6 Curious City Stories To Read For Museum Week

Illinois residents can get discounted tickets to some of Chicago’s big museums this week. From the Art Institute of Chicago to the Adler Planetarium, various cultural institutions are offering 25 percent off admissions for Museum Week, which runs Jan. 18 to Jan. 26.

You can find more information about Museum Week here, but below is a roundup of features from Curious City that answer quirky questions about some of the participating institutions.

Did The Art Institute Of Chicago Ever Rent Out Paintings?

Could people ever walk out of the Art Institute with a Monet in their backpack? Allow us to be your curator in this exhibit of curiosity.

15 Things You Can Actually Rent From The Field Museum

From a life-sized replica of a T. rex skull to fake bear feces, here are some notable items you can rent from the Field Museum.

What Happens To The Lincoln Park Zoo Animals In The Winter?

Do the animals go somewhere warm, like Florida? Does the zoo give them coats? We took a behind-the-scene tour of the zoo to find out.

How Much Of The Field Museum’s Collection Is Actually On Display?

The bulk of the museum’s collection are out of sight, but not necessarily out of mind. Start with our behind-the-scenes view, and stick around for a surprising international backstory.

Here's Harold! (The Robot Edition)

The DuSable Museum says — creepy or not — its Harold Washington robot will teach you a thing or two about the city’s first African-American mayor.

Mold-A-Rama-Rama! The Secrets Behind Chicago's Plastic Souvenir Empire

We look at the company behind the cheap plastic souvenirs you can buy at various tourist destinations, like the Museum of Science and Industry, where rock star Jack White allegedly became mesmerized by one of the plastic mold machine.