National Historic Landmark

Adler Planetarium

Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Listed
February 27, 1987
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
87000819

About this property

The Adler Planetarium is a municipal public museum for astronomy in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is operated by the Chicago Park District, a municipal government agency of the City of Chicago. It is the first planetarium in the United States. It was founded in 1930 by local businessman Max Adler. Located on the northeastern tip of Northerly Island on Lake Michigan, the Adler Planetarium was the first planetarium in the United States. It is part of Chicago's Museum Campus, which includes the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum of Natural History. The Planetarium's mission is to inspire exploration and understanding of the universe. The Adler Planetarium opened to the public on May 12, 1930. Its architect, Ernest A. Grunsfeld Jr., was awarded the gold medal of the Chicago chapter of the American Institute of Architects in 1931 for its design. In 1987, it was declared a National Historic Landmark. The Adler has three theaters, space science exhibitions, including the Gemini 12 space capsule, and a collection of antique scientific instruments and print materials. In addition, the Adler Planetarium hosts the Doane Observatory, a research-active public observatory. The planetarium is surrounded by sculptures including: Man Enters the Cosmos by Henry Moore (1980); Spiral Galaxy by John David Mooney (1998); and America's Courtyard by Ary Perez and Denise Milan.

Location

1300 S. Lake Shore Dr.
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
41.86619, -87.60673

Categories

ENTERTAINMENT/RECREATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Shedd, John G., Aquarium
Industrial
0.4 mi
U-505 (IX C U-Boat)
Industrial
0.5 mi
Field Museum of Natural History
Industrial
0.5 mi
Soldier Field
Industrial
0.6 mi
YMCA Hotel
Industrial
0.7 mi

Nearby Battles

Fort Dearborn Massacre
1812Early Republic
1.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Adler Planetarium listed on the National Register?

Adler Planetarium was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 27, 1987.

What type of historic resource is Adler Planetarium?

Adler Planetarium is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Adler Planetarium a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Adler Planetarium has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Adler Planetarium?

The period of significance for Adler Planetarium is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Adler Planetarium?

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