orchestras in the world. And now you can experience the acclaimed group from home.

Experience the CSO from home Watch the CSO in concert

Steppenwolf Theatre Steppenwolf Theatre , one of the nation’s premier ensemble theatre, is providing a variety of ways to connect with their productions and cast virtually. Listen to their new interview-based podcast “Half Hour” for candid one-on-one conversations between ensemble members. Or subscribe to their new virtual stage to stream brand new Steppenwolf content from anywhere.

Join Steppenwolf NOW Listen to the podcast

Chicago Shakespeare Theater The Chicago Shakespeare Theater ‘s new Shakes@Home initiative that brings history’s most famous playwright to life in your living room. Explore this fun and educational online portal, which features creative experiences like a Living Room Sonnet Series, video playlists of top Chicago Shakespeare moments, audio recordings of pre-show talks by Shakespeare scholars, a documentary, cooking videos, and activities for kids.

Explore Shakes@Home

Belmont Theatre District The Belmont Theater District is home to more than 50 theaters, from independent movie houses to legendary comedy clubs. And many of those theatres have now launched digital programming to enjoy from the comfort of your own home. Check out podcasts, sketch shows, movie streams, and more.

Check out all virtual shows

Joffrey Ballet The world famous Joffrey Ballet is staying active on their YouTube channel. You can stream the acclaimed documentary Joffrey Mavericks of American Dance , which draws on rare archival footage to tell the history of the dance company and dance itself. And don’t miss ballet lessons and dance-inspired workouts.

Visit their YouTube channel

Lookingglass Theatre Lookingglass Theatre is a cutting-edge theatre located in a historic space in the Loop. They’ll be streaming their annual holiday show The Steadfast Tin Soldier for the entire month of December. You can also subscribe to The Secret Passage, a digital series that offers an exclusive peek into their process.

Stream their online holiday show Subscribe to their new digital series

Lyric Opera Check out Lyric Opera ‘s blog, Lyric Lately, for content and activities from the acclaimed group. Try your hand at Lyric trivia , see unreleased footage and virtual performances, and check out backstage perspectives, family activities, quizzes, and more.

Explore online programs and shows

Music Box Theatre The Music Box Theatre is a historic, independently owned cinema that’s a favorite in the Lakeview neighborhood. Their new virtual cinema series lets you watch Music Box-curated films at home, while supporting the theatre during its closure.

Stream movies at home

Auditorium Theatre This landmark Auditorium Theatre is offering two virtual holiday shows: A Celtic Family Christmas and A Holiday Concert with Alfreda Burke & Rodrick Dixon . You can also join historic theatre tours from the comfort of your own home. And check out their YouTube page for archived footage of past shows, talks with special guests, and performances.

View virtual content and tours

Virtual field trips with Mayor Lori Lightfoot

These virtual tours of Chicago’s cultural treasures, led by Mayor Lori Lightfoot, are designed for local students studying at home. Stay Home, Hit Play will go behind the scenes of a new museum each week, including the Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, National Museum of Mexican Art, Museum of Science and Industry, DuSable Museum, the Art Institute, and more.

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Enjoy Chicago’s best museums and cultural institutions from home

Stuck inside? You can still virtually experience some of the city’s best cultural offerings.

Just because you are stuck inside, it doesn’t mean you can’t still take in some of Chicago’s best cultural attractions. While physically closed, local institutions are using the power of technology to provide remote programming with free access to exhibitions, media collections, tours, and performances—all from the (relative) comfort of your couch.

A great place to start exploring Chicago’s museums from home is Google’s Arts & Culture platform . A number of local institutions offer digitized access to their exhibits and— in some cases—an interactive “explore” function that allows you to virtually stroll from room to room at will.

The list includes downtown’s Adler Planetarium , Shedd Aquarium , Field Museum , and Art Institute of Chicago as well as smaller neighborhood museums like Washington Park’s DuSable Museum of African American History , the National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen, the IIT Institute of Design , and University of Chicago’s Oriental Institute .

Chicago’s American Writers Museum is closed, but published its list of reading recommendations —perfect for starting a Zoom book club or getting inspiration to write the next great American novel. Meanwhile, the Museum of Science and Industry’s Science at Home program provides DIY experiments and programming for curious young minds.

For design lovers, the Chicago Architecture Center’s online CAC@Home magazine provides a revolving roster of remote-access tours, lectures, and more, and the Design Museum of Chicago had migrated its current exhibition, titled Great Ideas of Humanity: Passing the Torch , to the web.

History buffs can use the time at home to head to the Newberry library’s website to browse more than 1 million images and texts or tune into an audio archive of past events, seminars, and lectures. The Chicago History Museum offers access via both Google’s Arts & Culture website as well as its own online collections —including a nostalgic blast from the past in the form of the Studs Terkel Radio Archive .

