Give the Museumgoer What She Wants

By Shannon in Arts & Entertainment on Dec 2, 2006 6:35PM

When one of our out-of-state pals visited us over this past summer, Chicagoist decided to do it up right. We love whoring out the best and brightest sights in the city in order to wow and bedazzle. So, with that in mind, we trekked it out to the Field Museum. We hadn't been there since we were forced to as youngins for school, and we were eager to revisit the internationally famous building and its treasures within.

If we'd remembered our checkbook, we might have even been privy to a sponsorship. The Field Museum has started an adopt-an-artifact program for more than 20 exhibits in its repertoire. Donors don't just get a measly little plaque next to their favorite (or most affordable) relic, either. Included in the adoption package is a meeting with a scientist involved in that particular exhibit, a mention on the museum's website and an original work of art. Whether or not that work of art is related to the object of sponsorship is unknown. We'd be a little disappointed if we were to adopt a gigantic meteorite and come away with, say, a painting of a lion mauling a native.

Better check your bank balance before plunking down any of your dough, though: Sponsorships start at $25,000 and run up to a max of $2.5 million for a pair of African elephants from the early 20th century. Oddly enough, there's no mention yet of the adoption program on the official Field Museum site, at least none that we could find. All donations go to the museum's endowment fund. If only they'd started this program up before our holiday gift guide. Who wouldn't want Sue's head under their tree?