Apollo

If you real want to see something that really makes me go wow, this is it.  Whilst on my trip to the Museum of Science and Industry I took this very short video.  It is the Apollo VIII capsule and it was the home to three men for eight days and inside would have been about as big as a small car.  There might be a lot of room in space, hence its name.  But inside that little capsule would have been pretty small.

This capsule sat atop the most powerful machine ever built, the Saturn V rocket and was propelled into space at 30,000 mph by more than 7.5 million pounds of thrust.  It returned to earth at similar speeds and managed to return the astronauts safely to earth.  Wow.  Stay well:)

Back to MSI

I had such a good time the last time I went to the Museum of Science and Industry that I decided to go back.  This time I went with my parents which was both good and bad.  To start with, things like this are better when you go with someone, but on the other hand I am a bit of a geek and I move a fair bit slower through a museum than most people that I know.  And not because of my medical impairment, but because I like to read all the literature provided with all the exhibits, but it means that I take my time.

I did have a mission whilst I was there.  And that was mainly to re-experience the U505 submarine and its exhibit once again.  The first time that I saw it I had a hurry through the sec on part of the exhibit.  This time I had plenty of time and I also bought a ticket to experience the inside of the submarine.  I was inspired by my first visit, this time I wanted to leave no stone unturned.  I was on a mission to see everything.  To read everything.  To learn everything.  I found the whole story of the battle in the Atlantic extremely compelling as well as the specific story behind U505.

The following video I took at the exhibit.  Although the submarine looks pretty big on the outside, believe me, with 59 people on board it would have been extremely cramped.  The junior sailors didn't even get their own bed and a sleep rotation system had to be employed.  Also most of the crew would not have been allowed 'topside' for the voyage which could last up to six months and there were no showers.  Could you imagine the smell?  Here is the video:-

I also have some pictures of the exhibit.  I have no pictures or video of the inside because we were not allowed to take any.  Here are the pictures:-

Not a great picture, but these were the hedgehogs and depth chargers.  Hedgehogs only exploded when they hit something making a spread of them ideal for locating a hidden U boat.  Depth chargers exploded at a certain depth.  As long as they exploded near the U boat they could inflict substantial damage.

The stern of the ship with the rudders, propellers and the aft torpedo tube

Guns for when the submarine had surfaced

Torpedo.  Much bigger than I imagined

Forward torpedo tube

I guess the only thing left to say is if you like museums and you are in Chicago, MSI is a must.  This and the space exhibit are my two favourite exhibits, but I have to say, they are all fantastic.  Until next time, stay well:)

Museum Pictures

In my post about the science and industry museum I talked about how visually stunning all the museum's were.  So, I thought I'd show you some pictures.  I cannot take credit for taking these myself, I ripped them off google images.  Stay well:)

Science and Industry Museum

Field Museum

Adler Planetarium

Science and Industry Museum

One thing I love about the museums here in Chicago is the way they look from the outside.  The Adler Planetarium was an awesome dome shaped building out on a spit into lake Michigan.  The Field Museum and the Science and Industry Museum are both large magnificent looking building that truly look majestic in nature, made of a beautiful sandstone with large pillars out the front.  It is exactly what one would expect a museum to look like.  All three of them fit right in with the wonderful architecture that this city has to offer.

But today I am talking about the museum of science and industry.  It did not disappoint.  As far as my museum experiences go here in Chicago I am now shooting three for three.  Again, the biggest problem that I had was time.  There was way too much to see in one day so I think that I will have to go back to finish off seeing all the exhibits.

When I went to the Field Museum I made the mistake of paying for the extra exhibits, this time I did not and I wished I had.  One of the most fantastic exhibits I have ever seen in any museum anywhere was the exhibit of submarine U505.  The exhibit told a story that was both engaging and educational.  It was brilliantly displayed with all kind of different ways of displaying the material.  It really was a treat.  Unfortunately if you wanted to go inside the submarine that cost extra, but by the time I was there I really wanted to go inside.

The other funny thing was that it said I should give half an hour for the exhibit.  I had an hour and twenty minutes until I was due at the auditorium to watch storm chasers and I ran out of time.  It was that good.  If I manage to get back I will take another look and take the tour inside the submarine.

As I just said, after the submarine I went to see storm chasers at the auditorium.  The auditorium was one of these massive dome shaped screens.  It wasn't 3D, but you felt surrounded by the screen which was extremely effective.  The movie was quite spectacular too.  Some of the footage they got was quite spectacular.

After the movie was over I some how ended up in the space exhibit if you can believe that.  They had great displays from the early pioneers of the space program right through to the future of space travel.  I got lost in that one for over an hour too.  After that I had time for a couple of the more minor exhibits and then it was time to go.  I will have more for you from Andy and his wonderful Chicago adventure tomorrow.  Until then, stay well:)