To keep the public engaged during the closures, the Shedd posted videos to social media featuring a pair of penguins leaving their enclosure and going on a private tour of other parts of the aquarium. Not to be outdone, an inflatable SUE the T. Rex costume ran amuck through the Field Museum while an Abe Lincoln look-alike explored the Chicago History Museum .

Brookfield Zoo is also providing stay-at-home viewers a chance to see a different species up close every day with its “Bring The Zoo To You” broadcast, streaming each weekday at 11:00 a.m. on the zoo’s Facebook page .

When it comes to the performing arts, the Goodman Theatre is steaming for free its p2016 production of 2666 . Both the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra are offering online programming, and the Gene Siskel Film Center is allowing you to rent from its past, current, and upcoming of independent and international films .

And remember, there’s no reason to limit yourself to only local institutions and collections. Use this opportunity to take a virtual trip to New York , Boston , or Austin to check out their best museums, libraries, and other temporarily closed attractions.

In This Stream

Coronavirus and shelter-in-place impact in chicago.

• What Chicago renters need to know during the coronavirus pandemic
• Stuck at home? Take virtual tours of these Chicago museums.
• What Chicago homebuyers need to know during the coronavirus pandemic

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• Activities for Kids
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Visit Chicago’s Brightest & Best Cultural Gems. . . Virtually! 

Stuck inside? Aren’t we all! As Chicago remains on lockdown, our city’s best and brightest museums have stepped up to the virtual plate with online opportunities galore. Gather the fam, get comfy on the sofa, and pay a (virtual) visit to Chicago’s always immersive museums.  

Chicago’s beloved Field Museum stands as one of the world’s great museums of natural history. Thankfully, kids can online chat or text message the museum’s very own titanosaur, Máximo: Ask him what life was like during the Cretaceous Period, how he came to be at the museum, and even his favorite color or what he likes to eat. Send Máximo a message using the button on this page or text him at 70221.

The Art Institute of Chicago has digitized more than 40,000 of their masterpieces, so you can tour the collection from the comfort of home. A good place to start is with some of the museum’s essential works — zoom in to see each tiny dot in a A Sunday on La Grande Jatte or admire the brushstrokes in Monet’s Water Lilies . See the digital collection and explore more ways to visit virtually here . Newly homeschooling parents will want to pay a visit to the virtual classroom resource library for art-focused lesson plans and activities.  

Bring the lab to your little scientist and spark curiosity and encourage exploration with the Adler Planetarium ’s Let’s Do Science video series . Designed for families and educators, these engaging at-home experiments use household materials for fun hands-on, minds-on science activities. Experiments range from floating an egg in water to building a space-age lava lamp, and more.

Delve into Chicago’s rich history with the Chicago History Museum : Learn about the Great Chicago Fire, the life of Abraham Lincoln, the Haymarket riots, and the evolution of Chicago’s culinary scene. One of their coolest digital experiences is the Chicago θθ Project , which offers free virtual reality experiences of defining Chicago moments like the SS Eastland Disaster and the 1933 World’s Fair. Explore online exhibits , and check out the museum’s list of classroom resources that you can easily adapt for your newfangled homeschool curriculum. 

Embrace your inner Indiana Jones by exploring a treasure trove of artifacts from the most ancient days of Egypt, Persia, Mesopotamia, Syria, and beyond at The Oriental Institute . The museum’s virtual tour lets you explore many of the objects uncovered during the University of Chicago-led excavations, from early pottery to a massive statue of King Tut. 

The National Museum of Mexican Art is home to one of the country’s largest Mexican art collections. The museum’s staff and their families are finding creative ways to stay busy and entertained during the Covid-19 crisis and have compiled a list of their favorite activities to enjoy at home , including coloring pages, word searches, and even a tutorial on how to make papel picado . 

Keep up-to-date on the daily lives of the Shedd Aquarium's animals on  Facebook ,  Instagram , and  Twitter ; create learning experiences for early learners through their  Sea Curious  YouTube  series; check out  live views  from the  Underwater Beauty  special exhibit, and dive deep with  360-video views  to  Keep Sharks Swimming,  visit Shedd's penguin exhibit daily using the  Virtual Reality Penguin Expedition  tool and more. 

Every day, even without a pandemic, Museum of Science & Industry has an  Experiment  tab on their website with games, videos showing a virtual tour of their massive submarine and of baby chicks being born in their Hatchery, and hands-on science experiments that can be conducted at home.

These non-profit institutions rely on membership and daily admission purchases in order to continue their rich programming. Please consider donating, purchasing a membership or paying them an in-person visit once the doors to Chicago are open once again. They all would appreciate the reciprocal support. 

— Amy Bizzarri

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Virtual Event Help Page

The MCA is committed to engaging diverse audiences and creating a sense of community by providing a place to contemplate and discuss contemporary art, culture, and issues of our day. Please engage in all of our virtual spaces with the same respect and care you show while physically in the museum.

Virtual Platforms

Here are some tips and hints to get the most out of our virtual programming.

