Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures Museum

Very beautiful museum especially I’m from Iraq so I always wanted to see my ancestors history not just in books it was amazing feeling. Especially the Sumerian civilization because I was 40% Sumerian so I always had the curiosity to see my people in old times. The admission was free and if you want to give them some money it up to you.

Great local museum! They have the kind of gift shop that allows you to feel like you get to take a piece of the exhibit home with you. Entry is free, but donations are accepted. You'll regret it if you don't make time to promenade around the University of Chicago campus that this museum is located within because it's serene and has a Hogwarts vibe.

Don’t miss this museum if you’re interested in ancient civilizations in Mesopotamia. The admission is free and is absolutely worth spending an entire day. U of Chicago’s campus is also gorgeous.

A free museum takes donations. It is a smaller museum however they have exquisite things you won't see in too many other museums around the world. No tickets needed. A very small gift shop you can buy souvenirs from. Has a clean bathroom. And is located on a college campus. Parking can be difficult depending on what day and time you choose to go. If you're a lover of history be prepared to be there for a minimum of 2hrs.

This museum is hidden gem! Absolutely underrated. It’s a MUST SEE if you’re in Chicago area. Pieces that are so rare and historically incredible can be seen here for FREE or small donations!

Wonderful museum, wish I had more time to sit and read and understand the history to such a fascinating region and epoch. Small, intimate, focused and well documented.

This museum is a hidden gem. Fantastic collection of ancient Middle Eastern artifacts presented in a really intuitive way. I know a fair bit about those periods and places, and I learned some great new things. Free admission. Only nuisance is parking (go on weekends and when school isn't in session & there is street parking on Ellis Street).

A must visit for any ancient enthusiast. Note the new name from the old Oriental Institute. Many of the literature still refer to “OI” and I had wondered, who is OI? Persian and mesopotamian exhibits at the front end ans egyptian towards the end. Found out that aqueduct were made in Nineveh… that’s earlier than Romans 😮

This is an amazing museum displaying artifacts that will certainly thrill art lovers--especially those with an interest in the Assyrian empire, Egypt, and ancient Ur--Abramam's hometown. I love this place and have visited it numerous times.

A must visit for any ancient enthusiast. Note the new name ISAC Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures. Those many of the literature still refer to the old name "OI". I oftem founf myself wondering, who is OI? Lol. It's sad that the gift shop has been closed the two times I've visited since Dec 27.

Amazing museum. I love their Assyrian section. Extremely photogenic. Great for learning history. Free admission. Friendly staff.

I recently visited the Oriental Institute Museum, and I must say it was an amazing and unique experience. The museum showcases a wide range of very old pieces from various countries such as Persia, Syria, and Egypt. What I found particularly captivating was the specific section dedicated to Persepolis in Shiraz, Iran. The artifacts there were breathtaking, providing a glimpse into the rich history of the region. One notable aspect of the museum is that it is free of charge, although donations are encouraged. Overall, the Oriental Institute Museum offers an incredible opportunity to explore and appreciate ancient cultures.

An absolutely amazing museum experience with artifacts excavated by University of Chicago archaeologists from the 1890s-1930s. Less than .02% of their holdings are on display - but what is on display tells fascinating tales of everyday life, government and legal operations, and cultural practices throughout Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Sumeria (modern day southern Iraq Syria Iran and Egypt). We go to a lot of ancient history museums and have a budding archaeologist in the fam, so we have seen a lot of ancient artifacts. But I saw so many things I have never seen before at the OI - am amazing experience. We spent 2 hours here, and were lost in the past. Fave artifacts: a schoolboys incorrect homework preserved in a clay tablet for posterity, statue and possessions of King Tut, small personal seals of merchants, individuals and government officials, an architectural floor plan on a clay tablet, and a boy's footprint in a temple brick (oops). Please bring a mask to visit here, and be prepared to leave contact information in case they need to contact trade you (still in a pandemic folks). 5 ancient artifact treasure stars

A hidden gem on a pretty campus. There's a lot of gorgeous historical stuff here, and from time to time they have oddly specific exhibits. I was able to use one to point out to a visiting friend from France that Armageddon just refers to the valley of Megiddo, on which the museum had an interesting exhibit that makes the place real rather than the mythic vision of an angry saint who was writing in his own code on Patmos. My mother had been a secretary here so I got taken to it as a little kid and have no fear of mummies as a result. And if you need to buy stuff to take home or are shopping for the holidays the Suk is a superb museum gift shop, just make sure they are open if that matters. They keep odd hours.

