Museum Campus: Landfill of Dreams
The story of three world-class museums built on fifty-seven acres of garbage, one controversial stadium, and a midnight bulldozer raid.
View in App — $9.99What You'll Experience
Plan your walk
Know the route before you buy
- Starts at
- Introduction — The Landfill with a PhD
- Ends at
- The Reveal
- Walking plan
- 45 min · ~2.7 miles
- Schedule
- Start, pause, and resume anytime
Included in the app
- Professional narration
- GPS-triggered stops
- Downloadable tour audio
- Ask the Historian Q&A
- Optional end-of-tour reveal
- All 10 story stops
A taste of what you'll hear
10 stops, each with its own story. Here's a preview.
"You're standing on land that didn't exist until Chicago decided it needed more of it. In 1909, architect Daniel Burnham published his Plan of Chicago — a vision so ambitious it included making new land out of lake."
"Walk out onto Northerly Island. At the tip, you'll see a building that looks like an Art Deco flying saucer. The Adler Planetarium opened on May 12, 1930 — the birthday of Max Adler, the man who paid for it."
"You just walked across 57 acres of manufactured land, past three world-class museums, one controversial stadium, and the site of a midnight bulldozer raid. Here's what was true: The entire Museum Campus is built on garbage and coal ash."
Tour itinerary
Every stop on this walk
Explore the route before you go. Each stop has its own story preview, location details, and place in the larger tour.
- 1Introduction — The Landfill with a PhD Read this stop
- 2Field Museum — Exterior Read this stop
- 3Field Museum — What's Inside Read this stop
- 4Shedd Aquarium — Exterior Read this stop
- 5Shedd Aquarium — What's Inside Read this stop
- 6Adler Planetarium — Exterior Read this stop
- 7Adler Planetarium — What's Inside Read this stop
- 8Soldier Field — The Spaceship Read this stop
- 9Northerly Island — The Land That Wasn't Read this stop
- 10The Reveal Read this stop
Stories first
Every stop is built around people, conflict, ambition, and consequences—not a plaque read aloud.
Most of it is true. The extra mischief is just a wink at the end, but the story is what carries the walk.
Have questions? Just ask.
Curious about something you heard? Want to know more about a place? Ask us anything — we have a lot to say. It's more fun when it's a conversation.
Ready?
Download the app, head to the starting point, and press play. The stories start themselves.
Get the AppBefore you go
Quick answers
How much is this tour?
$9.99 as a one-time purchase in the iOS app. The Chicago city pack is $14.99 and includes every currently available tour in the city.
Can I use it with spotty cell service?
Download the tour audio on Wi-Fi before leaving. Cached narration plays without streaming; map tiles and other online features may still need a connection.
Do I have to start at a specific time?
No. Start when it suits you, pause for a detour or meal, and resume later. Check the opening hours of any venue you personally plan to enter.
Are admission tickets included?
The purchase covers the Bad Historian audio experience. Transportation, food, and admission to third-party attractions are not included.
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