Zoom is a free video communications app that allows people to make video and audio calls, screen share, chat, and more. The MCA often uses Zoom for our programs and events because it allows for two-way communication—just as we would if we were all together in the Commons or in the Edlis Neeson Theater. Here are a few tips for using Zoom:

• In order to attend a virtual event, you must first download Zoom on your phone, tablet, or computer. Once you've downloaded the app, just click on the event's link to join. Depending on the event, the event link may arrive in your inbox in a confirmation email or you can access it on the event's web page. If you're unfamiliar with Zoom, check out this article about how to join a Zoom meeting. We recommend downloading the Zoom app and testing your connection 10 minutes prior to the start of the event.
• For the best experience, always use the latest version of Zoom. Learn more about updating. Make sure to check for updates before the event—you might need to make space on your computer before downloading new Zoom versions.
• Some events call for a little one-on-one time. In those situations, we'll use what are called “breakout rooms” to divide participants into different virtual chats. Learn about the new breakout room features.
• In addition to your video call, there’s also a chat feature that allows participants to type out messages to either the whole group or privately to a single participant. When at an MCA event, you can use the chat to interact with the event’s House Manager if you have questions or concerns. Some events, like Q&As, will have chat enabled whereas others, like lectures or symposiums, will keep the chat function turned off.
• There are three features in the bottom bar of your Zoom window that will help with large group conversations: the mute function, the video function, and the raise hand feature. You can mute yourself by clicking on the microphone symbol. Remember to unmute yourself when you want to talk! You can make yourself visible to the group, or turn off your camera, by clicking the camera or “start video” button. If you have a question or a comment, you can raise your digital hand by clicking on the hand symbol, which will alert the host that you want to speak next.

Zoom looks and functions a little differently on every device—desktop, mobile, etc. To get the best experience, check the event’s web page for our recommendation on viewing.

Instagram is a photo and video sharing social media app that allows you, the people in your network and community, and your favorite organizations to share content. Instagram is divided into two feeds: a vertical sharing feed that presents static, lasting content and a horizontal sharing feed called “Stories” that presents ephemeral content. Stories disappear after 24 hours.

• In order to see MCA updates on Instagram, you have to follow us @mcachicago! You can select what kind of notifications you receive in the settings on your mobile device.
• Events hosted in Instagram Live will appear in the Stories feed and on our account profile. Open the app at the time of the event and select the MCA's Story to open the stream. You can also view Instagram Live streams via a desktop browser on the MCA’s profile .
• Depending on the event, we may have the chat feature open on the stream. If it’s available, you can type in questions or comments that will be visible to everyone in the event and the host.

Facebook is one of the most popular content-sharing social media apps that allows you, the people in your network, and the organizations you follow to share content.

• Be sure to Like the MCA's page, then click the three dots icon to Follow the MCA on Facebook for all of the latest updates and to receive Facebook notifications about our activity. Like Instagram, you can change your notifications on your mobile device and within the platform.
• Facebook Live is a livestreaming tool available on the app that directly connects you with content creators. You can RSVP for a Facebook Live event on Facebook to be sure you’re receiving reminders.
• Events hosted in Facebook Live will appear on our Facebook page—and you don't need an account to watch them! Open the Facebook app at the time of the event and go to the MCA's page to open the stream. You can also view Facebook Live streams via a desktop browser on the MCA’s profile .
• Like Instagram Live, there is a chat feature in Facebook Live. You can comment to the entire audience of the stream, or to your private friends joining you for a virtual watch party. You can also “react” to what’s happening by choosing an emoji to send to the participants in the group.

Other Questions

You can find artworks, event documentation, and more on our Vimeo channel .

Please note that all of our virtual events are hosted in central time, so be sure to calculate your time zone!

Contact the MCA Box Office at 312-397-4010 or email us at [email protected] .

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Welcome to the Chicago History Museum

Explore our featured exhibitions.

Back Home: Polish Chicago

Through the lens of Chicago’s Polish communities, experience the journeys immigrants have taken to get to the city, the ways they have established themselves in its neighborhoods, and the duality of feeling a deep connection to two places at once.

City on Fire: Chicago 1871

A rapidly growing city built of wood. A summer-long heat wave. An exhausted and misdirected team of firefighters. Racial, social, and economic tensions bubbling just below the surface. All Chicago needed was a spark.

Facing Freedom in America

Based on the central idea that the history of the United States has been shaped by conflicts over what it means to be free, this exhibition uses images, artifacts, and interactive elements to explore familiar and not-so-familiar stories from the nation’s past.

Chicago: Crossroads of America

Explore the city’s history through a series of galleries that highlight artifacts from the Museum’s remarkable collection.

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT CHM?

Explore the city with our expert guides, delve into our exhibitions through thematic programs, or discover Chicago history through family-friendly activities.

