Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

🏃 Good luck to everyone taking to the streets and running the Bank of America Chicago Marathon this weekend!

❤️ We're proud to be an official charity partner of the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, and we're excited to be cheering on the nature champions running as part of Team Nature Museum! Through your commitment and hard work, you've helped us raise crucial funds to support our educational outreach, conservation work, public programming, and so much more!

🏛️ Please note: Since the marathon course will run down Cannon Drive, directly in front of the Nature Museum, the building will be closed all day on Sunday, October 11. We look forward to seeing everyone when we reopen at 10am on Monday, October 12.

We recently went digging through the archives and found something pretty wonderful -- baby pictures of Patsy the alligator snapping turtle! Scroll through to see 5-year-old Patsy in 2012! 🐢

Believe it or not, Patsy has been a Nature Museum resident for 15 years! 🤯 Our friends at the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County donated her in June 2011. She's been an incredible animal ambassador ever since, and has helped visitors of all ages learn about this special state-endangered species.

We love you, Patsy! 💚

Emotional support water bottle looking a little empty?

Stop by the Museum Store during your next visit and pic up some of our latest sticker designs. Choose from Blanding's turtles, swallowtails, coneflowers, and more!

Don't forget, members can save 10-20% on Museum Store purchases!

Feel that chill in the air? That means our seasonal programs and events are just around the corner! Check out our offerings for all ages below!

🎃 Pumpkin Painting Party - 10/10 - Welcome in the fall with the whole family! Draw inspiration from the critters around the museum, or paint from your heart, and decorate a pumpkin that you can take home! https://bit.ly/4dSYI5B

🦂 Scorpion or Tarantula Pinning Workshop - 10/24 - Join .repurposed for this unique pinning workshop! You’ll be able to choose between a scorpion or a tarantula, and then take home your pinned piece at the end of the workshop! https://bit.ly/4hqmKrn

🌲 Tree Tenders Day Off Camp - 10/12 - Why do leaves change their colors? How do trees talk to each other under the ground? Campers ages 4-8 can join us for this special tree-focused Day Off Camp! https://bit.ly/3KUEv3Y

🧡 Day of the Dead Kickoff Celebration - 10/4 - Join us on October 4 starting at 10am to kickoff the lead up to Day of the Dead (November 1). Enjoy crafts, learn about traditions for Día de los Mu***os. https://bit.ly/4yM6Dtr

🦋 Monarch Migration Nature Walks - Saturdays & Sundays 10/4-11/1 - Join us for 1pm nature walks to learn more about monarchs, their fall migration, and how they are connected to Día de los Mu***os. https://bit.ly/4yM6Dtr

🎃 𝓣𝓻𝓲𝓬𝓴 𝓸𝓻 𝓣𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓽! Grab your costume and join us on Oct 25 for BOO-seum Bash and a morning of animal encounters, crafts, and Halloween fun!

🦇 Step into the BRAND NEW Dark Room and discover how animals adapt to the darkness!
🐍 Slither up with the museum's spectacular snakes!
🪲 Get curious with some crawly bugs!
💭 Test your memory with our friends from UIC's FLAME Lab!
🏛️ Dissect an owl pellet, dig into the boneyard of our 169-year-old collections, and more!
🕘 New this year - early access for members starting at 9am!

Head to the link to grab your group's tickets: https://bit.ly/4AwWLpt

🦋 What do you call a group of butterflies? A kaleidoscope! ✨

If you were on the Nature Museum grounds earlier today, you may have had the chance to observe a kaleidoscope of monarch butterflies fluttering amongst the flowers of our prairie, savanna, and Woody Wickham Butterfly Garden! It's a long journey to Michoacán, and we're so lucky that these monarchs chose our grounds to take a much-needed rest!

Today is our aquatic turtle check-up day at the Nature Museum! 🐢

A huge Patsy-sized thank you to Dr. Cynthia and Susie from Animal House of Chicago for visiting the museum to see August, October, Pancake, Alonzo, Floyd, Happy, Gumbo, Fiona, Bob, and Patsy! We appreciate all you do to keep our turtle friends healthy! 💚

🌙 Calling all Spooky Season lovers! Looking for the perfect Halloween adults-only event? We've got you covered! Join us on Oct 29 for a special Nature Night Out!

🦅 Get up close to special guest birds of prey!
🐍 Meet our resident snakes & insects!
🕯️ Take part in cool crafts & create your own hand-dipped candle!
🎻 Enjoy hauntingly beautiful music in the Butterfly Haven!
🍻 Sip craft brews from Pig Minds Brewing Co. (and support our conservation efforts with your purchase)!

Plus, the first 50 attendees will receive a free Nature Night Out pint glass, and all attendees in costume will be entered into a Nature Museum prize basket raffle! Each ticket comes with a complimentary drink ticket and access to all exhibits and activities.

Don't miss your chance to experience a night at the museum! Head to the link to save your spot https://bit.ly/4bcG4nV

We have lots of opportunities to enjoy free general admission in September, including today! Illinois residents can enjoy free general admission on these dates:

💚 September 8-11
💙 September 14-18
🩵 September 21-25
💜 September 28-October 2

Head to our site to reserve your tickets online, or get tickets in person with proof of residency.

🦋 Today's the day!

🧡 Join us starting at 10am to celebrate the monarch migration during Flutter into Fall! Learn all about tagging monarchs, and how these tiny stickers tell us so much about the monarch journey, from our expert entomologist! Plus enjoy programming from our friends at the National Museum of Mexican Art and Trickster Cultural Center, a performance by Xochitl-Quetzal Danza Azteca, and more! Tickets are available at the door, and all activities are included with admission.

We'll see you later today!