The Best of Illinois

Art Institute of Chicago

• Museum founded in 1879 in Chicago
• One of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States
• #4 of the top 25 museums in the world
• Has a permanent collection of nearly 300,000 works of art

 

Cahokia

• Pre-Columbian Native American city dated from 600-1400
• Includes 120 manmade earthen mounds
• The settlement began 1,000 years before European contact
• UNESCO World Heritage Site

 

Millennium Park

• Public park originally intended to celebrate the third millennium
• Previously occupied by Illinois Central rail yard and parking lots
• The final cost of the park was $475 million, of which 50% was paid for by Chicago taxpayers and private donors
• The cost of the park was so high because of construction delays, cost overruns, poor planning, many design changes, and cronyism

 

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

• Documents the life of the 16th U.S. President, Abraham Lincoln, and the American Civil War
• One of the most visited presidential libraries in the country

 

Gail Borden Public Library

• The library was named in honor of Gail Borden, who in 1856 invented condensed milk
• His step sons purchased and donated their Scofield Mansion and in exchange the library was named after Borden
• The library remained at the Spring Street location until the late 60’s when the weight of the books was beginning to strain the ability of the building to hold them all

 

Chicago Botanic Garden

• 385 acre living plant museum situated on nine islands in the Cook County Forest Preserves
• Features 27 display gardens in 4 natural habitats: McDonald Woods, Dixon Prairie, Skokie River Corridor, and Lakes and Shores
• Opened in 1972

 

 

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Costs

all flights $363

food $41/day x 9 days = $369

hotel $67/day x 8 days = $536

tickets (all attractions) $77

TOTAL for whole itinerary $1,345