The Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago was founded back in 1879 as a museum and school for the fine arts, and is now one of the state's most beloved art museums. Found in Grant Park, the Art Institute has an impressive permanent collection of around 300,000 pieces, filled with notable Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, Asian, Contemporary, and American artwork. They also host some 30 different special exhibitions on a yearly basis, as well as lectures, performances, and gallery talks. Movie fans may even recognize the institute from John Hughes' beloved Ferris Bueller's Day Off, in which the museum was used for a whimsical scene featuring the three stars admiring the artwork.

The Art Institute of Chicago, which spans eight different buildings, continues to encourage people to experience great works of art from all times and eras, and to also pursue their own creative endeavors.