Chicago Field Museum + Pokemon Fossil Museum Pop Up

Hi Friends!

Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.

If you know me, you know that Dustin and I both absolutely love Pokémon and Pokémon Go. So when we were planning our trip to Chicago for Pokémon Go Fest and I heard that the Pokémon Fossil Museum pop up was coming to Chicago, I knew I had to try to get tickets! What I didn't expect was just how much I would end up loving the entire museum as a whole, it was so cool! I really loved the Pokémon Fossil Museum as well and it was definitely what initiated us going to the Chicago Field Museum, the entire museum completely exceeded my expectations. We spent about four hours exploring and still didn't see everything! I think I honestly could have easily spent six or more hours there with all of the exhibits that they have! I think whether you're a Pokémon fan, planning a trip to Chicago, traveling with kids, or really just love museums, I think the Field Museum in Chicago deserves a spot on your itinerary for sure!

Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.

Getting Tickets Might Be Difficult Right Now

I wanted to mention before I get too far into this post that getting tickets to the Pokémon Fossil Museum pop up might not be easy right now. This exhibit at the Field Museum has been really popular, and depending on when you're reading this, tickets might sell out or already be sold out for when you want to visit. That all aside, I wanted to still write this blog post because I wanted to share our experience and my thoughts on the exhibit while it's fresh in my mind and for those who already have tickets can use this as a guide as well! On the other hand, the good news is that the hype about this exhibit might calm down over time. I think that if you're planning a future trip to Chicago, it's still worth checking availability because you may be able to snag tickets later on down the road! And honestly? Even if you can't get tickets to the Pokémon Fossil Museum, the Field Museum itself is absolutely worth visiting! Now that I have been, I would have absolutely gone with or without the Pokémon Fossil exhibit; it was such a cool museum!

Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.

Quick Visitor Information

Location: Chicago Field Museum
Ticket Cost: $48 per person ($30 admission + $18 Pokemon Fossil exhibit)
Time Needed for Pop-Up: 45-90 minutes
Time Needed for Museum: 4-8 hours
Best For: Pokémon fans, families, museum lovers, Chicago visitors
Special Souvenir: Archeops promo card

Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.

Pokemon Fossil Museum Pop-Up

How much did it cost?

How long did it take?

  • We spent about 45 minutes inside the actual Pokémon exhibit. But I feel like if you are someone who enjoys reading all of the displays, taking your time with photos and just taking it all in you could probably be in there for an hour, hour and a half! There was a ton to read about which was so cool!

The Pokémon Promo Card

  • Each person who visited the Pokémon Fossil Exhibit got the same special promo card before you walked into the exhibit. We got a special stamped Archeops card and as a Pokémon card collector, this was the perfect souvenir to get to bring home!

Were there photo opportunities?

  • One thing that really impressed me was how thoughtfully designed the exhibit was and how many photo opportunities there were! The displays of the Pokémon are paired with the real world fossils and prehistoric creatures that inspired their designs. It was really cool to see these side by side comparisons and honestly, it was educational and incredibly fun for longtime Pokémon fans like ourselves. Overall, I think there are plenty of photo ops for guests to take advantage of!

The Gift Shop Details

  • Of course, no special exhibit would be complete without exclusive merch. The gift shop had some raelly cute items like plushies, clothes, notebooks, stickers, and more. I do think they were sold out of many items but there were still things to choose from when we were there!

    I ended up purchasing:

    • Pikachu Plush

    • Pikachu Plush Keychain

    • Field Guide Notebook

    • Two Stickers

    Dustin's haul included:

    • Two T-Shirts

    • One Hoodie

    • Pikachu Plush

    • Pikachu Plush Keychain

    There were also a few important shopping rules:

    • Maximum of 5 items per person

    • No duplicate items allowed

    Just remember that the limit helps to make sure that more people who are visiting can have a chance to get something too!

Is it worth it?

  • Absolutely! I really think that the exhibit was incredibly well done. The concept of placing Pokémon next to the real fossils and prehistoric creatures that inspired them was both adorable and educational. It felt like a perfect blend of science museum and Pokémon nostalgia. The exhibit was detailed, creative, interactive, and surprisingly informative! If you're able to get tickets, I would definitely recommend it!

Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.

Exploring the Chicago Field Museum

While the Pokémon exhibit was amazing, the Field Museum itself deserves just as much attention! Here are some of the exhibits you'll find throughout the museum:

Evolving Planet

This exhibit walks visitors through the history of life on Earth, from single-celled organisms all the way to dinosaurs and modern species. It's also where you'll find many of the fossils that lead up to the famous SUE exhibit.

Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.

SUE the T. rex

The museum's most famous resident! I share more on SUE down below because she really deserves her own section in this blog post!

Nature Walk

This was one of my personal favorites. The exhibit recreates different natural environments and showcases plants, animals, and ecosystems in a way that feels immersive and easy to explore.

Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.

Plants of the World

I wasn't expecting to enjoy the plant exhibits as much as I did, but they were fascinating. The displays highlight plant diversity, adaptation, and the important role plants play in ecosystems around the world.

Ancient Egypt

One of the museum's most popular permanent exhibits. Visitors can explore artifacts, mummies, and displays that provide insight into life and death in ancient Egypt.

Native Truths: Our Voices, Our Stories

This exhibit focuses on Native American histories, cultures, and perspectives through stories, artifacts, and modern voices.

Grainger Hall of Gems

If you love gemstones, minerals, and sparkling displays, this section is worth a visit. The collection includes beautiful specimens from around the world.

Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.

Underground Adventure

A family-friendly exhibit that lets visitors experience what the world looks like from the perspective of insects and other tiny creatures.

DNA Discovery Center

Learn how genetics influences life on Earth and how scientists use DNA to study organisms, both living and extinct.

Rare Books Collection

One exhibit I completely missed and honestly regret not seeing was the museum's collection of rare books. Since we left, I have heard great things about it, and it's definitely on my list for a future visit

Why SUE the T. rex Is So Unique

Even if you've never heard of the Pokémon Fossil Museum, you've probably heard of SUE. She was absolutely fascinating to learn about so I wanted to share a little but more about why she is so special! SUE is the largest, most complete, and most well preserved Tyrannosaurus rex specimen that has been discovered. She is named after fossil hunter Sue Hendrickson, who discovered this skeleton in South Dakota in 1990, SUE has become one of the most famous dinosaur fossils in the world! What makes SUE so special is the incredible level of preservation and how much scientists have been able to learn about Tyrannosaurus rex biology, injuries, growth patterns, and behavior thanks to this specimen. Standing underneath SUE is honestly hard to describe and I don’t feel like the pictures were even able to show how big she is in person! The exhibit surrounding SUE is also extremely well done, guiding us visitors through the science, discovery, and history behind one of the world's most famous fossils! I can’t express enough how cool it was to see SUE in person!

Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.

Tips for Visiting the Field Museum

  • Plan for at least four hours, and if you're a museum lover, consider dedicating an entire day!

  • Wear comfortable shoes, there is a lot of walking!

  • Purchase special exhibit tickets in advance!

  • Arrive a little early for timed entry exhibits, definitely read the emails you will get leading up to your visit because they share a ton of information!

  • Don't rush through the fossil halls leading up to SUE.

  • Leave room in your luggage if you plan on shopping for souvenirs!

Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.

FAQ

How much are tickets to the Pokémon Fossil Museum in Chicago?

How long does the Pokémon Fossil Museum take?

  • We spent about 45 minutes in the exhibit, but visitors who read every display could easily spend 1 to 1.5 hours.

What Pokémon card do you get at the Pokémon Fossil Museum?

  • Visitors receive a special Archeops promo card featuring the fossil Pikachu on it!

Is the Pokémon Fossil Museum worth it?

  • Yes! The exhibit does an excellent job pairing Pokémon with real-world fossils and prehistoric animals, making it both educational and fun.

How long should you spend at the Field Museum?

  • We spent about four hours there and still missed exhibits. I would say that museum lovers could easily spend an entire day exploring.

Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.

I really feel like the Pokémon Fossil Museum pop up was everything I hoped it would be and more! We loved the exhibit and I feel like it was packed with fun details for Pokémon fans of all ages. The exclusive Archeops promo card was such a special souvenir, I loved the fossil comparisons and all of the adorable merchandise! On top of that what surprised me most was how much I enjoyed the Field Museum itself! We spent so much time exploring and still missed exhibits I wanted to see. Between SUE the T. rex, the Nature Walk, the fossil collections, and countless other displays, it's easy to understand why this museum is considered one of Chicago's top attractions. Whether you're visiting specifically for the Pokémon Fossil Museum or looking for a great museum experience in Chicago, I highly recommend adding the Field Museum to your travel plans! If you end up visiting I would love to hear about it. If you have any questions you can comment below or send me an email at tarynintotravel@gmail.com and I will get back to you asap!

Much Love, 

Emma

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