Located in Chicago near the eastern end of historic Route 66, the Field Museum is one of the largest natural history museums in the United States. Alongside its global science collections, the museum houses extensive materials related to Indigenous cultures of North America.
ABOUT FIELD MUSEUM
Founded in 1893 following the World’s Columbian Exposition, the museum has worked to reinterpret these collections through collaboration and exhibitions.
The Museum's Artic and Sub-Artic collections provide a rich insight into the diverse lifeways of the peoples inhabiting these dynamic environments. This collection features a range of items, including hunting and fishing equipment, clothing, and ceremonial objects from various communities in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Siberia.
Native Truths: Our Voices, Our Stories
The Native Truths exhibition invites visitors to hear directly from Native American and Indigenous people through art, storytelling and multimedia displays.
Key themes explored in the exhibition include:
Cultural resilience and self-determination
Tribal sovereignty and governance
Contemporary Native art and music
Environmental stewardship and land relationships
Indigenous perspectives on history and identity
Installations feature works by Native artists, historical objects from the museum’s collections and interactive experiences such as music, film and storytelling. The exhibition highlights diverse Indigenous experiences across the United States and Canada.
ANTHROPOLOGY COLLECTIONS
The Field Museum maintains extensive anthropology collections focused on Native cultures across North America. Scholars and tribal representatives frequently visit the museum to study materials connected to their communities.
Plains Collection
The Plains collection contains material culture from tribes of the Great Plains and surrounding regions, including the Plains Cree, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Sioux and Crow. Items such as shields, clothing, tools and ceremonial objects document both artistic traditions and historical changes within Plains societies.
Southwest Collection
Artifacts from the American Southwest illustrate the development of agriculture and settlement patterns in desert environments. The collection includes ceramics, textiles, agricultural tools and other items associated with peoples including Hopi, Pueblo and Western Apache.
Northwest Coast Collection
This collection highlights Indigenous societies of the Pacific Northwest, including the Haida and Tlingit. Objects such as carved masks, clothing and fishing tools reflect the maritime lifeways and ceremonial traditions of Northwest Coast cultures.
Hours of Operation
Monday — 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tuesday — 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wednesday — 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thursday — 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Friday — 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday — 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sunday — 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Hours may change seasonally or for holidays.
Admission & Fees
General admission typically ranges $30–$40 for adults, depending on exhibit access and residency discounts.
Illinois residents and children receive reduced pricing.
Special exhibitions may require additional tickets.