Aquí en Chicago

The Chicago History Museum’s new project, Aquí en Chicago , celebrates the historically persistent cultural presence of Latine communities in Chicago. Follow along as the project evolves.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Professor Siobhan Moroney of Lake Forest College discusses her new book Chicagoland Dream Houses: How a Mid-Century Architecture Competition Reimagined the American Home . The program begins with a CHM member-exclusive book signing, followed by the public author talk. Learn more

Delia Fernández-Jones of Michigan State University presents “Telling Our Stories: Using Historical Scholarship to Combat Black and Latinx Displacement in Grand Rapids, Michigan.” Learn more

LaDale Winling  of Virginia Tech and  Maura Fennelly of Northwestern University present “The Chicago Covenants Project: Excavating the Documents of Exclusion.” Learn more

CHM members and Historical Alliance are invited to join director of research and access  Ellen Keith  and reference librarian  Maggie Cusick as they demonstrate the process of conducting research on your house’s history. Learn more

Join us to celebrate the opening of  Designing for Change: Chicago Protest Art of the 1960s–70s ! Learn more

LEARN AND CONNECT WITH CHM

CHM strives to be a destination for learning, inspiration and civic engagement. Through dynamic exhibitions, tours, programs, digital resources, and special events, the Museum connects people to Chicago’s history and to each other.

ABAKANOWICZ RESEARCH CENTER

Home to the Chicago History Museum’s archives, manuscripts, photographs, and more, the Abakanowicz Research Center (ARC) is one of the premier research facilities in Chicago. With free admission, the ARC helps fulfill the Museum’s mission to be a destination for learning and to connect people to Chicago’s history. We look forward to welcoming you!

Support the Museum

Support our mission by becoming a member.

Membership offers ways to engage with others who love the city of Chicago and its history and opportunities to interact with our award-winning staff. Enjoy free admission, behind-the-scenes experiences, special discounts, and more!

Author Talk | Chicagoland Dream Houses by Siobhan Moroney

Virtual urban history seminar | “telling our stories”, urban history seminar | “the chicago covenants project”, member event | house history workshop, opening weekend of designing for change.

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Experience the Field at Home

Continue exploring natural history with online resources and at-home activities for all ages. 

We’re rounding up some of our favorite ways to stay connected. If you're interested in seeing more on a certain topic, email us at [email protected] .

Learning Resources

Looking for science activities and games for kids? The Field has lesson plans, videos, games, and more for teachers and parents. Our Learning at Home hub makes it easy to filter by grade level and topic. Kids and their adults can explore plants and animals, world cultures, Earth science, and more. Our amazing educators shared a few of their favorites.

Online and at-home activities

Mission to the mesozoic.

• Play game (English)
• Download English PDF

At Home Collections | Science Hub at Home

Create your own museum collection at home.

• Download Spanish PDF

Animal Observations | Science Hub at Home

Learn how scientists observe and track animal behavior and how you can do the same with your pets at home.

Movie night with SUE the T. rex

Encounter SUE the T. rex and discover the secrets of the pharaohs, all from your living room. We've partnered with Giant Screen Films to offer seven action-packed, natural history movie rentals for less than the price of popcorn! Browse our selection for your next movie night—proceeds from your rental go to support the museum's critical work.

Nature near you

Nature can be comforting while many other things are uncertain. If you’re going for a walk or bird-watching from your window, you can identify local wildlife. Field Guides provide helpful details on what to look for while observing wildlife in Chicago and Illinois:

Chat with a dinosaur

Máximo is always delighted to hear from you. Strike up a conversation with our friendly titanosaur by texting 1-844-994-3466 or messaging him online. Ask him about his favorite food, what Earth was like million of years ago, and what he does in his spare time at the museum.

Online library

Curl up with a good digitized resource. Many of the Field Museum Library resources are available online. Among them are archival materials like the Moving Image Collection and a variety of archival texts (we recommend a book called The Giraffe in History and Art).

Thanks for your support

Many cultural institutions, including the Field, depend on having people visit our public spaces every day. While we’re closed, we’ll continue sharing great online content. If you learn something new or get a moment of joy out of what we’re sharing, we’re grateful for a donation of any amount in support of our work and mission. A “like” or share brightens our day as well.

Museum membership supports our scientific research and so much more that goes on behind the scenes. Plus, online benefits and exclusive updates help you stay in the loop. You can also give Field Museum membership as a gift to curious thinkers and explorers of all ages.

Become a Member

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• Undergraduate Admissions
• Graduate Admissions

Welcome to the University of Chicago. There are a variety of ways you can explore our campus – in-person tours are available for prospective students. You can also virtually explore UChicago .

UChicago College Admissions has tour information and other resources for prospective undergraduate students and their families. For questions about undergraduate admissions, please email [email protected] .

Prospective graduate students should visit our Graduate Admissions tour page . For questions about graduate admissions, please email [email protected] .

Other questions?

Jump down to tours for:

• Prospective Students

The UChicago Virtual Tour

The university of chicago library.

