Museum of Science and Industry Chicago Illinois

It's hard to know where to begin in sharing a few photos of Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry. The size of the museum is massive. A few photos of huge objects may help imagine how large it really is.

One standout attraction is the German U-Boat 505, which was captured 4 June, 1944. The full size original submarine is on display along with film, story board, and models depicting life in a sub. Tours are available but were all booked when I arrived.

In addition to the locomotive pictured above, there's a Stephensons Rocket nearby and a full size Pioneer Zephyr on display.





















Planes are here too. You can walk through a Boeing 727,  see World War II planes, and view the exhibit about the beginnings of flight.





And there's a large model railway display featuring city, lakeside, and mountain sections.

There's so much more to see and do with many interactive exhibits friendly to children of all ages.


















Location: The Museum of Science and Industry Chicago is near Lake Michigan BUT it is not on the Museum Campus. It's further South at 5700 Lake Shore Drive Chicago IL 60637. I used the Metra line train near my hotel on Michigan Ave.

Admission: It's expensive for those of us from out-of-state. I bought a City Pass to save on costs at five attractions. Some exhibits or events cost extra. Check the website for details. Map link.

Crowds: It did not take long after opening for lots of groups of children to arrive. The museum is so large that it did not feel crowded.

Hours: Open daily 9:30 - 4:30 with various exceptions so you will need to check the website for the latest.

Food: I was allowed to bring my own lunch and eat in designated areas . There are places to purchase lunches and snacks.

Friendliness: All the staff I spoke to were friendly.

Maps: A map of the museum is online and paper copies are available to visitors.

Accessibility: See the website for details.

Website: https://www.msichicago.org/


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Royal Navy Submarine Museum Gosport UK

After visiting the star attraction, HMS Alliance, outside the submarine museum, it's worth having a look at the history of submarines inside the museum.








The exhibits and storyboards depict the progress made from small and simple underwater craft to modern stealth machines capable of quick, silent, moves far below the waves.





I visited as part of a multi-attraction ticket. A waterbus provides transportation between the museum and the main dockyard buildings.


See the website for more details. https://www.submarine-museum.co.uk/

HMS Alliance Portsmouth UK

HMS Alliance - Geoff W Sutton 2017

I toured the HMS Alliance at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport. A tour of the submarine provides insight into nearly three decades of this aspect of defense from the end of WW II into the Cold War era. The Alliance was commissioned into service in 1947.

I was fortunate to have conversations with two retired submariners who served on the Alliance--one a cook, the other an electrician.

Our tour began by the forward torpedoes.

Forward torpedo area

and moved through dining and sleeping areas to the control room.

Breakfast

Before exiting, the guides explain the engine room, aft torpedoes, and method of escape from a submarine.

Submariner explains how to escape

Even a short tour can give many a sense of claustrophobia as one tourist felt the need to retreat after a few minutes. As fellow tourists impede movement its easy to get a sense that not all humans could likely adapt to this underwater environment beneath the waves with human and mechanical sounds and smells.

The Alliance and the nearby museum are worth a visit as part of the Historic Dockyards multi-attraction ticket.