On my trip to Chicago I was able to visit the Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, Art Institute, Museum of Science and Industry, and finally the Oriental Institute Museum on the University of Chicago campus. I'm very happy to say that the Oriental Institute Museum was a highlight of the trip, as was the campus itself. Dead Sea scroll fragment, Sennacherib's prism, and many more remarkable exhibits are packed into this relatively small museum. The Rockefeller Chapel is nearby and is worth checking out. This museum is about a mile away from the Museum of Science and Industry so both can be accomplished on the same day. I highly recommend checking it out. Thank you Oriental Institute of Chicago.

We came here for a film showing as part of a conference. It's very cute and has areas to place your drinks outside prior to entering the film room itself. The seats were comfy, and I appreciated the table that you could fold across your lap.

Amazing museum featuring ancient artwork from a variety of broadly Middle Eastern civilizations from Mesopotamia to Egypt. My favorite part was how the curators have molds cast of the tiny, detailed cylinder seals and pieces of jewelry. I've never seen that at another museum and it was really cool. They even made impressions of the bottom of these tiny, feet pendents, which showed how much thought and work went into the creation of all of the ancient artifacts. We went early on a Friday morning and had the museum mostly to ourselves for the first hour, and even after that it was still enjoyable quiet. I highly recommend a visit to this museum if you love ancient history and want to avoid crowds.

Loved coming here. Unique museum dedicated to the history of the Middle East. Great staff and rare items liter this mind exploding expansion of knowledge. The museum shoo is very small so don't expect a wide variety. What they have is equally interesting.

The Oriental Museum is located on the UChicago campus. It is free for students and entrance is a suggested $5 donation for all others. This is a pretty reasonable option to be able to see a fairly extensive collection of artifacts. Depending how much you read the displays, you could do a quick walk-through in half an hour or spend several hours really examining everything. While everything is set up neatly and contains some information, I do wish everything were a bit more engaging. I think it would have a wider appeal and have been more enjoyable if the information were presented in a more interesting way or if there were some sort of interactive exhibit to encourage learning about some of the topics.

Enjoyable, FREE museum located on the University Chicago campus. Fun way to spend an hour or two on a chilly day. I enjoyed the Assyrian exhibition the most. There is a gift shop with some cool items. It does not take a ton of time to go through, but I found it very nice and a pleasant way to spend an afternoon while gaining a little knowledge of Iran, Egypt, and other ancient countries in the region.

Friendly staffs. Great experience. Please visit. One of the jewels at Uchicago. And yes, Indiana Jones taught here.

Before Abbott and Costello met the Mummy... Before Indiana Jones found the lost Ark of the Covenant... Before Ralph Malph did the Monster Mash on "Happy Days"... ...there was the Oriental Institute in scholarly Hyde Park. I have to confess I walked by this foreboding building for two years as a clueless grad student in the University of Chicago and never had the motivation to look inside. Understand I was one of those self-absorbed, greed-obsessed business students looking for the Proctor & Gamble recruiting mixer. Ancient antiquities were the farthest things from my consciousness in my twenties. Besides which, I kept thinking with that name that they would have a lot of old, Grandma-type rugs and Ming vases. Two decades later, I came back on campus and finally entered its hallowed doors. To my utter embarrassment, I discovered a treasure trove of archaeological artifacts from the Near East, not the Far East. Huge statues of winged bull heads and a larger-than-life-size King Tut. Mammoth stone reliefs of human-headed bulls. Mummies. Photographs of excavations. And it's all free to peruse at your leisure, though you should really slip a five-spot in the glass box at the entrance to keep the institute going. It's all housed in a darkly lit Gothic building complete with an auditorium and a gift shop. Surely you can't leave without buying a King Tut ballpoint pen...his linen skirt rides up when you hold it upside down, and you can see his little tut... OK I made that up, but here are some interesting picture books and art pieces to consider. You should stop by on your next trip to Hyde Park before the Mummy strikes....AAARRGHHHHH!!! But seriously, folks, the U.S. government is planning to take back many of the ancient stone tablets to their ancestral homes since the institute has no legal claim on them. Gosh, better hurry.