• Our Neighborhood & Campus

UChicago Arts

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Tours for Prospective Students

Each of the University’s schools and divisions has its own unique stories and special resources to share. Please reach out to the school you are interested in directly, for more information on their reopening process.

The College (Undergraduate Studies)

The University of Chicago welcomes you and your family to visit! The UChicago campus is more than just a collection of classrooms—it’s both an inspiration and incubator for our community of scholars and thinkers. Take a tour, meet our students, and explore the wide array of opportunities our students enjoy. Come discover for yourself why students choose UChicago as their educational destination and their intellectual home.

On-campus visits include an admissions counselor led information session that provides an overview of academics, student life, the application process, and financial aid at UChicago. Following the session, visitors will learn about life in and out of the classroom on a walking tour of campus led by a current student. Before you arrive, visit UChicago virtually to learn about the Life of the Mind from the comfort of your own home. When you visit campus in person, you’ll feel like you’re meeting an old friend!

To experience UChicago first-hand,  register to visit on your preferred date ! We’re excited to have you on campus and host visitors twice a day, six days a week. Looking forward to seeing you!

Graduate Departments

The Graduate Admissions Office offers a variety of ways for prospective students to learn more and connect with their staff. Visit their Connect with Us page for more information.

Chicago Booth

Chicago Booth, our graduate school of business, invites prospective MBA and PhD students to participate in an  admissions event . Booth also provides virtual tours of the school’s  North America campuses in Chicago  the Charles M. Harper Center and the Gleacher Center, as well as the  Robert Rothman, ’77, London Campus  and Booth’s  campus in Asia  at The Hong Kong Jockey Club University of Chicago Academic Complex | The University of Chicago Francis and Rose Yuen Campus in Hong Kong.

Prospective students can also fill out a  request for information  or  visit the Booth Stories  section to learn more about the people, places, ideas, and thought leadership that make Chicago Booth a global leader in business education.

Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice

Out of respect for the safety and well-being of the entire UChicago community, the Crown Family School Admissions Office decided to cancel in-person meetings and Information Sessions. If you are interested in making an appointment to speak to someone either by phone or video conferencing, please contact [email protected] .

You may also use this form to request more information from the Admissions team and learn how the Crown Family School prepares students to become leaders in the fields of social work, social policy, social administration, and social work research.

Divinity School

Discover the Divinity School.  Visit Days and Virtual Visit Days (to be announced for the upcoming year) give prospective students the opportunity to meet current students and faculty and learn about our academic programs, admissions process, and community life. We look forward to meeting you soon!

Stay tuned for upcoming opportunities for you to learn more about the academic study of religion, our degree programs and admissions processes.

Please visit our admissions site at  https://divinity.uchicago.edu/admissions/  or contact us  via this form .

Harris School of Public Policy

Harris, our professional school for public policy, invites prospective students to visit their  admissions portal to learn more about degree and non-degree programs, join them at an upcoming admissions event , and see their most up to date visit information. You can also find admissions tips and fun facts on the blog , and check out the  profiles  page to learn more about the students, alumni, and faculty that make Harris a world-class destination for evidence-based policy leadership.

The Law School welcomes you to explore our community virtually through the UChicago Law Welcome Center . There you can find virtual tours , helpful videos , and upcoming Admissions events , including opportunities to connect with our Admissions Team.

Student guides provide introductions to several campus locations in the UChicago  virtual tour .

You can learn more and take a virtual tour of the Regenstein or Mansueto libraries here .

Arts abound in and around the University. We invite you to  visit UChicago Arts to get an overview of the vibrant culture here. UChicago Arts also features a calendar of arts events and attractions. If you already have a UCID, the  Arts Pass  program offers you many ways to explore.

Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures

Since our founding in 1919, ISAC has been a leading research center for the study of ancient civilizations. With some 350,000 artifacts, excavated mainly by ISAC archaeologists, the ISAC Museum invites you to learn about the beginnings of our lives as humans together. Through galleries devoted to Egypt, Nubia, Persia, Mesopotamia, Syria, Anatolia, and the Levant, come take a look into the ancient past. Tour programs are Programs are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Smart Museum of Art

Always free and open to all, the University of Chicago’s art museum is home to acclaimed interdisciplinary exhibitions , collaborative programs , and over 16,000 works of art spanning the globe and 5,000 years of artistic creation.

Robie House by Frank Lloyd Wright

While you’re in the neighborhood, pay a visit to Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous  Robie House , considered one of the most important buildings in the history of American architecture. Robie House is located across the street from the Chicago Booth School of Business and just a short block away from the heart of campus.

Hyde Park & UChicago Campus by the Chicago Architecture Center

Th e Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) offers occasional historical architecture tours of Hyde Park and the UChicago campus.

