Art Institute of Chicago

Come for the sterling collection of Impressionists and Old Masters (an entire room is dedicated to Monet), linger over the extraordinary and comprehensive photography collection, take in a number of fine American works, and discover paintings, drawings, sculpture, design, and photography spanning the ancient to the contemporary world. The Institute is more than just a museum; in fact, it was originally founded by a small group of artists in 1866 as a school with an adjoining exhibition space. Famous alumni include political cartoonist Herblock and artists Grant Wood and Ed Paschke. Walt Disney and Georgia O'Keeffe both took classes, but didn't graduate. The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, one of the finest art schools in the country, is across the street from the museum; occasionally there are lectures and discussions that are open to the public.

The Art Institute is a complicated jumble of three difficult-to-navigate buildings-you can only change buildings on the first level of the museum, and the map the museum gives out isn't very helpful. On the lower level are textiles, decorative arts, the Thorne Miniature Room, and the Kraft Education Center. The first level includes the non-European galleries, contemporary art, and American art to 1890. The second level holds American art from 1900 to 1950, European art from all periods, and Impressionism. Note that a massive construction project, due to be completed in 2009, may cause the temporary closure of some exhibits (including the celebrated Chagall stained glass windows) or the relocation of some galleries.