Adler Planetarium, Chicago: How to Visit and What to Do Nearby

The Adler Planetarium sits on a peninsula extending into Lake Michigan at the eastern end of Chicago's Museum Campus, the first planetarium built in the Western Hemisphere when it opened in 1930. The original Zeiss projector, donated by Sears Roebuck executive Max Adler, was the first of its kind in the United States. The museum now operates two theater domes and holds a collection of over 2,000 historic scientific instruments, including astrolabes, sundials, and telescopes. The planetarium's lakefront position provides one of the most photographed views of the Chicago skyline. is just one of many options in Chicago. Major attractions worth considering include 360 Chicago Observation Deck (Formerly John Hancock Observatory), Chicago River, and Field Museum.