Chicago Bike Tours

Chicago is an eminently bikeable city. Bobby’s Bike Hike Chicago  is America’s longest-running city bike tour operator offering award-winning bike, walking and food tours appropriate for a variety of ages, interests and skill levels. Tours include the very popular Bikes, Bites & Brew tour, Neighborhoods tours, Ultimate city tour, and Foodie tours. Bike rentals also available, including comfort, road, electric, and child bikes and equipment.

Campus Tours

Visit saic: campus tours.

Undergraduate Tours

Take a live tour of our campus and residence halls led by current students, and ask any questions you have!

Virtual: Wednesdays at 4:00 p.m. CT

On-campus: daily, monday - friday and select saturdays at 10:45 a.m. ct.

A maximum of 3 people are allowed per party, including the prospective student.   Advance registration is required.

Schedule a Virtual or In-Person Tour    or   Take a Self-Guided Virtual Tour    Take an On-Demand Tour of our Residence Halls

We offer you the opportunity to meet with an admission counselor before or after our on-campus tours to have your portfolio reviewed, or just get more information about SAIC. Reservations are required due to a strict capacity limit. 

Tour guests should arrive at the LeRoy Neiman Center at 37 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, IL, 60603 15 minutes in advance of the scheduled tour time. Tours typically last 90 minutes.

Our tours include the following:

• A brief presentation providing an overview of SAIC’s campus and curriculum
• A look inside our campus buildings (2) and facilities, including our Contemporary Practices department
• Visiting one of our residence halls
• Admission to the Art Institute of Chicago museum
• Introduction to our downtown campus—wear comfortable shoes!

Group Tours—High Schools, Colleges, and Organizations

• Group tours are offered on Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.
• The group should plan to arrive 15-20 minutes prior to check-in.
• Requests may be made for up to 10 total guests, including both students and chaperones
• SAIC campus tours are designed for high school groups, colleges, or organizations that support studying visual art and design at the college level

Schedule a Group Undergraduate Tour

For any questions, please contact Clemenstein Love at [email protected] , or call 800.232.7242.

Graduate Tours

Join graduate admissions staff for a tour of SAIC's campus. We will be showing you around the graduate departments and answering any questions you may have.

On-Campus: Fridays at 1:30 p.m. CT (Please plan to arrive by 1:15 p.m. CT for check-in.)

A maximum of 3 people are allowed per party, including the prospective student.  Advance registration is required.

Schedule a Graduate Tour   or  Take a Self-Guided Virtual Tour    

Office of Admissions   36 S. Wabash Ave., Suite 1201  Chicago, IL 60603   Phone: 312.629.6100  Toll free: 800.232.7242  [email protected]  

Student Life

Virtual museum tours.

• The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago  
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• The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
• The Louvre, Paris 
• Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City 
• National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. 
• National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City 
• Smart Museum of Art, UChicago
• Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

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Free virtual museum tours

Free virtual museum tours.  The following museums are offering virtual tours.  Some tours are better than others.  Some of them you can’t really see all the art.  Try zooming in.  Some include some information about the art some are really just a “street view” with no explanation.  Overall I think if you’re interested in art they’re all worth taking.

British Museum, London

Tour the Great Court, the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies and hundreds of artifacts on the museum’s virtual tour .  The Great Court was actually an open area between several buildings that the museum enclosed in the late 1990’s.

Free virtual museum tours – Guggenheim Museum, New York

Google’s Street View lets visitors tour the famous spiral staircase,  When you walk up it the art is displayed on the walls.  The original museum building was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.  You can see works from the Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, Modern and Contemporary eras.

The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

Take a Google Street View tour to discover a collection of paintings, drawings, sculptures, manuscripts, and photographs.

Musée d’Orsay, Paris

This  tour features work from French artists between 1848 and 1914 including Monet, Cézanne, and Gauguin, among others.

Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP), São Paulo

MASP is Brazil’s first modern museum. Tour

National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

This National Gallery tour features two online exhibits through Google. The first is an exhibit of American fashion from 1740 to 1895.  The second is a collection of works from Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer.

National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City

This museum is dedicated to the archaeology and history of Mexico’s pre-Hispanic heritage. The tour features ancient artifacts.

National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul

Google’s virtual tour takes you through six floors of Contemporary art from Korea and elsewhere.

Pergamon Museum, Berlin

This tour features ancient artifacts including the Ishtar Gate of Babylon and the Pergamon Altar.

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

This Google Street View tour includes works by Dutch artists Vermeer and Rembrandt.

Uffizi Gallery, Florence

This museum houses the art collection of the de’Medicis.  Tour .

Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

This museum has the largest collection of artworks by Vincent van Gogh, including over 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and over 750 personal letters. Tour

Art Institute El Greco Exhibit online

Hours of fun on the metropolitan museum of art website, hours of fun on the art institute of chicago website, more from my site.

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Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago

Providing unique experiences designed to spark scientific inquiry and creativity since 1933.

Museum hours Open today from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Museum hours Open tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

5700 s. dusable lake shore drive chicago, il 60637.

Plan a visit

Tour / U-505 On-board Tour

Walk through history.