I've been to lots of museums in my life, but I don't know if I've ever been to one devoted to the Orient. I'm embarrassed to say, there was so much that I didn't know and this was a great learning experience. This museum was informative, not overwhelming and a great way to spend time in Hyde Park. It's located on the University of Chicago campus and as with any college campus, it's hard to find parking that isn't reserved or requires a permit. The $5 donation is worth it.

Probably the most erudite and least child-friendly museum in the Midwest, and that's a great reason to visit. Getting here can be a challenge without a car, though it's accessible by public transit. The Oriental Institute Museum is an adjunct to the scholarly language and cultural research the Institute conducts. After the big renovation a few years ago, the major areas comprising what's called the Orient (academia's description of the areas known as the Middle East, parts of Asia and north Africa) are presented with descriptions and artifacts that touch on the complexities of various cultures. Needless to say, if you're here to see a few mummies and the big bull, you won't be disappointed. There's little for children under the age of 12 to enjoy here, unless they enjoy learning how to decipher cuneiform or have a penchant for ancient Nubian culture.

Not a big museum but it's so rich in information and has so much to learn about as well. Came here a couple of weeks ago for a date, it was a great trip. My favorite part of the exhibit was the mummy they have displayed at the end of the museum.

I visited the first time w/friends (1/22/16). The exhibits includes artifacts from Mesopotamia, Egypt & Persia (Iran). Each artifact is described either individually or as a group In front or next to display. Very informative descriptions & well lighted space. The museum is located on the University of Chicago campus. In the Hyde Park neighborhood.

Beautiful museum tucked into the University campus! Magnificent statues, including one of King Tut! Very informative, and amazing collections of artifacts! Curator Emily Teeter has

Getting here may be out of the way, and parking can be terrible(saw a lot of people getting ticketed in places that didn't say permit parking!) but worth the adventure. Located at the University of Chicago's campus, which is a beauty in it's own, this museum is also beautiful. Spacious, entertaining collection, well written historical summaries. I wasn't too interested in ancient art history, but it being free drew my attention and now I'm crazy about it!

I am just amazed by this place. I've already been hear twice and I just love it. I never realized that the U of C had such a well established collection. To me this the kind of stuff you see in famous museums not on a University campus. What I enjoy the most are the relief walls and the mummies. The background on every piece are just as great. Probably the greatest thing I've experienced is the fact that the two times I've been it's never been packed. Which means you can take your time and you don't have to feel rushed when looking or reading. Oh yeah, camera friendly so be sure to bring one. And easily affordable and easy parking around the campus as well.

Absolutely fantastic. Never seen a museum like this before. Their collection is phenomenal with many thought provoking biblical archaeology. The audio guide is quite average and the flow of the collection is poor. Also please note that there isn't any significant assistance or guidance within the collection room. Budget for about 1.5 hours. Enjoy!

Went on Tuesday afternoon very nice and quite not busy. Free admission, however there is a donation box prior to entry. Lovely artifacts

Probably one of the most low profile museums in Chicago. But they have some really good stuff from different parts of the world specially from middle eastern regions. It's nice to see the mummies and all the history about them .The admission is free. A must visit whenever one is visiting hyde park

This place is wonderful! My boyfriend was getting extra credit to visit here and what a fun day! There was some construction and roads blocked but we found parking easily on a Saturday. Signs pointed us to the entrance and we walked in. My assumption that they could take credit card for a donation but nope. The women at the front said it was okay but I will donate double next time. You're allowed to take pictures but not in the special exhibit. We also walked through the whole place backwards. The exhibits are really interesting and fun to read about. Lots of University of Chicago students can be found roaming around. So if you don't like waiting in line and paying huge donations for the big museums in the loop, come here! Just bring cash for your donation and an open mind to learn!

