Chicago: At the Field, there’s one whale of an exhibit

Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, so did whales. A food shortage on land drove their ancestors into the ocean where whales ultimately evolved into marine mammals. Those are among the facts I learned when I visited Whales: Giants of the Deep at the Field Museum of History. It explores the evolution, diversity and mythology about whales from the scientific, Pacific Islander and Maori perspectives.

Among other cool facts:

• A whale’s tongue can weigh more than an elephant.
• Blue whales are the same size as a 737 jet.
• Gray whales migrate 12,000 miles each year (about three round trips from Chicago to Los Angeles).

Some of the highlights of the exhibit:

• Two fully articulated sperm whale skeletons (male and female) that are more than 58 and 32 feet long, respectively.
• Sounds of whales that can be heard and compared.
• An interactive display in which you can design your own dolphin. (they’re a type of whale.)
• A model of a blue whale’s heart that is so large that children can climb through it. (I momentarily crawled inside, but backed out immediately worried that other visitors might find it odd to see a grownup inside.)

When: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through Jan. 16. Closed Christmas Day. The last admission for whales is at 3:30 p.m.

Cost: Discovery or All Access passes include museum admission and are priced from $22-$29 for adults.

Info: The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago; (312) 922-9410