Perhaps the single place most beloved by Chicagoans, the Art Institute of Chicago is Chicago's flagship museum and one of the world's best. Its greatest strength is in its European Impressionist collection, but the Art Institute also boasts a respectable collection of contemporary art, interior design objects and ancient and contemporary art objects from around the world. Founded in 1879 as equal parts school and museum, both are going strong today: the school continues as the prestigious School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

In addition to the 19th-Century masterworks such as Seurat's Sunday on the Grande Jatte and Caillebotte's luminous Paris Street, Rainy Day, and some 20th-Century favorites like American Gothic, the Museum has many other highlights such as the glowing blue Chagall windows and the Thorne Miniature rooms in the basement, which feature highly detailed recreations in miniature of period-style rooms from European and American history.

The Art Institute of Chicago is located at 111 S. Michigan Ave., just east of the Loop close to Grant Park. There is an entrance at Adams & Michigan and another roughly at Jackson & Columbus. The museum is open from at least 10:30-4:30 every day, opening at 10:00 on the weekends and closing at 8:00 on Wednesdays. Suggested admission is $12; the museum is free on Tuesdays.

Information about current shows and events is available at The Art Institute of Chicago Website.