Awesome, Awesome, Awesome! This museum is a a gem! It perfect for all ages. My 73 year old mother is not a huge museum lover, but she loves this one because it was not to large for her to walk through and it had a wealth of information. This place is great for a Sunday afternoon outing and FREE. Of course donations are always accepted. While you are there also take a tour of the campus. Enjoy!

The name "Oriental Institute" now seems a bit outdated or misleading. Instead of seeing Far East stuff, you get lots of great finds from the Arab-Near East regions. There are mummies and figures from Egypt, plus huge remnants from Persepolis in Iran. The admission is free, though they do have a donation box. Interesting documentaries related to history and archaeology are shown on most Sundays.

Small but high quality collection of Egyptian, Persian, and Levantine art. Some reproduction (still excellent). Many originals. On the beautiful University of Chicago campus. Free admission but they accept donations!

What a beautiful place to visit. The Oriental Institute is a wonderful, small museum on the U of Chicago campus in a picturesque building that makes me feel like I'm in an Indiana Jones movie when he's back on campus after his adventuring. (Ok, I couldn't resist putting in an Indy Jones reference there.) But seriously, this place is worth a visit if you're interested in ancient artifacts from the Middle East, including a great Egyptology room with a massive statue of King Tut, mummies and their coffins, and even a mummified baby crocodile! The museum really presents visitors with a great overview of ancient Middle Eastern artifacts, and gives you the "greatest hits" of all the ancient pre and post dynastic civilizations. You get royal artifacts, religious artifacts, tablets with ancient texts, a great display with an enormous number of carved seals, everyday objects (like tapestries, fabrics, furniture, footware), and funerary items. The museum also features a nice small giftshop with publications, souvenirs, and fun items for kids (stickers, coloring books, etc). The museum suggests a donation of $5-$10 and is a real bargain. I highly recommend it!

I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the museum. After reading reviews I expected it to be very small so when I walked in I thought the first room was it - turns out there are actually several large rooms, all packed with artifacts. Great location on the beautiful university campus and close to other attractions. For just a suggested donation this is a can't miss.

Yelp is telling me "Your Next Review Awaits" so I guess I never have reviewed this gem despite visiting here over the years. I was with a group and we were coming from another event and parked near here. It was Wednesday and they are open late so we stopped in. The museum's collections span the middle east from Egypt to Turkey including Iraq. Sadly, the museums in Irag have been looted and destroyed so it makes the collections here especially significant. This place is the answer for some recurring topics in Yelp talk: * What is there to do in Hyde Park? * What are things I can do with kids? * What are things to do in Chicago for free or cheap? (Donation is suggested).

I never would have known about this place if it hadn't been for a local, and I *loved* it. The museum is world-class, and is only able to show a portion of their artifacts at any one time. They are the premier museum for research on the Ancient Near East, and have been doing it since the turn of the last century. Much of their research is now done in partnership with the home country museums. The museum is a beautiful building, recently expanded. Well laid out. Amazing full size exhibits of statuary and wall reliefs. Well written explanations. Very knowledgeable docents. Not so big that you feel like you miss everything. And all for a $10 donation. A perfect way to spend an afternoon.

Such a hidden gem! If you like antiquities then you will love this museum. The name is misleading, it is all antiques from the middle east. It has a phenomenal Egyptian and Mesopotamian sections. They have the tallest statue of King Tut in existence (other than its twin,) mummies, a 40 ton human headed, winged bull from an ancient Assyrian palace that is absolutely stunning and a huge amount of extremely old treasures. Something really unique about this museum is that they have excavated the majority of their collections themselves, not just acquired them through purchase like other museums. They have pictures of the excavations, how the artifacts were found and how they got them to Chicago. (The original director actually went to Egypt on his honeymoon and slept with mummies in his honeymoon room, until he could return them to chicago!) You will walk by it if you are not looking for it, there is just a small sign on the side walk. Admission if free, but they of course accept donations. It is not a huge museum, so you really get to look at everything and not feel incredibly overwhelmed. It is a wonderful museum, and one of the best parts is that it is not swarming in tourists! I wish more people knew about this place!

