The Top Cultural Institutions in Chicago

I love the fact that Chicago is a diverse community. From Chicago's South Shore Community, to Little Village, to the commercialization of the Downtown Loop area, we have several places that are child-friendly and encourage families and out of town visitors. If you are looking for artistic and intellectual refinement, Chicago's cultural institutions encourage diversity on all levels from the art influenced South Shore Cultural Center where wonderfully scripted plays are hosted, to Chicago's Mexican Fine Arts Museum where Latin culture is highlighted with wonderful artifacts and historical journeys, or the richness of the Peace Museum where you can be inspired by the work of activists who fought for bringing the cultures together, nationally and locally.

Chicago's cultural institutions often bring together a gumbo of ethnicities sprinkled with different languages, and experiences. These experiences though different can be expanded with the touring of a town that is very easy to get around with the public transportation.

For travelers wanting to travel south bound and find a great place to be entertained by Jazz entertainment, or theatrical performances, then, the South Shore Cultural Center, located at 7059 South Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60649 is in the heart of the South Shore Community and less than twenty minutes from Chicago's loop. It is a place where the young or old can revisit their lives, learn about the African-American experience through dance, literary performances, or well-crafted plays. For those visitors traveling from the Loop, simply hop on the CTA's "6- Jackson Park Express" bus and get off at 71st street. Make sure the bus you are taking is going to 79th and South Shore Drive. It takes about thirty minutes to get from Down Town on the bus. Or if you want a shorter journey, board the Metra South Chicago Train, from Randolph Street Station, and that will get you straight to the Cultural Center. See a virtual tour of the Cultural Center at http://www.chicagosouthshore.com/sscc.html

Interested in learning about Latin Heritage? Then look no further. The Mexican Fine Arts Museum is a place where you can travel to places, learn about the Day of the Day, get original Mexican candy or artifacts, and it's child-friendly. Annually, the museum hosts the Chicago Park District's Word at Play Program, a literary based program, each November, where Chicago theatrical group, Barrel of Monkey's transform student's work into mini-vignettes and plays, on the stage. A local storyteller who sings Mexican songs and tells oratories, spellbound the audience, but mostly the children, as they learn how to sing in Spanish and share their stories with others, in a very comfortable and fun environment. The Mexican Fine Arts Center Musuem is conveniently located at 1852 W. 19th St. Call 312-738-1503 to get current events and schedules. From the Chicago Loop, you can take the blue line or CTA bus 16/18th to get there. Longing to find out now about any activities, then log on to http://www.mfacmchicago.org/

In this day and age of violence and earth-shattering negativity, it is nice to know there's a place to rest your weary spirit and be reminded of human kindness and connectedness. The Peace Museum, reminds us all of our ability to change the world, one person at a time. It is located on Chicago's West Side and every artifact of peace, shows the diversity of peace, from a signed John Lennon guitar, letter and lithograph to U2's original lyrics. It is a place that shows the history of peace in the world through art, living history and photographs. This is a great place for children, or school groups. If you take the CTA's Green Line, get off at the Conservatory stop and look for the Gold Dome and step into a world of serenity. This is located at 100 N. Central Park Avenue. Call 773-638-6450 for weekly events and schedules or browse the website at http://www.peacemuseum.org/

All three of these instutitions will encourage further exploration of this city, that's rich in culture, expression, and history.