Optional on-board tours of the U-505 submarine available daily.

Want even more of the U- 505 experience? Take the optional on-board tour through the submarine, available daily.

Board the U- 505  submarine, the actual craft that stalked the waters of the Atlantic before it was blown to the surface and captured on June 4, 1944. From the cramped quarters to the feel of battle, it's an interactive walk through a piece of history that you'll never forget.

This tour is not included in Museum Entry, and requires a separate timed-entry ticket. See below for more details and ticket information.

• Multiple tours daily.
• For all ages
• Lower Level, U-505

This exhibit requires an additional ticket with a specified entry time.

• Accessibility notes

Prepare to Board

Complete with dramatic lighting and sound effects, the tour lets you experience life aboard this sub firsthand in the days leading up to her capture. The tour lasts about 25 minutes, including a question-and-answer session at the conclusion.

The U-505 On-board Tour is not included in Museum Entry, and requires a separate, timed-entry ticket.

Adult – $18 Child (3-11) – $14

United States military active-duty personnel and veterans receive $4 off U- 505 On-Board Tour tickets.  See details.

Tour tips and notes

• Tour capacity and schedule have been reduced so advance online tickets are recommended.
• The on-board tour is not accessible to strollers, Segways or wheelchairs. See  accessibility notes .
• Please arrive early to your U- 505 On-board Tour, and allow 5–10 minutes to get from the U- 505 exhibit entrance to the tour entrance. Late guests cannot be admitted and will be rescheduled if availability permits.
• Stroller parking is available at the sub entrance.
• Parents of young children: this tour discusses and briefly replicates the wartime conditions on a submarine, including mention of casualties and some sound effects.

More to explore

U-505 Submarine

Experience the real U-505, the only German submarine in the United States.

Transportation Gallery

Explore how humankind has flown, soared, sped and chugged throughout the years.

Earth Revealed

Get an up-close and near “real-time” view of our planet Earth.

Music and Concerts | This musician’s stash of post-punk music…

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Music and concerts | this musician’s stash of post-punk music memories could fill a museum — so he did.

On a quiet block just west of Halsted Street in Bridgeport, a former funeral home now houses a collection of memories — both physical and emotional — so niche, so random, it almost shouldn’t exist.

Martin Atkins, a longtime musician (Public Image Ltd., Pigface, Nine Inch Nails, Killing Joke) and producer, and lecturer at Millikin University in Decatur, opened the Museum of Post Punk and Industrial Music in 2021, though its curation started long before then. Unlike the precious or sterile museums that pepper the Gold Coast, Atkins’ space is a reflection of the community that’s continued to buoy the noisy, subversive genre since the ‘80s and early ‘90s, as well as the musicians and collaborators that helped breathe life into it.

Upon arrival, visitors are greeted by the “Fook Babies” — a 14-foot stage backdrop made by special effects and creature artist Tim Gore (“The Walking Dead”) for Pigface’s 1993 tour behind what is arguably the band’s most acclaimed album, 1992’s “Fook” — leering down from behind a cage from Ministry’s infamous Cage Tour. A small gift shop with reissued vinyl, Dark Matter Coffee’s specialty museum blends and voodoo dolls of Atkins occupies a room on the right side of the hallway before entering the main showroom. You can almost smell the dirty clubs, sweat and old leather boots as you enter and see Atkins’ drum kit from Nine Inch Nails’ “Head Like a Hole” music video front and center. Original artwork by My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult’s Groovie Mann (born Franke Nardiello) hangs across from it, surrounded by so many photos, shadowboxed capsules, original art, tour suits and posters it could make you dizzy.

Initially conceptualized in 2020, Atkins used to display and discuss his trinkets and memorabilia casually while on the road — things kept to remember his fame’s “15 minutes.” Partially inspired by late rapper Nipsey Hussle’s Marathon store and entrepreneurial empire, what he had always considered “random, artistic pursuits” slowly began to present themselves as so much more.

For nearly three years now, what began as the home of his label Invisible Records turned gallery that housed Atkins’ pieces from his 40-plus year career has unfolded into an unexpected place for camaraderie and inspiration — within the city’s creative communities and post-punk and industrial music fans of all ages across the globe. Visitors and independent collectors trading in nostalgia started donating their mementos, mailing Atkins their ticket stubs, flyers, tour merchandise and photos to enshrine. They’re given the chance to become “founders” of the museum, which includes access to museum-hosted events such as a Whiskey Pancake Brunch, priority spaces for tours and the opportunity to spend the night. By Atkins’ count, there are now over 1,400 museum founders. Even well-known musicians like members of The Dandy Warhols, Nick Zinner of Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Wax Trax! Records stalwarts KMFDM stop in when they’re in town. Chris Connelly of Revolting Cocks and Ministry has been known to take in an event or two in the space.