Have to come back! If this place was bigger field museum you got competition! This place has alot to offer plus its free its like one of chicago's hidden gems!

A wonderful museum. It is not that big and you can get through in a couple of hours, but I am always blown away by the shear volume of stuff they have on display. The cases tend to be completely full and the cover such a range of objects as you never see in a place like the Field Museum and they cover time periods and civilizations that I never would have known otherwise. They even have some wonderful large pieces and a few mummies for those who aren't easily impressed. It really is a terrific collection and the one thing that is almost more impressive is that it is free. The whole place makes me think of Indiana Jones. He was a University of Chicago faculty member! Most people aren't even aware that the Oriental Institute even exists and I even know Hyde Parkers that have never been. I strongly recommend any museum buff or history fan to sneak down to University of Chicago's campus to check it out.

I admit that I walked past this rather plain-looking stone-front building, tucked in the heart of the U of C campus, twice a day for more than a year without ever suspecting that it housed some of the greatest archeological treasures from the Near East found in the last two centuries. When I finally passed through the heavy wooden doors, it was merely to seek shelter from a blustery Chicago rainstorm. I then spent so much time wandering through the collections that, when I eventually made my way back out the present time, the storm had passed and the sun was shining. I now send all my visiting friends and family members to the Oriental Institute - it is the perfect place for them to pass a few hours, see some amazing artifacts, learn as much or as little as they please, and still be close enough to campus to meet up with me when class lets out. Admission is free, which is unbelievable considering how priceless some of the artifacts are. Donations are encouraged, and although $5 per person is standard, I usually leave $10 or more. It's well worth it. For those who share my nerdy fascination with all things historical, there will plenty to entertain you: fragile textiles, papyri, religious artifacts, jewelry and other such markers of mankind's development in ancient Mesopotamia. But you needn't have the History Channel programmed into your remote to take a passing interest in the impressive 40-ton winged bull statue, the 17-foot-tall statue of King Tuthankhamun, the mummified remains of an unknown woman, or the still-bloody blade of an ancient battle weapon. Guided tours are available, and the guides are unbelievably well versed in their Mesopotamian history. I semi-secretly followed a tour being led for elementary students, and the tour guide held me and twenty children at rapt attention for more than an hour and a half (an impressive feat). The collections are not overwhelming large, but they are very well-compiled and educational - it does not require an entire day to view all the artifacts, but you could easily pass an entire day without knowing it if you spend the time to examine everything closely. It is a shame that so many people in Hyde Park are unaware of this world-renowned (true!) little musuem, but this does mean that you can take in the exhibits without throngs of people and hoardes of wild children ruining the experience. This is a quiet place, where history speaks and the guests listen with respectful awe. In short: The Oriental Museum is a little-known jewel in the crown of Hyde Park that you shouldn't walk past even one more day if you haven't poked around the exhibits at least once in the last year.

I'll admit that before I came here, I didn't even read what it was. Based on the name, I just assumed it would be about countries such as China, South Korea, North Korea, and Japan. When I arrived, I quickly realized that's not the case. In fact, the institute is about 100 years old and the name "Oriental" refers to anything east of Istanbul and Egypt. I was actually happier about this. Though I do like China, South Korea, etc, I love the ancient middle east even more. This place isn't huge, but it's packed with artifacts and information from ancient Sumeria, Babylon, Mesopotamia, Judea, Anatolia, Persia, Egypt, Nubia, etc. There are a few large pieces in here that are pretty impressive, like a 17 foot tall King Tut statue. You could easily spend an hour or two in here with everything. It is also free, though there's a suggested donation, and it has a small gift shop too. This place should be a must see for anybody living in or visiting Chicago who is interested in this type of history and archaeology. You'd be surprised at how many residents of Chicago don't even know this place exists.

