A visit to the city that has the utmost in museum diversity

On past visits to Chicago, I discovered why it’s often called the birthplace of the modern skyscraper, wandered through neighborhoods that are enclaves of ethnic diversity, and waited impatiently as my wife took advantage of the city’s well-­deserved reputation as a shopping mecca.

That’s why, during my most recent trip there, I focused on a different way to experience the Windy City. I sampled the diverse group of more than 40 museums that serve as another claim to fame, ­focusing upon several that are off the usual beaten track. Some relive fascinating chapters of our ­nation’s history. Others touch base with segments of the American ethnic melting pot.

Together, they provide a different, and enticing, introduction to one of the most American of cities. Several are grouped together for convenient visiting, and a number of them may be reached by inexpensive public transportation. All are easy to access for people of any age.

Many people head for the lakeside campus that is home to three world-class institutions—the Field Museum, John G. Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium. Seeking a different kind of experience, I set my sights elsewhere.

A good place to begin is The Chicago History Museum. It provides an overall, at times somewhat offbeat, introduction to the city’s people, past and lifestyles. Along with changing exhibits, the permanent collection boasts something-for-everyone variety. A timeline of economic activity in Chicago ranges from early fur trading to the famous stock yards to its current role as a major center of business activity. Among dramatic displays recalling the Great Fire of 1871 are household objects that were fused by the heat of the flames.

Visitors may sit at tables in the very colorful re-­creation of a jazz and blues nightclub to watch videos and hear music played by some of Chicago’s most famous musicians of the past. Not far away stand the Pioneer locomotive, the first train engine in Chicago when the railroads made the city a hub of manufacturing and trade in the mid-19th century, and “L Car No. 1,” built in 1892 and now the only remaining example of the original fleet of elevated cars.

Four ethnic groups are highlighted at smaller, yet very inviting, institutions that for many visitors provides a vicarious visit to “the old country.” It’s not surprising to find the Polish Museum of America in the city that’s home to the largest population from Poland outside of Warsaw. I was surprised to learn that just one year after Jamestown, Virginia, was founded in 1608, Polish immigrants arrived to serve as instructors in the manufacture of glass and other goods.

A number of exhibits are devoted to leading Polish actors, military figures and politicians. An entire section is devoted to Pope John Paul II, with emphasis on his visit to Chicago in October 1979. Several displays came from the Polish Pavilion at the New York World’s Fair in 1939. They include 120 delicately hand-painted Easter eggs, each an art treasure in itself, and a number of pre-historic objects found in the homeland.

The Ukrainian National Museum of Chicago shares space in the Ukrainian Village neighborhood with ornate churches, a cultural center, grammar school and numerous restaurants that serve traditional fare. While the museum contains an eclectic collection, I found examples of folk most charming. They include embroidery, weavings and colorful costumes. Household utensils and musical instruments provide an introduction to life as it used to be.

A personal favorite was a display of decorated Easter eggs, an important folk art. While the eggs have been meticulously painted in a variety of patterns, they typically include representations of the sun, stars and a rose.

The Spertus Museum is housed in a magnificent award-winning contemporary building that itself is worth a visit. It explores Jewish culture through samples of its collection that are imaginatively displayed on a series of floor-to-high-ceiling shelves.

This “open depot” arrangement resembles the vaults in which many museums store most of their items, hidden from visitors. At Spertus, objects are placed in what appears to be an unorganized way, without labels, similar to how they might be kept out of sight in a museum when not available for viewing.

Most objects, like prayer shawls, an elaborately carved Torah ark and Kiddush cups used for the benediction of wine, have direct religious significance. One area of shelves contains Holocaust material, much of it from concentration camps, and another holds items related to Jewish immigrants to Chicago.

Another institution that has special meaning today is the DuSable Museum of African American History. It is located in Hyde Park, the long-time home of President Barack Obama.

The collection is named for Jean Baptiste Point DuSable, a Haitian of African and French descent, who established a trading post in 1779 which evolved into a permanent settlement that later became known as Chicago.

Among stories related by the exhibits are an exploration of Africa region by region, the civil rights movement in America, and the life and legacy of Harold Washington, who served as the first African American mayor of Chicago (1983–1987). Special events include lectures, musical performances and film festivals.

Despite its variety, my itinerary merely scratched the surface of museum experiences available to visitors to Chicago. They also include collections devoted to Mexican, Lithuanian, Swedish and Greek cultures. Yet I came away with new-found knowledge of the city and of some of the people who make it a microcosm of our nation.

An appealing aspect of a visit to Chicago is programs that are of particular assistance to seniors. Chicago Greeters are knowledgeable volunteers who spend two to four hours guiding visitors on tours of neighborhoods and places of special interest. One- , three- and seven-day passes provide unlimited rides on the Chicago Transit System. All buses are equipped with lifts and ramps helpful to anyone who has trouble with steps.

For more information about visiting Chicago, call the Office of Tourism at 877-244-2246 or ­visit www.explorechicago.org.

PHOTO: COURTESY SPERTUS MUSEUM

Victor Block is an established, award-winning travel journalist whose work has appeared in a variety of major outlets for over a quarter-century. His specialties include off-beat travel, overseas destinations and seniors travel. He augments basic information with an introduction to the people, culture and essence of places he visits. He currently focuses on newspaper travel features. He is based in Washington, D.C., and can be reached at shayphred@aol.com.