“If I can show you some things?” Atkins asks as he gives a tour. He stops in front of a small Nine Inch Nails announcement from 2007. “What’s all so strange is,” he says, “I never know what tiny (expletive) insignificant shit is gonna set somebody off, you know?”

He says that a guest once cried in front of the small cut-out displayed alongside other flyers, stickers and stencils. Others found themselves exchanging stories of specific concerts, albums and the subculture itself. Tours are typically three to four hours in length and some folks spend just as long shopping afterward. Though the museum’s website lists visiting “by appointment only” and the address is undisclosed, Atkins has been known to oblige folks who get last-minute recommendations to check it out from other local Bridgeport businesses like Jackalope Coffee & Tea House and Tangible Books.

“People who come here and freak out over the stuff, it’s ridiculous,” Atkins continues, not judgmentally, more surprised by the outpouring of support he’s received for his semi-accidental endeavor. “People take away those things. But sometimes it’s their kids looking at the fashion stuff, looking at how careers got started making suits for band members and stuff. I think we’re going deep enough that a fan of any one of these bands could sit here for half a day crying, remembering, and going on their own internal journey.”

When doors first opened, the collection displayed within the museum’s walls was about 98% Atkins’ own. By his estimates now, it’s about 50% his, possibly even less. Joking that only maybe his mother and sister would be interested in visiting a place that felt like “Martin Atkins presents Things Involving Martin Atkins,” he’s grateful that he and his small but mighty team have stumbled into the contribution of objects. A 1986 cassette tape Trent Reznor gave him of what are considered the earliest Nine Inch Nails demos, which Atkins sold on eBay in 2010 for $1,400, made its way back to him around Christmas last year. Another fan donated the original lederhosen worn by Throbbing Gristle’s late Genesis P-Orridge when she developed her satirical, provocative “Eva Adolf Braun Hitler” character, who appeared on stage and in a number of short films for Pigface.

When looking through the thousands of pieces that have made their way to the little house, the question remains — what is museum-worthy? But that element of D.I.Y. and spontaneity behind throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks is still the ethos behind PPIM. It’s even evolved into a sort-of love letter to what first drew Atkins to Chicago, considered by many the birthplace of industrial music, known for Wax Trax! Records, Chicago Trax Recording, Touch and Go Records, The Metro, Lounge Ax, The Alley, Club Neo and one Cynthia “Plaster Caster” Albritton. Albritton, the avant-garde artist most famous for her casts of musicians’ erect penises and later women’s breasts, cast Atkins in 1996. A corner of the museum was dedicated to her after she died in 2022.

Though the museum is a glimpse at what once was, Atkins has long been an advocate for the city’s independent artists since moving to Chicago in 1989. Local post-punk outfit Ganser — who he considers good friends — have a drumhead on display, and he often hosts or participates in student events, panels for those interested in industry careers, and workshops for emerging talent. He’s collaborated with After School Matters and cohorts like the Center for Creative Entrepreneurship out of Portage Park incubator, 2112 Chicago. In the museum’s recording studio basement, Atkins offers these visitors the chance at an introductory screen-printing lesson or to mix a song on Steve Albini’s old tape machines in the recording studio basement.

“I’d like it to have an educational component, because how could this not?” he says of larger ambitions. “If it’s not educational, I’d be doing something wrong. If you have a class that’s doing punk, post-punk, industrial — throw the textbooks away and just come here and smell it. Use this as a spot where students can learn about event management.”

He continues, “I get the sense the kids hear, ‘Oh we’re going to a museum’ and they’re like ‘Oh (expletive),’ but then they come in here and we’ll go downstairs and print T-shirts. I’m trying to show entrepreneurial, DIY commerce and transferable skills. This one kid was like ‘I always wanted to start a merch company’ and I’m like ‘You just did, didn’t you?’”

As PPIM continues to adapt, expanding accessibility is at the forefront of Atkins’ mind. He’s considering an online archive for interviews, photographs, and things that have yet to find a space onsite as well as a platform for virtual tours and experiences that can reach folks unable to travel to Chicago.

Marking its upcoming three-year anniversary with open house tours, Atkins laughs when asked if there’s a real “plan” for the future of his museum.

“I think I was sitting upstairs and I thought to myself, ‘Well that’s it. You’ve had a good run of complete (expletive) insanity, and now you’re gonna be a tour guide,’” he remembers. “I was like, ‘Am I really going to be like, ‘And then Johnny Rotten did this,’ or ‘Steve Albini did this’?

“But it actually feels like looking at the past to move forward,” Atkins says. “To people who this has been important to, who have felt like outsiders for whatever reason — just that this place exists kind of gives them some comfort. I don’t mean to make it sound like chicken soup,” he laughs, “but the sum of that, the connections with people, that’s really exciting to me.”

Tours 2:45 p.m. and 5 p.m. April 20, 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. April 21 at the Museum of Post Punk and Industrial Music; tickets $5-$120 and more information at ppimchicago.com

Jessi Roti is a freelance writer.

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