I have been saying for years that I would get down to the Oriental Institute Museum, but never seemed to make it until today. Now, I can't wait to get back. What an impressive (and frankly, slightly overwhelming in the I-can't-possibly-do-this-all-in-one-day kind of way) collection. And it's so diverse and encompassing. It was simply eye opening to learn about all the different, but connected cultures of what we now call the Middle East, Turkey and Egypt, what scholars call the Cradle of Civilization, because, well, it was. I could go on and talk about how it is inconceivable to me how they even got some of these artifacts to the museum in the first place. Engineering feats in their own right. I bet there are a few institutional stories that go along with a few of these larger artifacts that would be worth spending a day listening to them if you could get the right people to talk. In a town with The Field Museum, The Museum of Science & Industry, The Art Museum and so many other great cultural institutions, I understand how this remains a hidden gem. Oh, and parking stinks, at least during the week during U of C classes it does, but it is worth the trip! Park in the garage at 55th and Ellis and walk. It is not just a great Chicago cultural gem, this is one of the premier collections of early human history in the world, and should be more recognized as such by Chicagoans who have this right in their own backyard to see.

First thought when I came here: perhaps I'm just museum-spoiled, but I feel like I've seen all this stuff before at other places. Second thought: wait a sec. I saw all this stuff before at places like the British Museum. Third thought: this stuff is all on 58th Street in Hyde Park?!?! WOAH. A definite must-see if you're in the area. I didn't have a ton of time (an hour), so I had to breeze through, but it's definitely a cool collection. Great for U of C students between classes. Best part: admission is free (but please donate!), so you've no excuse not to go!

This museum, in a nutshell, is about ancient Mesopotamia, and Israel, and Egypt. In other words, the current Middle East. Lots of artifacts. Several massive statues and cuneforms. It is worth a trip for an adult group interested in history. We spent about an hour and a half here before we got tired and hungry, but a person could easily spend 2-3 hours. It is not a huge museum. But lots of good information and cool things to look at. Really old things. If you aren't familiar with Chicago and you are taking public transit, ask for some help figuring out your stop. We took the green line in and got off too soon, in a not-so-safe looking neighborhood. If you ride the green EL to the end, you should be okay. There's no admission, just suggested donation. Make the trip, it is worth it! Don't bring kids.

The Oriental Institute is one of Chicago's jewels. The museum is free admission, and has no commercial or fund-raising types of efforts, such as memberships and special exhibits. Its purpose is to display the objects in its collection. Oh, well, there is a small gift shop in the lobby. What you will see in the Oriental Institute is a collection of objects that are archaeological finds. The objects come from the area, and the time period of early civilizations. The primary regions are Iraq, Persia and Egypt. The University of Chicago brought them back to study the origin and development of the Cradle of Civilization and Egypt. The objects have never been returned or repatriated, which some countries object to from time to time, but they stay on in the museum for our enjoyment and appreciation. The museum is in one of the older buildings on campus, probably erected around the turn of the century. The exhibition space spans several rooms, each of which feels somewhat like a cave, being cool, and having stone walls. The collection is partitioned by region: Mesopotamia, Egypt and Persia. I enjoy simply being inside the museum. It is quiet and cool. The displays are always a surprise. What will I see? They are also well annotated, with informative descriptions, presumably by the U of C staff. I rely upon these write-ups to help me appreciate what it is I am seeing. If you care to spend an afternoon in the Oriental Institute, you will find not only fascinating artifacts, but also you will learn what they are and much about the society that produced or used them. For example, there might be a bill or invoice on a clay tablet from Mesopotamia, along with an explanation of what it says, what it was used for, the merchant class, and so on. There is an audio guide for rental, too. The Oriental Institute is a fine place to visit, and a true treasure that we, in Chicago, are free to enjoy.

Without question, this is my favorite museum experience in Chicago, if not the midwest. I studied classical history though, so...there's that. This is an old, yet very well kept and excellently operated university museum. They have a hefty endowment, coupled with a winning combination of students and well-trained docents, which helps the operation continue to be well-oiled. I recommend the audio-tours. If you want to go all mega-geek, get into some of the scholarship that has come out of the University over the past 100 years. For a time, they were the benchmark, and in many areas the scholars, both deceased and still-in-residence, have published monographs of classical scholarship which stand the test of time. (Conveniently, most are available for purchase at the gift shop.) Take the kids to the Field Museum. When they get older, take them here. Although there are abundant and carefully-considered displays, this is a museum for thinking as much as it is for playing... Enjoy.

