CultureCastINTELLIGENCE

Predictive Cultural Attraction & Crowd Engine

natural historyEst. 1893 • EIN: 36-2167151

The Field Museum of Natural History

SUE the T. rex, Ancient Egypt, and 40 Million Natural History Specimens

1400 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605
Median Dwell: 3.3 hrs
Official Website
Bang-for-Buck Index
82.1/100
Rank #17 Nationally • #2 in CategoryDedicated Crowd Forecast →
SUE the T. rexFree Wednesdays for IL ResidentsMuseum Campus Anchor
Adult Admission$30Child: $23
Net Endowment (990)$420.0M12.2x Annual Op Revenue
Annual Attendance1.4M4.7 ★ (34,200 reviews)
Philanthropic Subsidy$31.42 / visitUnderwritten by donors & trusts

Curatorial Scope & Campus Footprint

Located on Chicago’s Museum Campus along Lake Michigan, the Field Museum is one of the premier natural history institutions globally, maintaining foundational research collections.

Civic Free Days & Community Policy

Free Wednesdays for Illinois residents throughout the year with proof of residency.

Campus Footprint1.3M sq ft
Collection Holdings40.0M works
Title I School Access81/100 Index
Donor Propensity83/100 Score

Visitor Sentiment Audit

4.7 ★ (34K)
Core Exhibits & Curation94.0%
Facility & Architecture90.0%
Ticket & Value Fairness70.0%
Top Visitor Praises
  • •SUE the T. rex suite
  • •Inside Ancient Egypt tomb replica
  • •Stunning lakefront setting
Common Visitor Friction Points
  • •Add-on fees for temporary 3D movies and special exhibits
  • •Museum campus parking fee
  • •Walking distance from train

30-Day Forward Crowd Forecast

Predictive hourly density curves combining search intent, seasonal trends, and local mobility

Low Moderate Busy Peak
Monday, 2026-11-02Peak Density (89/100)

Recommended Entry Window: Strictly opening door time (9:30 AM–10:30 AM)

Forecast StatusClear / Climate Controlled

Hourly Crowd Density Curve (10 AM – 5 PM)

36%
10 AM
67%
11 AM
85%
12 PM
89%
1 PM
82%
2 PM
71%
3 PM
49%
4 PM
27%
5 PM

Total Cost of Visit Calculator

Itemized expense simulation factoring admission tiers, concession markups, parking fees, and pass discounts.

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1
0
0
Estimated Total Visit Outlay
$165for 3 people
Admission Tickets$83
Parking$25
Onsite Dining$57
Cost / Person:$55
Cost / Dwell Hour:$50/hr
💡 Cost Optimizer Tips

• Take advantage of Free Wednesdays for Illinois residents throughout the year with proof of residency..

• Public transit or nearby garage apps save up to $13 on parking.

IRS Form 990 & Endowment Transparency

EIN: 36-2167151 • Fiscal Year 2024 Filings

501(c)(3) Verified
Endowment Size$420.0M12.2x Program Revenue
Philanthropy & Grants$44.0M54.0% Support Ratio
Admissions Revenue$34.5MOperating Gate Intake
Donor Subsidy / Visit$31.42Philanthropic Underwriting
Total Operating Expenses: $82.0MFiscal Deficit: $-3.5M

Field Museum’s endowment covers approximately 61 months of operating overhead. Every visitor admission is offset by $31.42 in contributed donations, grants, and investment yields.

Institutional Elasticity & Gate Revenue Simulator

Empirical demand curve simulation calibrated to elasticity coefficient (-0.49)

Elasticity: -0.49
Modeled Adult Admission Ticket Price$35
Free ($0)Current: $30Premium ($90)
Price Adjustment
+16.7%
vs. $30 baseline
Projected Attendance
1.3M(-8.2%)
Annual Foot Traffic
Projected Net Gate Revenue
$45.0M(+$3.0M)
Annual Ticket Gross
Low Risk — Revenue Accretive

Minimal friction on philanthropic conversion pipeline.

Head-to-Head Peer Benchmarking

All institution matchups →
Direct Comparison DossierField Museum vs. Art Institute of ChicagoV-Score: 82.1 vs 81.2 • Gate: $30 vs $32

Frequently Asked Questions & Visit Logistics

How much does admission cost?

General adult admission is $30, children $23, and seniors $27.

Are there civic free days or discounts?

Free Wednesdays for Illinois residents throughout the year with proof of residency.

How long should I plan to visit?

Mobility data indicates visitors spend a median dwell time of 3.3 hours to explore the full permanent collection and grounds.

What are the parking and dining options?

On-site garage/lot parking is approximately $25. Dining is serviced by Compass Group / Field Bistro ($19/meal).

Related Peer Cultural Institutions

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V-Score: 85.2

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Admission$28
Median Dwell3.5 hrs
Crowd LevelHigh Density
Endowment$850.0M
New Gilder CenterNY/NJ/CT Resident Pay-What-You-Wish
4.5M visitors/yrView Forecast→
Houston, TX
V-Score: 84.8

Houston Museum of Natural Science

Paleontology Hall of Prehistoric Predators, Cockrell Butterfly Center & Gems

Admission$25
Median Dwell3.2 hrs
Crowd LevelModerate
Endowment$115.0M
Dynamic Paleontology HallFree Tuesday Evenings
2.0M visitors/yrView Forecast→