The name is a bit . . . uh, outdated, but if you're obsessed with the Middle East, as I am - this is the place to check out. The exhibits don't change very frequently - but even the ongoing shows are very interesting. Occasionally the Middle Eastern Music Ensemble of the University of Chicago plays here, to SRO crowds. Not to be missed.

Free!!! Well, there is a 'suggested' donation, but, I am too poor for that, so this museum is awesome, with tons of artifacts from Mesopotamia, Assyria, and Turkey, and they let you take pictures!!!

Phenomenally rich selection of ancient artifacts that will captivate the mind of any history lover.

This is a small and very great museum. The monumental friezes (?) in the Assyrian section take yer breath away, then you wander through more rarities and, rounding a corner, the 15-18 foot tall Egyptian statue hits you. The Egyptian room alone is worth the visit. Remember, it's a small place so don't expect to spend the entire afternoon there, and, hey, IT'S FREE! By the way, if you have kids find out about the special events days and go then. (For example), the African culture day, combined with the museum visit, makes this well worth a long trip with kids. Finally, check out the gift 'shop' (especially since the museum itself is free). Very hard to find and nice Middle Eastern knick knacks and jewelry.

Pretty nice museum which is walking distance from the Robie House. It's basically free with a small donation at the front desk. I was amazed by the large stone sculptures. The Egyptian artifacts are simply amazing. For such a small place, there are pretty amazing stuff here. I would say this is fairly good but Penn Museum probably ranks top as academic museum with Asian and Egyptian art. Entrance is a bit confusing but just look for the sign with Oriental Institute and poster with traveling exhibit across from the street at Robie House. You will not be disappointed:)

I love this place because it has the kind of art I love, really old, and you can't get stuff like these nowadays anymore. Ancient Babylonian and Assyrian sculptures. They have a room where it's just giant temple-sized version of the lion body-human head stonework. It's really awesome and kind of reminds me of the museums in Berlin. The exhibit on development of language based on the Mesopotamian findings are great too. I took my parents when they were in town to all these well-known Chicago museums, and this was by far their favorite. They love to learn about ancient cultures that paved way to modern civilization ,etc, but best of all...it's FREE!!!!!! ( suggested donation of course!) Bring your visitors here. Seriously. You will learn about history, art, language, anthropology, you name it. And afterwards, stroll on the beautiful University of Chicago campus or go to Medici and get a shake.

Admission was donation based but $7 was suggested, audio was $5 on iPods and there were three separate tours to choose from (children's, highlights and then a full extended tour). When I first walked in, I thought the museum was on the small and unassuming side but it is literally crammed with an amazing amount of displays and a wide range of information. There are seven different galleries (Mesopotanian, Assyrian, Syro-Anatolian, Megiddo, Egyptian, Nubia and Persian) as opposed to other museums that'll only have a display box for each region. I thought they had a particularly fine collection of carved stone seals from Mesopotamia and several large displays that were breathtaking. My favorite was the 16 foot, human-headed winged, bull from Khorsabad as well as the 15 ft colossal statue of king Tutankhamun. I also appreciated the "forgery" display in the Egyptian gallery where there was a display of half a dozen items. Their museum store is also one of the best that I've seen in terms of uniqueness. Usually I see very boring, generic stamped merchandise in stores but this one had a gorgeous stash of jewelry with some items made exclusively for the shop, high quality gilded Egyptian tissue/wrapping paper and super cute beaded lanterns. It's located on campus with gorgeous ivy covered buildings and there's a parking lot next to it shared with a church and lots of street parking (although I suppose that depends on what time of the day/classes are going on)

I would marry this place if I wasn't already married. This stuff is right in my personal wheelhouse, but I have no idea how anyone couldn't be awed by what they have here. Ancient (not ancient by American standards, i.e. "50 years old" ...see Eddie Izzard's bit on that) beautiful artifacts. Lovely, peaceful space. I have one last thing to say. Xerxes' bull. That is all.